"some vintage ski gear, "

Like what?

Don't want to lose site of this neat surf thread but yes, I've taken to vintage snow skis. I know it seems absurd, whacked, whatever but I could care less what others think. (I'm in my 50's and I still play with an all terrain skateboard too. Scare myself and probably others thinking whats wrong with him?? ha) Anyhow, I do have and keep up with fairly recent downhill equipment but there's times when just slowing down and taking it all in, simple thinking, reminiscing of what prior generations did or used... stuff like that. Maybe its like comparing to those who cherish and ride vintage surf longboards, cruise and take it for what it was and still is.

The vintage ski gear I'm talking of is telemark but could suffice poorly or borderline backcountry. Metal edged woody's. Old Head, Lund, JC Higgins, Kandahar pre-plastics, useable and not so much as wall hangers. A current use set-up is late 1950's Rossignol with late Voile (2000?) CRB cable with release telemark binding. Play safe. They stopped making them but a great tele 3 pin sole binding that safety releases... sort of a convertible, look classic vintage and most important, work. I woudn't think of using old bindings. The technology of the Voile release tele's work fairly good. For boots, I have a few pairs of the no longer made Asolo Extreme last generation leather with higher ankle support, buckles (1990's). Beautiful Italian craftsman made and quality. Fit and wear-in like no other. Need to stock up as its getting hard to find really nice ones.

Also have a fetish for traditional wood X-country skis. Mostly Nordic like Asnes. Break out the Swix, pop a cold one and take the time to wax.

None of this old gear is anything practicle or worth risk of pushing ones self but it is interesting to be out in it and soaking it in, seeing the evolution. Dragging a pair of old skis and gear as extra with the new stuff to a resort is not everyones ideal either. The looks from others and comments are sometimes worth the chuckle. Fun for a few hours then when you switch to the new stuff - charged!

Back to our regular tuned surf station...

I used to have a 12ft Mal when I was a teenager. Actually bought it off Lane Beachley when she worked at an Avalon surf shop called Beach Without Sand.

Gave it to a mate when I moved out of home and have really only done body surfing since. But I think it's time I picked it up again!

12ft Mal. Our neighbours at the beach had one of those and we, as six year old kids, used to carry it one kid at each end to the water and take turns on it. LOTS of waves with a mal that big and floaty.

I was out on the standup paddleboard yesterday and a pod of 20 or 30 dolphins were swiming back and forth next to me. They had rounded up some baitfish and were gorging on them.

yeah, that it was. even at 15 I was 6'2 and would sink most speed boards :(

Lol.

Love that term "Mal" - good stuff guys!

Speaking of good stuff how about Burleigh Heads firing......with only 4 surfers out?!?!?

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...40043033_n.jpg

Ever surf in New Jersey? I have. It's a legitimate surf culture. This video was made to help with repairs to the Casino Pier damage from Hurricane Sandy....


A Life Outside by Catherine Brabec — Kickstarter

<iframe width="640" height="480" src="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1605581315/a-life-outside/widget/video.html" frameborder="0"> </iframe>

Back in the day my aunt owned an Italian restaurant at Seaside Heights just down from the pier and my best bud from high school (who also got me into Motorcycles) lived in Montclaire and for a few summers we used to hit Manasquan and head down to Wildwood. That was during those days when surfers were outcasts - though we did give the folks plenty of other reasons to look at us sideways....

That buddy died almost 10 years ago.

One question however - just what is an illegitimate surf culture ???

I had an aunt that lived in Manasquan back in the late 70's. I surfed there a few times while on tour up the east coast. There is decent surf in NJ!

Illegitimate surf culture is probably just what it sounds like....

The pro tour is back in Oz.....

A Deep Burn

My Own Surfing Thread!
 

Love, Baz. :)

Son Instagrammed a pic of 8' (DOUBLE O) Burliegh Heads earlier this week. Looks like its finally turnin on down under.

They were having good conditions in Margaret River for the contest going into the weekend, Don't know how it turned out. I got into watching racing, F1 and ALMS Sebring, all at the same time. The season is on!

Cheers Richard

KIRRA!

OK music is a little funky - those Aussies. :)

Expand the video for best viewing. :cool:



<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/62238404" width="400" height="300" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe>

Who sez da right coast ain't got no shacks???

<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/59172138" width="400" height="300" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe>

Nice Baz. My grand daughter is named after Kirra.

Nice ff. A good friend who lives in Lennox Head also has a daughter named Kirra. It's a beautiful name.

Here's some footage of Gerry Lopez and Rory Russell surfing some beautiful Indian Ocean waves in Indonesia in the mid 70's.

<iframe width="640" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/u08pbExwsQQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

:cool:

Yo! At least somebody has some Indo footage!

Bali is really good. Can even rent a cheap house there for 3k a year. However, Sumatra is cheaper and the surf is better. The water is never cold. One lives life in less than T shirts and Bintang is cold and cheap. The oil prices are taking the car hobby to a point where I can't afford it. The only thing expensive about Indo is getting there and then that $3.00 a day surfer tax in Mentawai. Wonder if you have to pay if you come in by boat?

Beach comber life may next on the agenda.

Diverdan