Thankful surfing

Yesterday evening at Torquay Point a couple of dozen surfers on all manner of craft were out enjoying the mild water and small, fun waves.

It was the last day of summer, the waves were breaking and everyone seemed in a buoyant mood, laughing as they rode ‘em in. Surfboards, bodyboards, waveskis, paddleboards, even the surf boast from the life saving club was out there.

As far as summer goes, it’s been a shocker – loads of rain, on-shore winds and junky conditions. But compared to what our mates in Queensland, Western Australia and Christchurch are going through, it’s a minor hiccup.


There’s so much horror and sadness in the news at the moment. Next time you go out and catch a wave, be thankful. Just being able to get out in the ocean and surf is an incredible privilege. We are so damn lucky to have the ocean on our doorstep, be well enough to paddle out and able to surf.

Wild Women Water Day

Wild Women Water Day is an all female surf competition taking place on the 26th Feb 2011 with a 7am start at Point Impossible. This competition celebrates womens surfing in all its forms, having open shortboard, longboard and SUP. Along with these open divisions there are also U/16 & U/18 shortboard, two division that will be hotly contested by a large number of the local girls. And there will be an Over 35's longboard division.

Including SUP in an all female surf comp will be a first for girls days. so it should see some interesting surfing.

This comp will appeal to those wanting to try there hand at an event along with the seasoned competitor. Its a fun non threathening atmosphere with heaps of goodies in the competitor showbags.

Its happening on Saturday 26th Feb 2011 at Point Impossible, start time 7am.

Divisions
Shortboard - Open, U/18 (can't turn 18 in 2011), U/16 (can't turn 16 in 2011)
Longboard - Open, O/35's (can't turn 35 in 2011)
SUP - Open

Competitor showbag with each person

Online entries are now open for the 2011 Wild Women Water Day on Saturday 26th Feb at Point Impossible ALL - Female Surf Competition. 7am start..

Vale Leeroy Granis

Revered surfing photographer LeRoy Grannis passed away at 93 last Thursday.

A key proponent in the rise of surf photography in the 1960s, he later went on to co-found International Surfing Magazine, an early incantation of Surfing magazine.

A master of the lens, Grannis sold his first photograph to Reef Magazine for $7. He went on to becomea true master of the lens..

Read more about this incredibly talented man at Surfers Village.

Cover - Image from Leroy Grannis: Birth of a Culture: 60s and '70s Surf Photography

Friends in need

Wayne ‘Rabbit’ Bartholomew once told me that “bakeries in surf towns never go broke”.

The intimation was that surfers love to fuel up on crabs such as pies, sausage rolls, buns, biscuits and rolls. Now a bakery in Torquay that is a hit with the local surfers has decided to help out our friends in Queensland who have been devastated by floods and now a cyclone. Faith Davis who run Point Bake (next door to Barrie Sutherland’s Watermarks Gallery ) has been selling cupcakes with $1.50 from each one going towards the Queensland Flood Appeal. Many a local has popped in for a post-surf pie only to see the sign and then changed their mind to scarf down a cup cake or two. Thanks everyone!

So far Faith and her team have rased over $600 – that’s a lot of cupcakes.

As surfers we should be supporting businesses like Point Bake who give back to the community. So please encourage your local barkery or café to do something similar – and feel welcome to send me a photo and I’ll post it up on surfsista!

Story and image by Alison Aprhys appeared in the Surf Coast Times 1st February 2011.

Surf & Yoga for Swahinis

Surfing and yoga go together like, well ham and eggs, pancakes and blueberries, tomatoes and basil. The more time I spend in cobra, downward facing dog or eagle, the better my surfing seems to be and the faster my recovery time. Loads of surfing galpals also swear that doing a few 'sun salutes' is a great way to limber up and cool down after an invigorating surf.
So if any of you surfsistas are planning on visiting Albany in WA in 2011 and want to catch a few waves, then I recommend signing up for one of the terrific all-female surf & yoga retreats.

Organised by keen surfer and yoga enthusist Narelle of Albany’s reknown Cruize Inn, the retreats are aimed at female surfers of all levels, ages and surfing ability. The Cruize Inn is a lovely, friendly and affordable accomodaiton for extended families, family groups, corporate travellers and same-interest groups - when I was there during my WA surfari, it was bliss!

