The Piscatorial Pictorial

Dan got a stack of nice looking Christiaan Bradleys the other day and wanted some art on his boards that reminded him of home and meant something to him. He eventually asked "Can you draw a snapper?" It made sense as Dave 'Baddy' Treloar has had a lifetime of snapper angling and Rossy joined him on a more than a few occasions over the years. Add to that the Quiksilver Pro just around the corner I'm not surprised that the word 'snapper' was bubbling in his subconscious!

As we sketched the snapper, I told Rossy about a time when my dad joined Baddy fishing......

They were 7km off yamba and there were 4 lines in the water. Baddy is focussed like a buddhist monk and conversation ended when they pulled up over the reef 3 hours earlier. Baddy has been whistling his two tone trademark whistle non stop the whole time. My dad finally gets fed up with the silence broken only by Baddy's 'two tone serenade' and asks cheekily "What's the lyrics to that song you are whistling?"

Baddy's just turned to him with a serious expression and said "Sna - pper... Sna - pper... Sna -pper"

Snapper Beepin' Rocks...

So funny we had to, as AI says, "Put that on the Internet..."

Snapper Rocks won't be alone missing The Champ...

Rest easy AI

Peace

2 New World Surfing Reserves being created...

Iconic Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz. Photo: Drew Kampion

The beautiful lines of Ericeira. Photo: Gonçalo Ruivo

Santa Cruz, California & Ericeira, Portugal Approved as World Surfing Reserves.
Storied surf zones in Northern California and Portugal join Malibu, California, and Australia’s Manly Beach as sites to be formally dedicated...

February 24, 2011 – Santa Cruz, CA, USA / Ericeira, Portugal – World Surfing Reserves today announced that two nominated surf zones – Santa Cruz in Northern California and Ericeira in Portugal – have been formally approved and will be dedicated as World Surfing Reserves (WSRs).
Read more >>

Simple Dan...

Daniel Ross connecting with one of those Morning of the Earth mornings...

A tribute to the David "Baddy" Treloar's Simple Ben section of the iconic surf movie... 

No leg rope, one wave and one take before heading up the coast...

Sunshine through the Autumn, sweet snow to the Spri-ing
Corn by the water of an old mill stream, and you give me all, you give me all

Peace...

Simple Ben - recent cover...

Donate now...

to the New Zealand Earthquake Disaster Appeal at http://www.redcross.org.nz/donate

Surf films ride a wave of nostalgia

Surfing legend Bob McTavish beside an FJ Holden at Noosa. Picture: John Witzig Source: Supplied

Article from The Australian 23rd Feb 2011

SURF films as art? They are triply -- and trippily -- so. Or at least they used to be. 
 
 In their heyday, the late 1960s and early 70s, they treated cinematography, music and the surfing action as three equal components that could be blended into a powerful representation of counterculture freedom.

And if you struggled to get a grip on the seemingly loose editing or cutaways of fit young people grinning and running in slow-motion through idyllic settings, then maybe you should have stopped on the way into the theatre and had a puff of that smelly cigarette the longhairs were smoking in the car park.

Paul Witzig has just re-released his three definitive movies of the era -- Hot Generation, Evolution and Sea of Joy -- after extensive digital restoration.

Read more>>

See Official Trailers

Have a Laugh!

This clip has nothing to do with surfing or the environment, but someone out there has a wicked sense of humor and it just made me laugh......Thought I'd share it with the Mullet School!

Surfing's "Amazing" Race...

Do we have a winner at long last?

The idea of Man-made waves have captured the imagination of surfers since surfing began, from strategically placed river walls and groynes (us groins) to sand dredging rives, to man-made barrier reefs and foreign more recently novelty wave pools...

None have really proved realistic, big enough or financially viable to take off, which leaves the question as to why???

Here's a video summary of some of the latest, you decide..

Webber Wave Pools scale testing...

Kelly Slater Wave Co

Wave-Garden.com

The winner may ultimately be Surfing (and possibly to a greater degree Self Indulgence), but has anyone really asked the big questions like;

1. Whats the environmental impacts / costs of such developments?
2. How much energy is required to create and continuously generate these waves, when Mother Nature does her best work for nothin'?
3. Are these developments encouraging exploitation of precious resources instead of conservation at a time of Climate Change?
4. Are Wave Pools really the wave of the future?

OR just a modern day Gold Rush for the developers to capitalise, at whatever the expense...

