From a Cronulla grommet to a Top 16 professional, an acclaimed designer and shaper, and the ultimate explorer of the Indonesian Archipelago, there is not much in surfing that he has not experienced.

Plastic production has increased from 1,700,00 tonnes in 1950 to 280,000,000 tonnes in 2011. In Australia just 20.5% of plastics are recycled. The result is each square kilometre of Australian sea surface water is contaminated by around 4,000 pieces of tiny plastics,

Cooper Chapman, with legendary Australian surfer/shaper Simon Anderson making his equipment for the winter, has an inside line on how to harness the Hawaiian power and turn it into results. Chapman reached the round of 32 at the Reef Hawaiian Pro last week and is now in the running for the Vans Triple Crown Rookie of the Year award.

This Friday the North Shore will see a large groundswell out of the NW which should produce solid 10 foot sets at exposed reefs. Not only this, the swell is likely to move accumulated sand off the reef at Pipe in readiness for the Pipeline Masters.

In recent times, China has witnessed a series of campaigns aimed at persuading people to stop eating shark fin soup. So it is encouraging that, over the past year, shark fin consumption appears to have declined. But can the drop be attributed to marketing pressure or something else?