The Swahini retreats include:

• Traditional Vinyasa Yoga & Meditation with qualified Yoga instructor - 24 yrs experience
• Surfing the South coast in pristine locations with experienced & qualified surfing instructors
• Massage
• Optional therapies
• Relaxation
• Delicious, wholesome meals & nutritious drinks
• Asian Cooking Class – with a local chef
• Relaxed & comfortable shared accommodation
• Small groups of 6 to 8 participants.

Contact: Narelle – 0417 987 775 or Helen (Yogasun) – (08) 9841 3020 

Happy Days Diary 2011 for surfers

Keeping on top of life’s commitments and schedules can sometimes appear to be the antithesis of surfing. So when the Happy Days Diary 2011 arrived in the letterbox, I was stoked. It's a yearlong celebration of surfing and the environment - it's a million miles away from the usual boring diary which can make you feel like an office-drone.

This spiral-bound diary is in a seven days-to-two-pages format so you can see at a glance your week ahead. It features over 200 pages of delightful surf-related art and photographs and contains loads of interesting details – from feature stories on the marine environment through to surfing destinations. For those of us who like to doodle there is space for notes and drawings.
Another cool feature is that each month focuses on a different country, with photos and surfing information with the weekdays written in the local language. Sustainability is covered by the limited-edition run of 2000, it is printed locally in Australia on Ecostar 100% recycled FSC certified paper with soy based inks.
The Happy Days Diary 2011 also supports non-profit organizations on marine environmental issues that feature in the diary, including whaling, rainforests, climate change, plastic and over fishing information interspersed with the months. It is available in select book stores, art galleries, surf and eco stores, and online at http://www.happydaysdiary.com/

Springing into surfing

Not quite time to ditch the wetsuit, but spring means summer is on the way...

An azzure sky, a soft northerly and an upswing in water temperature means that surfers all along the Victorian coast are enjoying the spring waves. Not to mention calling in sick ('cough, cough, sorry boss I've got a bug'), as they indulge their surfing bug in the perfect A-frames melting in up and down the Great Ocean Road.
It’s been a long, long, icy cold winter in and out of the water and spring took a while to get going as even the more hardened zero water surfer will admit.

Now’s the time to remember to put on the sunblock along with your 3/2 and enjoy those uncrowded breaks before the summer hordes realise that now the footy has finished they can safely leave the house.

Late spring is also a good time to raise the bar on your surfing. Sometimes it's easy to settle into a comfort zone. Whether it's 3 ft beachies or always surfing your mal on 5 ft point breaks and nothing else, you can find yourself surfing the same beaches and the same waves all the time - and then you wonder why your surfing doesn't improve or maybe even begins to slip a bit.

Starting out
Once you discover your passion for surfing, it can be a weird mixture of fun and frustration, excitement and exasperation as you struggle to master your surfboard.
“When I started surfing, I attended lessons through a surf school each Saturday morning for about two months”, says Sydney surfer Belinda Glynn.
“Group lessons offered a safety buffer, we would all laugh and choke on water together and it made the surf seem less intimidating”, she recalls.
“Surfing with a grrlfriend helped me improve as she’s always encouraging and supportive”, says her friend Laura Soledad, who took up surfing in her 30’s.
“Having someone to encourage you really helps you persevere, especially through the times when you want to improve and you’d just get too frustrated on your own”.

Coach selection
Finding a coach with the right personality is as important as choosing your surfboard – get the wrong type and you’ll be floundering and miserable. Coaches are also good to return to on a regular basis to ensure you don’t lose your momentum.
“If you are really serious, think about getting a surf coach who can help you with the technical side of surfing”, says six times world champion Layne Beachley.
“A surf coach really improved my surfing in leaps and bounds”, agrees Laura. “He immediately identified bad habits and how to get rid of them and taught me good techniques which you don't get exposed to when you just jump on a board and go for it”, she says.

Look and learn
Northern Beaches surfer Sue Gill has been surfing for over 30 years and has caught waves in Mexico and Santa Cruz and closer to home, all along the Australian east coast from chilly Phillip Island to balmy Noosa.
“To improve my surfing and challenge my competence in the water I ask questions of my fellow surfers, particularly ones that seem skilled at a particular maneuver”, Sue says.
“I also watch videos of contemporary and traditional surfers of the 60’s and every time I venture into the water I aim to practice one aspect of my surfing technique”, she explains”.

Need to focus on your inner-surfer? Read The Surfer’s Mind by Richard Bennett.

Torquay surf news
For those who are heading down to the south-west coast, remember to check out the latest exhibition at Surfworld
Need to hire some gear? Or looking for some coaching to polish your cutback? Check out the friendly dudes at Torquay Surf Academy.