Countdown... QUIKY PRO

With only 6 days until the QUIKSILVER PRO at Snapper, thoughts race to the essential ingredients of sand, waves, judging criteria and endless possibilities...

Snapper's famous for its dredging barrels behind the rock and its lengthy walls that beg for progressive innovation and explosive raw power...

To get ya juices flowin' here's an example of whats expected on all accounts...

Undoubtedly the best heat of last years event and arguably one of the best heats of the entire year, Dane Reynolds and Joel Parkinson raise the bar...

BB...

The one and only Ms Bridget Bardot, no need for words...

VSO Day!!!

Victory in the Southern Ocean Day for the Whales

Pilot Chris Aultman and crewmember Mark Cullivan in an emotional embrace.
Photo: Barbara VeigaIt’s official – the Japanese whaling fleet has called it quits in the Southern Ocean, at least for this season. And if they return next season, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society will be ready to resume their efforts to obstruct and disable illegal Japanese whaling operations.

“The Nisshin Maru made a significant course change immediately after the Japanese government made it official that the whaling fleet has been recalled,” said Captain Alex Cornelissen from the Bob Barker. “She looks like she’s going home!”

The Sea Shepherd ship Bob Barker has been tailing the Japanese Nisshin Maru factory ship since February 9th making it impossible for the whalers to continue their illegal whaling operations.

“I have a crew of 88 very happy people from 23 different nations including Japan and they are absolutely thrilled that the whalers are heading home and the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary is now indeed a real sanctuary,” said Captain Paul Watson.

The Sea Shepherd ships Steve Irwin, Bob Barker, and Gojira will remain in the Southern Ocean to escort the Japanese ships northward. “We will not leave the whale sanctuary until the last whaling ship has departed,” said Gojira captain Locky MacLean.

“This is a great victory for the whales,” said Captain Watson, “but we did not do this alone. Without the support of the people of Australia and New Zealand, we would not have been able to send voyages out for seven seasons from Australian and New Zealand ports. We are grateful to Senator Bob Brown and the Australian Greens Party. We are very grateful to Mr. Bob Barker for giving us the ship that turned the tide in our efforts to force the Japanese fleet from these waters. We are grateful to all our onshore staff and volunteers, supporting members and ship crews. We are grateful to the Chilean Navy and the government of France for their support. It is a very happy day for people everywhere who love whales and our oceans.”

It’s official – the killing of whales in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary is over for this season and the whalers did not even take 10% of their quota. Sea Shepherd estimates that over 900 whales have been saved this year.

“It’s a great day for the whales,” said Sea Shepherd Chief Cook on the Steve Irwin Laura Dakin of Canberra, Australia, “and it’s a great day for humanity!”

Jack Perry & Dan Ross

Jack Perry lovin' his 6'1 Dahlberg in the testing conditions for his frame, not doing enough to get through...

Daniel Ross riding a 6'0 Will Webber Quad Fin Fish that looks as if its thriving under the full rail and power carves Dan accustom to... Into the round of 32 against Parko...

Mark Matthews wins back to back titles...

For the second time Mark Matthews has been crowned the winner of riding the biggest wave in Surfing Life's Oakley Big Wave Awards at Bondi. 
 
He wiped out twice in 40ft waves and tore a medial ligament before he caught this monster (pictured) at a break known as The Right, off southwest Western Australia.

"I knew as soon as I saw the wave the adrenaline just took over the pain," he said.

Last night, the pain was all worth it when he picked up $20,000 at the award ceremony in Bondi.

The Plan...

This documentary was on SBS last Tuesday, here's the blurb..

Whether we like it or not we are heading towards a profound change. 

 

The climate, population growth, species extinction, resource consumption etc are just running wild. We can deal with it and produce the change we want or we can let that change force itself upon us.

More and more people are becoming aware about these challenges and engage in different plans and initiatives in order to drive this development forward. In The Plan we’ll get to know some of these people. Their stories, their thoughts, ideas and plans seem to be a part of something bigger. If all these initiative power, creativity and optimism could be coordinated it might be possible to create a global movement powerful enough to change the world before it’s too late.

Pure Tasmania...

Daniel Ross tappin' into some Tasmanian sparkling...

 and some serious down time before the 2011 ASP World Tour kicks off...

about as remote as you can get...

You can get the best filtration and alkalising systems from ALKAWAY

Stay tuned for some sneaky waves... And maybe a map... ;-)

Introducing what is quiet possibly the most...

