by Franck Gazzola | Apr 30, 2012 | Daily Updates
Everybody, I would like to introduce French Franck! He is soon to be hitched to a wonderful girl named Laure and we are in the Maldives for his bucks trip. Instead of recreating The Hangover and having an insane bender, Frank and a bunch of his best mates from both Oz and France have merged on this little paradise strip of islands, to have the surf trip of their life. Luckily for me I was asked to tag along.
It was a bit of a journey to get to the Maldives. 27 hours of power in fact. But once the boys hit the water for their Maldivian initiation all travel weariness was forgotten, as they surfed a fun little right hander named "Blue Bowls" (not "Blue Balls") in the southern atolls. It was mostly 2 – 3 ft but every so often a bigger one would sneak through the radar from deep in the Indian Ocean.
If your looking at booking a surf trip for you and the gang check out The Perfect Wave Travel. They are the best in the business!
Stonemen are giving away a custom made Michael Peterson "Kirra Special" 6' 2" single fin, shaped by Simon Jones (Morning of the Earth surfboards) and hand air brushed by Shane Martin. This is your last chance to win this amazing prize click HERE and put your hat in the ring. While you're there, check out Stonemen's creative range of undies for guys and gals. As one of our readers you can receive a 20% discount on Stonemen reg grundies with the discount coupon "frothers." Good luck! Brad
by Franck Gazzola | Apr 27, 2012 | Daily Updates
Frothers – It's Friday Funday and have we found a giveaway for you! Stonemen are giving away a custom made Michael Peterson "Kirra Special" 6' 2" single fin, shaped by Simon Jones (Morning of the Earth surfboards) and hand air brushed by Shane Martin. Sadly Michael Peterson died last month, aged 59, but you could be riding a single fin just like that of the '72 and '74 Aussie Champ's. To win this amazing prize click HERE and put your hat in the ring. While you're there, check out Stonemen's creative range of undies for guys and gals. As one of our readers you can receive a 20% discount on Stonemen reg grundies with the discount coupon "frothers."
Now moving onto the report! – Wave conditions are pretty good out there this morning. 3ft of southern goodness in fact. I arrived back from Bali yesterday and was happily surprised by a fun right hander at Bronte. However it was jam packed full of morning revellers and even the best hustlers were struggling to get their hit. It looks like more fun on the way for the weekend.
I'll be in the Maldives next week so stay tuned for a tropical escape.
Have a good weekend – Brad
by Franck Gazzola | Apr 26, 2012 | Daily Updates
I don’t know what has gotten in to me lately. I’m surfing more and putting those things that I really need to do on the back burner, while I jump in the car and chase waves. It feels like I’m re-living my youth and my age is just a number which is currently unlisted. I think I will put my phone on silent to make sure I don't break the spell.
The ‘Day Trip’ is a wonderful thing. You can fly to Indo, Fiji or Hawaii and usually score amazing waves but it takes a little planning. The day trip, however, can be conceived and actioned in just a few minutes. No packing and travel agents, visas or injections. Just a car full of fuel, some boards on the roof and a few friends are all you need for a great time. It’s a mini holiday right there and then!
That beautiful east swell we just had caused me to take another one of those mini holidays to the Central Coast last Tuesday. Charismatic WCT surfer, Matt Wilkinson was on board this time, along with fellow born and bread Central Coast surfers, Damien Wills and Glenn ‘Micro’ Hall. We found some great, uncrowded little lefts to surf all day and for 4 frothing goofy footers, we couldn’t have asked for more!
Life is good!
Billy
by Franck Gazzola | Apr 25, 2012 | Daily Updates
Freedom is something that most of us take for granted living in the lucky country. Today it has even more significance as we remember those that have fallen protecting our way of life and great land. Lest we forget!
While over here in Bali I picked up a cool little literature journal named Kurungabaa in which its content is inspired by history and ideas from the sea from writers and photographers from all around the world. I have pulled an excerpt from a story by writer Rebecca Olive's – Expression Session in volume 3.
" Surfing takes you places, asks you questions, opens up possibilities and shows you things you didn't expect. It connects you back to yourself through oceanic ideas, challenges and experiences, and describing all of this as freedom certainly makes poetic sense. The quintessential image is of one surfer on a wave, uninhibited, and limited only by their own imagination. It is truly in-toxicating " – Surfing is freedom.
I spent yesterday afternoon photographing people playing in the waves and being free at one of my favorite surf spots in the world. Racetracks, Uluwatu.
Enjoy your day off – Brad
by Franck Gazzola | Apr 24, 2012 | Daily Updates
Whoa, we had a huge response to yesterday's final chance at getting your hands on a SILathletics freebie. John Sullivan, Luke Dyer and Myall Stevens you can expect a special delivery as the lucky winners. Yew! But, don't forget SILathletics will be down at Bondi Markets or you can visit them online if you want to check out more of their stylin sport specific range.
It’s nice out there to today. Plenty of sun and a few small, clean peaks still hanging around, remnants of the swell which hit at the end of last week.
I’m heading north today, so I thought I would give you a look at the beautiful waves we had down the coast on Friday with WCT heavyweight, Owen Wright and friends. I failed to upload the report due to running out of laptop power on a bush track after the session.
I made my first trip to the South Coast of NSW at age 15 and I fell in love with it. I definitely don’t come down here enough anymore but every time I do, I re-live a little of my youth and remember why this place holds such an important place in my heart.
Have a great Anzac Day everyone. My Great Grandfather, Bruce Stewart was one of the fallen that never came home. I’ll be throwing a toss for him.
Billy
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