TIME FOR ANSWERS...

by THE COLT

How many times am I going to read the same thing over and over about the new proposed ESPN/Slater ‘rebel’ tour? I mean everyday the same story, same information, same people, same mags writing the same thing over and over without any closure. It’s like eating your own vomit time and time again. We get it. ESPN is looking at starting a new style of tour, so does everyone, seriously EVERYONE have to write the same freakin’ thing? Every article saying they don’t have the answers, they spoke with so and so and they weren’t sure, or this guys worried and on and on. Well, guess what we finally got to to the bottom of it all! Fed up with it all we got on the phone, called Kelly about the incident and said we wouldn’t hang up until it’s sorted. Well something wierd unfolded with Slater telling us things had changed, and this tour is now with Mark ‘Chopper’ Reid. We thought WTF? Slater was talking pretty sheepishly like something big had gone down. Being mates of the big guy we tracked him down in his little Tassie home and gave him a tingle…

G’day Chop, how are ya mate?

“How the fuck are ya’s?”

Mate we’re good. We’ve been chasing a story about the ‘rebel’ surf tour that’s been floating around the traps and we’ve been told to give you a call. We spoke with Slater earlier today but he was pretty shaken up and said you had some answers. What’s going on chief?

“hahahahahaha yeah fucken Slater, he’s a good guy but I’m a better one. There’s been so much debate, hype and talk gettin’ round the fuckin place talkin about this new anti AS-fucken-P rebel tour that Kelly and his crew are thinkin’ of runnin’. I was so sick of hearin’ the same shit with nothing actually fucken happenin so I stepped in to sort it fucken out. The only bloody rebel tour that’s gettin round town is me. Forget Slater’s tour bloody rebel sport bullshit, he aint’ the man in fucken charge, they took too bloody long to sort this shit out and someone had to step in. I’m the fucker that’s organizin it now.”

That’s crazy, ummmm I mean awesome mate. Why are you getting involved in all this stuff? I didn’t know you surfed.

“As far as I can see the current AS-fucken-P format is bullshit and missin’ the key areas of a real fucken sport. For one where are the fucken guns? When I paddle out in a comp, me 42 calibre gets me into the fucken final everytime. No shit of a lie. I remember back in 84 when I was smashin’ it up with the boys at the local Roo Island boardriders and this little fucker Bartoz paddled out into the lineup during the first heat. He paddled over and told me he was the one to beat ’cause he was almost on the WQ-fucken-S’. Bullshit I told the prick, I leaned over and pistol whipped the little fucker, broke his nose and cheek bone. He shut the fuck up then, paddled in and disappeared for a few years. I fucken won that day and I’ve loved the sport ever since.”

Ummm that’s great Chop, good to hear mate, but what about this current rebel tour, what’s going on there? Everyone’s in a stoop and carrying on not knowing what’s happening…

“Sorry boyz, me stories get me fucken goin’ and I get all excited again. hahahahahahaha. Back to me fucken rebel tour…how many fucken media places want to talk about the same fucken bullshit day in day out? I was sick of the fucken carry on so I decided I’d sort the fucken thing out meself. You ready for the fucken answers to the big questions?”

Yes please Chop Chop…

“We’ve got the ‘Chopper’ pro tour sorted with ESPN and will be taking off some time soon. I pick 16 hard mother fuckers to compete for the title and the big prize money and a few other fucken goodies. Each heat’ll have two hard pricks surfing in one on one heats and the loser gets knifed by one of me heavies. Wont kill the prick, just stab the fucker so that next heat he’s gonna have to work even harder. hahahahahahaha I’ll cap it at three stabs so they don’t get too fucked up cause we need em for each event. I know from experience they’ll be fucken fine from three hits. The winner gets a massive fucken supply of cash, a few of me connections, a fucken radical double action shottie and fucken sweet ass harley. It’s fucken all time!”

Sounds killer bro. So who’s sponsoring the whole thing?

“Don’t ever call me bro again ya fucker, me names Chop airight… Now, I’ve got the backin’ of a heap of sponno’s that owe me favours round the joint and they’ve heaps of fucken’ coin that they shouldn’t have, so they’re doing what I say or I’ll kill the bastards. After a few meetings they’ve become very keen to get involved with it all and we’ve come to a deal where they can travel through all the destinations partyin’ and doin’ what they do best and they can prob even make more money of the back of it, if you get me drift.”

Yeah nice. So what happened to Slater and his managers involvement? How did you come in and take over?

