Factory fire on Sydney's Northern Beaches

A fire started at a board shop at Collaroy shortly after closing time last night. At about 8pm, emergency services were called to the Wind Surf N Snow factory on Anzac Avenue, Collaroy. The factory is located just off Pittwater Road.

An estimated 100 residents from nearby houses, units, and businesses were evacuated as a precaution while officers fought the fire. It was extinguished by 10:45pm. No one was injured.

Wind Surf N Snow doesn't manufacture equipment on site, they primarily import equipment such as kiteboards, SUPs, and more recently foil boards.

The estimated bill for lost stock is $250,000.

Officers from Northern Beaches Police Area Command established a crime scene and commenced inquiries.

Comments

lost's picture
lost's picture
lost Friday, 11 Jan 2019 at 10:40am

Meth lab ?

lost's picture
lost's picture
lost Friday, 11 Jan 2019 at 10:42am

They also don't sell any snow gear at all either. Mostly a warehouse SUPs and Foils.

Assume all the black smoke was from burning foam and fibreglass ?

thermalben's picture
thermalben's picture
thermalben Friday, 11 Jan 2019 at 10:58am

Always wondered what that shop was selling - drove past thousand of times but never had the urge to pop in. 

Come to think of it, there's a lot of surf shops on the Northern Beaches that fit that description. I always assumed they were owner-occupier, as the rents are so exorbitant these days. 

blindboy's picture
blindboy's picture
blindboy Friday, 11 Jan 2019 at 11:23am

Oh no instant SUP shortage on the NB.

lost's picture
lost's picture
lost Friday, 11 Jan 2019 at 11:40am

Sadly a quick google search says otherwise unfortunately. Hopefully the whole SUP thing is close to peak and will drop away. Remember when sailboarding was massive only to give way to kiting. Foiling is on the way up. Goat boating seems to have gone to curry. Knee boarders are so few and far between i quite like seeing them out now. Boogers mostly between the flags. Fin-less and soft tops on the march ?

ojackojacko's picture
ojackojacko's picture
ojackojacko Friday, 11 Jan 2019 at 11:57am

foils are scary. should not be allowed in the line up

velocityjohnno's picture
velocityjohnno's picture
velocityjohnno Friday, 11 Jan 2019 at 7:08pm

Yep soft boards are the next craze.

velocityjohnno's picture
velocityjohnno's picture
velocityjohnno Friday, 11 Jan 2019 at 7:12pm

And so are motorised hydrofoil SUPs:

jbrowne's picture
jbrowne's picture
jbrowne Friday, 11 Jan 2019 at 11:56am

Why does everyone hate SUP'ers so much

lost's picture
lost's picture
lost Friday, 11 Jan 2019 at 12:05pm

I find it pretty funny when you have guys on on mals complaining about SUPs taking all the waves.....like they hadn't been the previous greedy buggers taking off on unbroken waves themselves

billie's picture
billie's picture
billie Friday, 11 Jan 2019 at 11:57am

That's really sad. Sam is a great bloke with a young family. Regardless of our thoughts towards Sups I'm sure we can all wish him the best for the future. I know I do.

Cheers

lost's picture
lost's picture
lost Friday, 11 Jan 2019 at 12:03pm

Fair point. Hope he has good insurance and is not out of business for too long.

Craig's picture
Craig's picture
Craig Friday, 11 Jan 2019 at 11:57am

I have to confess. I play SUP ball at Manly Wharf through the week. I repent my sins but in my defence it's only on flat water.. besides the odd Ferry wake ;)

lost's picture
lost's picture
lost Friday, 11 Jan 2019 at 12:03pm

Craig I've noticed a resurgence of sluggos playing said game. That your style ?

Craig's picture
Craig's picture
Craig Friday, 11 Jan 2019 at 12:03pm

God no!

lost's picture
lost's picture
lost Friday, 11 Jan 2019 at 12:07pm

Seems to be growing in popularity (the game and sluggos). I just get a glance as i hop off the ferry. What are the rules. Are there rules ?

Craig's picture
Craig's picture
Craig Friday, 11 Jan 2019 at 12:11pm

Yeah it's actually really really fun and the workout is insane. I've noticed making more of those critical reos in the surf from the increased core strength.

Rules, haha basically there are none. You can tackle, push, jump onto and push people off their boards with your own weight or paddle. Even when not near the ball or at the other end of the court, though that's pretty brutal.

Two orange buoys at either end which are the goals, five a side and like netball once you pick up the ball you can't keep paddling. You can drift but try and pass it to a team mate and hit the buoy with the ball. Then everyone has to race back to get back onside as the other team attacks.

That repetitive back and forth and trying to stay on the board when people are trying to take you out is what keeps you fit. Post game/training beers at the wharf are a bonus as well.

My first year but it is getting more popular for sure, had mates play for a few years.

Ballbag's picture
Ballbag's picture
Ballbag Friday, 11 Jan 2019 at 3:43pm

Next minute SUP quidditch will be an Olympic sport.

billie's picture
billie's picture
billie Friday, 11 Jan 2019 at 12:11pm

You play Supball? In a team? Do you meet afterwards for drinks?

Craig's picture
Craig's picture
Craig Friday, 11 Jan 2019 at 12:12pm

Yep and yep, see above.

spenda's picture
spenda's picture
spenda Tuesday, 15 Jan 2019 at 4:15pm

Wind Surf n Snow are a core local small business, who cater to the windsurfing, kiting and sup community. Sam the owner is a lovely bloke, family man with young kids to support. He is an accomplished paddleboarder, competes regularly in the molokai paddleboard race and still finishes in the top echelon despite being well into middle age. Always happy to chat to anyone who comes in, no pretence like some of the 'surf shops' you go into. News of this is really a terrible shame, I really hope that the insurers look after him.