It's been a big twelve months for Gold Coast shaper Gary McNeil. The one time production manager at Nev and JS has struck out on his own. Unencumbered with the politics of business he now concentrates on the business of design creating the best surfcraft he can for test pilot Dave Rastovich and anyone else who waltzes through his factory door.
The swell wasn't the best direction for the point on Monday - 'twas a touch too south so breaking off the reef a bit. Still, it was double overhead, offshore all day, and the locals knew where to sit for those that hit just right.
Fifty years after the 1964 World Titles at Manly, which attracted 400,000 television viewers, professional surfing has repeatedly failed to reach the heights its adherents believe it deserves. The Sage of Noosa, Phil Jarratt, strokes his chin and ruminates on a not-so-modern quandary.
South Coast groms Russell Bierke and Sean Mawson go wave for wave at a slabbing left near home. Put together nicely by Max Zappas.
"My first real experience with SurfAid was nearly 10 years ago after the Boxing Day tsunami in December 2004. It was one of the most extraordinary experiences of my life."
More footage from the last big swell at Namibia. Donkey Bay is the correct name for the wave now known universally as Skeleton Bay.
One of the better days this year at Sydney's premier reef breaks. Featuring Mick Fanning, Julian Wilson, Karl Attkins, Spud Salazar, Mark Mathews, Ian Lloyd, Pama Davies and Hayden Blair.
Bookmark this one for night time or weekend viewing. Lemonyip Living is a 20 minute short film that sets itself apart with fantastic filmwork, editing, music, and of course surfing.
A short film by Patagonia narrated by Kohl Christensen that looks at a swell in January where the paddle in revival broke new ground. For two consecutive days the new breed of big wave surfers put themselves and their oversized 10 foot plus boards into parts of Pe'ahi never before traversed.
Never mind your deluxe Maldives and Mentawai jaunts, Phil Jarratt chose a slightly less exotic destination for his most recent surf trip. What it lacked in mod-cons it balanced with a whole heap of heart.
Benji Brand with a quarter mile speed burn down the point. The wave works up a head of steam after 30 seconds, hits powerband around the minute mark, and goes into hyperspace somewhere around 1:30.
"I loathe selling them because they all have a story to tell." It's the lament of the reluctant board seller. The anguished fellow whose collection is the result of years of effort, which epitomises his passion for the craft and for surfing's rich history, and which equates to a shed load of coin...and now he has to sell it.