“Like I said I fucken snapped the other day when I kept hearing the same shit stories being shot around the place. So when I made up me mind that I was gettin involved I met with Terry fucken Hardy. Within 15 minutes of him carryin’ on and gettin’ nowhere I smacked him across the face and told him to shut the fuck up! There’s no need for fucken every idiot to be talkin’ shit about this tour without making somethin’ happen. Told him Chop is takin’ over so he shut the fuck up, packed his fuckin bags, and went cryin’ over to Mat Tinleys house. Never heard from em since? hahahahahahaha I’m not that bad of a person ya know. I’m just tryin’ to make shit better for everyone…”

You are Chop. Thanks for your time and is there anything else you want to let us know?

“hahahahaha, to all you fuckers that don’t know what the fuck is happenin, hearin the same shit every other fucken day, you now know. I’m fucken Chopper and this is the fucken ‘Chopper’ tour. You’ll get ya invites soon and you don’t be sayin’ NO. Can’t wait to see me fucken’ boys CJ & TAJ and me mate Slater. We’re all mates at the end of it all.”

Sweet! Look forward to it Chop Chop. Thanks for clearing it up once and for all…

“Yep, no worries fella’s…”

So there you have it. It’s all sorted, so no matter what you read or hear from here on in the debate is sorted. Time for the carry on to finish.

*NOTE: The above conversation is fictitious & none of the above characters were involved in this mock conversation. No seriously…

Check out Simon’s profile on mesurf > SimSurf profile

A SIGN?

Ever read into something thinking “A sign” while everyone else around you just saw it as a random event? Well today 14th July 2009, a 15 ft basking shark washed up on a beach outside NY. Ok, ocean animals die and wash up on beaches time to time (which is fucked up and sad but true), but two things make this instance a little whack

1. “”She says it is unusual for an ailing basking shark to come ashore. Usually they die in the ocean.” – ocean researcher Tracy Marcusis
2. The name of the area this shark washed ashore is called…BABYLON.

So what? Head of Babylon? Know about Babylon?
“Babylon was a city-state of ancient Mesopotamia, sometimes considered an empire. It has been officially recognised as one of the first civilisations on earth. It was the “holy city” of Babylonia by approximately 2300 BCE, and the seat of the Neo-Babylonian Empire from 612 BCE.“

I’m far from a religious person, but when a creature like the Basking Shark of that size washes up into a place that carries the same name as a significant civilisation then what the fuck am I supposed to think? We’re currently fucking up the world day by day, old news I know, but when we have occurrences like this happening and we all just stand back and watch, thinking “shit, that’s a big shark.” shouldn’t we actually be sitting up and listening?

Spiritual bullshit? Perhaps, each to their own, but for me, the colt, I’m taking this as a sign people and if in 2012 we’re all scrambling for our lives as the earth commits its own suicide then all I’ll be saying is “I fuckin’ told ya!” as I run board under arm to get out past the 300ft sets rolling through.

You’ve been warned…

- The Colt

Design Manager – Covers & Luggage

Posted by mesurf

Yep, times are tough, jobs are being lost like there’s no tomorrow and Swan doesn’t seem to have the solutions. It’s all doom and gloom…until now!

The legendary crew at Creatures of Leisure are playing their role in making the economy that little bit better and offering up a role in their design department.

Creatures are looking for an individual to manage the design, development and production of our technical product range including luggage and board covers.

Suitable candidates would need to be experienced in the following:
•    Product design
•    Product development
•    Production process experience related to technical luggage and other fabric/multi-component items

Job Description:

•    Oversee and manage the design, development and product of the technical product range including luggage and board covers

•    Be responsible for creating a complete merchandised luggage and board cover range from design through to delivery including sampling and commercial production

•    Work with sales and marketing personnel to ensure synergies with overall brand style and commercial needs

•    Work with suppliers/manufacturers to source and develop new materials, componentry, fabrics, treatments and technologies

•    Provide technical expertise on the category and have the ability to present projects and concepts to senior management, sales staff and participate in the trade show environment

•    Have the ability to deliver on seasonal timelines and within seasonal time constraints

•    Be responsible for the development, management and review of quality control and quality assurance standards with suppliers

•    Be primarily responsible for the commercial negotiations on pricing in relation to the technical bag and luggage category

Previous experience working in a busy medium sized business environment is essential, as is a minimum of 2 years direct experience in product management, design and sourcing.  Applicants with an action/outdoor sports background in these areas are strongly encouraged to apply.

International and domestic travel as required will form a part of this role. This is a permanent, full time position based in Dunsborough, Western Australia.  (See www.geographebay.com for information on the area) The southwest of Western Australia is widely acknowledged as one of the most beautiful places in the world, offering residents a high standard of living, great climate, access to world class wineries, national parks, surf breaks and so on.

