When the rot sets in

Nice story by the boys at Grain on what they have done to preserve a little bit of history and show some respect for someones hard work in the past. Check it out here.

The Maljam

Okanui’s and Toothpicks by today’s standards they barely resemble a surfboard.The toothpick is an Australian designed and built craft originally designed for surf life saving. It’s made of timber, is hollow and has no fin. To turn them surfers used to drop the toes of their back foot into the water using their foot as a rudder. The hollow Okanui surfed from the late 40’s – 50’s until balsa was available.
Both are still handmade today by skilled craftsmen. At Maljam it’s a demonstration event that is sure to please the crowd...

 The Maljam is a celebration of the evolution of the longboard and is proud to have events on the day that reflect the progress from the toothpick through the okanui, Malibu ,foam “log” and the modern high performance hot dogger. The current World Champ, Taylor Jensen, will be competing along with  current Aussie Champ Josh Constable. Former World number one Haley Ingelby will also contest the prize money that was provided by major sponsor, Tim Riley of the 4 Elements Sporting Academy.

A host of local and interstate competitors will be in the mix for rewards that the richest one day surfing Event Australia has to offer.  Attending also will be members of the Barry Bennett family who will mingle with the crowd and explain some of the finer points of the longboard evolution.

Looking forward to seeing you all at North Curl Curl on April the 28th to enjoy the work of the world’s best longboarders, trade displays, great food and the company of the some of the icons of our sport.

 - Phil Nicol – President Curl Curl Longboarders

www.curlymaljampro.com

Simon Cox from Curl Curl Longboarders says: ‘We recognised that the modern day Single Fin Log riders were due the same recognition and rewards that the ‘performance’ guys get. The Maljam idea brings together the different longboarding styles, attitudes and riders for some serious fun at North Curly.” In 2011, Curly Maljam Pro was the first Australian event to support the ‘Single Fin Logger’ concept by awarding big prize money, which this year has paved the way for many other competitions to follow. All good for Longboarding.

Wood is good , but these guys are unreal

The 8ft simmons from Flama

It is great to have someone share their experience of riding a new wooden board and this is Aitor's ...

 "Some days ago I bought the first Flama Simmons surfboard, and Sergi from Flama  brought me home the surfboard (thanks Sergi), he stayed some days in Bilbao and we did some photos and some video recording."

" It's a perfect mix, an incredible vintage design and a new building system, old with new , the surfboard it is awesome, a lot of flow, ton of floating , so fast and easy to surf, and everything  made of wood with the perfect flama finish. "

" I send you some surprising pics of my first day with the surfboard, made with my gopro.

And a  a simple video of a foam wave of that day, just 40 seconds."

Aitor

www.flamasurf.com

The boys need your help

Mark Cruickshank of Crooked Blanks, Shawn Vecchione of Vec Surfboards, and Keith Natti of TwinLights Glassing have combined their efforts to make what they believe to be the most sustainable surfboard in the market.  But we need your help.  We want to get our surfboards out in front of people.  We want to show surf shop owners these surfboards.  We want to bring them to surf shows and let surfers touch and feel them.  And most importantly, we want to get surfers surfing them. So if you would like to assist the guys with their project check them out HERE

High performance wood from Timberline

 Great to see some high performance boards made of wood being surfed at the highest level and doing so well. Congratulations to Raphael Wolfe of Timber line surfboards in Santa Barbra,  California.

Nice quiver built by Timberline Surfboards and Jeff Hull of Resist Surfboards

 Vincent Duvignac ( European Champion) charging at the Biarritz Maider Arosteguy 2012 surf contest last weekend.

 He finished second surfing a Resist/Timberline 6′ rounded pin.

Vincent Duvignac

www.timberlinesurf.com

Joe Larkins night

Joe was the first surfboard shaper on the Gold Coast and had a thriving business in Miles Street Kirra in the early 60's

Joe surfing Noosa National Park  1963

Joe was the go to man for boards for a long time and had great team working with him.

 Johnny Charlton who grew up in Coolangatta was the MC on the night and kept things rolling. Joe is a character to say the least and there were many stories to be told and yarns to surface on the night.

 Phil Jarratt well known author / writer and surf mag editor had a few tales to share and probing questions to put to Joe. There were many well known faces there and Joe's life has certainly touched a lot of people. I am not great on surf history myself. But it is great to be in a room filled with people who were part of these great stories and hear them first hand.

Joe is a great guy who has had a very full and interesting life .

Joe is well known for his wooden boards of which he is a great craftsman .

PT was on hand to give Joe a fair ribbing and tell some tales on his good mate. PT worked for him in his younger days and Joe was his first sponsor , they go back a long way.

Joe was an avid photographer and film maker who shot the first footage of guys surfing large waves on the northern beaches of Sydney in the late 50's. These and others were picked up and used by the ABC on news reels in the early days. He later sold all his camera gear to Jack Evans for 300 pounds when he moved to the Gold Coast in the early 60's. Jack went on to be one of the great early surf photographers in Australia.

Joe Larkin this Wednesday night

Surf World Gold Coast is hosting a ‘Roast’ night on the 4th April to acknowledge the 50th anniversary of legendary surf pioneer and board manufacturer Joe Larkin’s move to the Gold Coast. 
 Already a well known surfer/shaper in Sydney Joe opened his factory at Miles Street, Kirra in early 1962 and in doing so became the first commercial manufacturer of surf boards on the coast. Noted for his craftsmanship his factory quickly became the hang-out for budding surfers and later in the 60s’ a think tank in the short board revolution.


Always one for a good time some of Joe’s exploits are the stuff of legends and with the event hosted (toasted) by long time friend John JC Charlton it is expected that the roasting will be severe. This event promises to be one of the highlights of Surf World’s calendar