My Own Surfing Thread!

[Baz]

Filmed: Snapper Rocks, Gold Coast, Australia
8 February 2022

[Nordwest]

That's awesome!!!

[Heel n Toe]

Dolphin may have warned surfers about shark:

https://imgur.com/gallery/i1kgdIk

[Bill Douglas]

I had a lovely day surfing to celebrate ANZAC day. A large-ish four foot swell.

A gorgeous girl sitting next to me Asked "How long is your one?" I think I blushed a little and said "Eight." She patted her board and said "Much the same, this board is 7 foot 10."

Once that was sorted we had a very nice surf together. Still no idea why she wanted to talk to an old git like me, but anyway I sure had a good time.

[Baz]

[Racerbvd]

[Bill Douglas]

Baz, take care out there. https://news.yahoo.com/shark-bites-surfer-smyrna-beach-184554413.html

[Baz]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

Baz, take care out there. https://news.yahoo.com/shark-bites-surfer-smyrna-beach-184554413.html

Thanks, Bill!!! But nothing new here for most of us old guys.

The only area of our beach you have to be careful is around the Inlet, aka Ponce de Leon Inlet, which splits our best break to the south and the town of Ponce Inlet's best break to the north.

Our sharks (mostly Sand, Spinner, Black Tip) don't kill like the Great Whites and Tigers in Australia, California, and Hawaii.

And in the Northeastern US.

And over in the Gulf of Mexico they have a lot of Bull sharks, which are quite voracious.

Here we just use common sense. Stay out of murky water where bait fish are present. Especially at "The Inlet".

[Baz]

Why New Smyrna Beach has so many shark attacks

[Baz]

Found a couple of photos from the summer of '72. This is my first Creation board. I'm leaning against my Buick Special that we re-painted maroon. I went on tour that summer up the East Coast to visit my Aunt in Manasquan, NJ and stopped along the way to surf at as many spots as possible. That fall I entered college at UF.

Creation Surfboards was a local company owned by Jack Reilly, who did the shaping and also everything else at first and then hired many of us locals to help with other parts of board manufacturing. I ended up doing the polishing. Others did glassing, sanding, pinlines, and I think one even did some shaping. I also did fin boxes later on, so it was great experience for us all to learn about how boards are made.

Jack went on to become head of the Art Department at California State University Channel Islands and in addition to teaching art, he also created a class called the zen of surfing...lol....

Jack is originally from Clearwater and along with a group of friends came over to NSB after graduating from HS to live and surf. We all hung out for quite a few years to come and participated in the usual hi jinks, so lot of great memories!

Oh - and also the Creation logo was created by another mutual local surf legend, Mike Martin (RIP), who patterned it after the Carpenters logo.

[Baz]

[Bill Douglas]

Looks good Baz.

I've been out of the water for a month.

At 5 am the cat was walking around on the headboard of the bed trying to wake me up. Slipped and landed on my head, thought he was in trouble so did a power take off. Blood running down my face.

Then I worked on the SC in my dark and miserable garage. The wires to my safety lamp had frayed and I got a 240 volt shock.

I thought "Give up, and go for a surf." but I got slammed on the reef so hard it broke my big toe.

Umm, that was a month ago and still no surfing.

[Bill Douglas]

In Port Elizabeth, South Africa, the dolphins used to race us in the waves. You would be scooting along on a wave almost face to face with a dolphin in the wave.

[Baz]

Hey Bill....wow....glad you survived that month of calamities! Give yourself some time - you'll be back out there in no time!

Sometimes I have to take little breaks when one of my many joints gets sore and doesn't work right.

Recognize this spot?

Sand bottom bar!

[Bill Douglas]

Ah ha, that's Whangamata (spelling? I'm not good with these foreign languages). I haven't surfed it but have had a few swims there.

Some sort of crazy good left hander works there in the right conditions I believe.

Have you been there?

[Baz]

Have not been to New Zealand - hopefully one day.

Looks like a fun wave!

[Bill Douglas]

Actually, it's probably very good right now.

It's been raining cat and dogs in that part of the country. All the holiday makers fleeing. And a whole lot of water will come down that waterway (that's behind the camera and to the left) and stack up the sand bars.

[Rusty Heap]

Chasing and Filming Surfers with a drone was not a relaxing flight for me, you're drone is a 1/4 mile off shore only 15-20 feet above the waves.........one mistake and it's a sunk goner.

Here's my effort filming Kauai Wave Riders.......not too shabby. DJI Mavic Air 2.

[WPOZZZ]

The Eddie has a green light for Wednesday!

[Racerbvd]