IMPORTANT ALBUM EVER MADE...

It's simple really: when you download 1% For the Planet: The Music Vol. 1 you help save the planet. 

All proceeds from the album allow 1% to do more for environmental non-profits all around the world.

Enjoy!

Sustainable TUNA fishing

Below is a clip of fisherman in the Maldives fishing for Tuna in a SUSTAINABLE way.

Why is it SUSTAINABLE you might ask?

When fishing companies hunt for tuna these days they do so by netting the whole school. It leaves nothing left and totally wipes out the tuna school. With companies using bigger boats and bigger nets its becoming a real worry that we might end up with no fish stocks left in the ocean.

In the Maldives fishing boats still catch tuna with hooks and fishing pols, NO NETTING. This method is SUSTAINABLE because you don't wipe out the whole school. Tuna do get caught but a lot get away so they can reproduce and build up there school again. It makes sense catch what you need and let the rest go for later.

Fish & Sticks...

Dan Ross' 2011 Quiver is a Seafood Smorgasbo(a)rd of Patagonia Flying Fish, FRESH MULLET and Snapper...

The 26th of February marks the official start of the 2011 ASP World Tour with the QUIKSILVER PRO at SNAPPER ROCKS...

Snap-per, Snap-per... Get the net ready...

Slackin' Off during the Floods Jan 2011

This is Dan Ross' idea of taking time out during the floods in January 2011, where Yamba was cut off from the highway for a week...

Joel Parkinson was luckily snuck in before the Yamba Rd became blocked and enjoyed a few sneaky waves too.

Dan's Breath Enhancement Trainer - Nam introduced the Slackline to Dan a few weeks back and trust me he makes it look so much easier than it actually is...

Stay tuned for more..

Peace

The Green Room...

George Greenough sitting pretty on his spoon in the room he made his own...

As we prepare for the start of the 2011 ASP World Tour, our minds imagine perfect barrels at the superbank and the endless possibilities of mindblowing performance that the world's best will be demonstrating...

My mind wonders just how deep,and how high, and how long George Greenough would ride the freakish wave... Bet he'd hold his own and bust some balls out there, Wild Card!

George used the flex of his spoon boards to sit deeper and higher in the barrel than anyone, according to him the flex in the tail that the spoon design provides is the reason for this depth, height and explosive acceleration out of the pipes...

He's the original pioneer of surfing and responsible for capturing the first editions of mindless tubes with his heavy cameras and waterhousings strapped to his back...

Thanks for all your inspiration Mr Greenough!

Peace

Barefoot Truth...

is part of the 1% For the Planet - The Music Vol 1...

Its simple, downloading this album does wonders for the planet...

1% for the Planet

Yvon Chouinard and Craig Matthews - Three Dollar Bridge | 1% For the Planet from 1% for the Planet on Vimeo.

A great initiative that everyone should get behind, even if you are not a company or business you can donate to selected conservation groups in your area or anywhere for that matter...

Stay tuned for more...

Peace

Obladi Oblada life goes on bra...

Queensland....

Beautiful one day, perfect the next...

Or in recent weeks its more like "Floods one day, Cyclones the next..."

Queensland has surely experienced its fair share of poundings in the last few weeks...

The Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal has been extended to help Queenslanders affected by recent flooding and Tropical Cyclone Yasi.

Many communities have been devastated. Some families have lost everything.

Go to http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html to donate, very dollar makes a massive difference..

Thanks in advance.

Peace

Severe Tropical Cyclone YASI...

Queensland braces for is 3rd Tropical Cyclone in as many weeks...

This cyclone is twice a large as the largest on record, TC Larry in 2006 and expected to make it as far inland as Mt Isa, some 700kms inland.

The eye of the cyclone is almost 150kms wide which is 5 time larger than TC Larry and winds are expected to be well inexcess of 250kph...

Severe damage and loss of life is inevitable...

Our thoughts are with all in its path...

Woody Jack boards and posca fun

Woody is a great shaper that grew up in Angourie and learnt his craft from the best in the industry. I got two boards from him about 6 weeks ago. They both go great. The little 5'9 is so fun it keeps me pumped to surf even when its small and onshore.
Woody was cool and organised it so I could do my own board art. I did a salad fingers tribute board (check out episode two- 'friends'). Thanks Wood and congratulations on your new baby daughter!