Applications inclusive of a detailed CV and cover letter will be received until COB Friday 24th July, 2009 and will be treated in strict confidence.

Please Forward Resumes to:
The National Sales Manager
Creatures of Leisure, 11 Clark Street, Dunsborough W.A. 6281
Fax 08 9755 3603
Email vacancy@creatures.com.au

Creatures of Leisure are a leading International Surfing Company specialising in surfing hardware and accessories.  Established for 23 years, Creatures of Leisure distributes its products to an International market via more than 20 distributors as well as having company owned operations in Australia and the United States.   Additional company information can be found at www.creatures.com.au.

LAST HOPE

ABOUT
Andrew Kidman chose six of his favourite surfing filmmakers to create short films that were inspired by the sea. The filmmakers include Albert Falzon (Morning Of The Earth), Jon Frank (Litmus), Monty Webber, Michelle Lockwood (Kids) and American underground surf filmmakers Patrick Trefz (Thread) and Richard Kenvin (Hydrodynamica). Kidman also provides four special cuts of his own.

The filmmakers created their short films to music selected by Aaron Curnow from some of the greatest independent contemporary artists; Smog, Sufjan Stevens, Mogwai, My Morning Jacket, Dirty Three, Holly Throsby, Vetiver, Bonnie Prince Billy , The Brown Birds From Windy Hill and Machine Translations.

The quality of songs by these recording artists combined with the infinite beauty of the sea is something breathtaking, to say the least. Add to this the unique style of each filmmaker, their stories brought to life with these wonderful songs, and the result is at times emotional, sometimes harrowing, often funny and heartfelt, but always incredibly thoughtful. The viewer is left stunned by the vastness of the ocean and the depth of emotion in the music.

Says Kidman: “One of the most enjoyable aspects of being a filmmaker is the process of bringing scenes, emotions and stories to life with music. It’s kind of a filmmakers dream to have access to great music and the freedom to make whatever you want without the constraints of trying to make a full length feature or editors wreaking havoc with your work. This is what I was thinking about when Aaron Curnow and I first had a conversation about this project. I thought something special could come from just letting the filmmakers make what ever they wanted. I hope the project has kept a pure line and that these original thoughts transcend in the viewing”

Last Hope is a film for anyone with a love for the ocean. With the film’s collage approach, mixed with the quiet musical stylings, it presents a side of the life that is often forgotten in these modern times.

JULY TOUR DATES
July 2nd Noosa Bowls, Noosa Heads *
July 3rd Old Museum, Brisbane *
July 4th Byron Community Centre, Byron *
July 10th Neverland Bar, Coolangatta
July 12th Mullumbimby RSL, Mullumbimby
July 16th Waverly Bowling Club, Bondi
July 17th Palm Beach RSL, Palm Beach >>>
July 18th Manly Boat Shed, Manly >>>
July 19th Heritage Hotel, Wollongong (Tickets from venue)
July 20th Brass Monkey, Cronulla (Tickets from venue)
July 21st Royal Exchange, Newcastle
* with machine translations
>>> with holly throsby

tickets from oztix.com.au or on the door on the night.
make sure to get along and get amongst the surf crew, and feel the vibe that surfing’s all about. Support the industry that supports you.

mesurf is currently reviewing the LAST HOPE DVD, so make sure to check the site over the coming weeks to get the lo-down.

WHAT IS MESURF?

Mesurf.com.au seeks to connect surfers with everything surf-related

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 24 June, 2009 : – - Aussie upstart MeSurf.com.au builds their website on the basis that surfers need each other. They need equipment, forecasts, sponsors and videos. On top of this, the company is well aware that surfers have an opinion on just about everything, so you’ll find threads on any product, clip, event or release. Read on to find out what makes this noteworthy upstart tick.

WHAT IS MESURF?
mesurf is all about quality surfing content, top line design and relevant information. We’re creating an online surfing community that allows surfers to connect with the entire surf industry including brands, shapers, photographers, artists, surfers and all the pieces in between.  Everyday we publish fresh independent product reviews as well as brand releases, quality video clips and easy to follow fitness and technique tips.

WHAT SETS MESURF APART FROM THE OTHER ONLINE SURF PORTALS?
We are putting in the hard yards to produce a top quality site that delivers high quality content continually. We know surfers have an opinion on just about everything, so we’ve created mesurf to let them have their say. You can comment on any product, clip, event, release or anything else we post on the site. We’re so stoked on this functionality that we’re giving away a brand new stick from Chaos to one lucky punter just for throwing in the their two-bob’s worth. Head to www.mesurf.com.au and leave a comment for your chance to win.

TALK US THROUGH THE DIFFERENT AREAS OF MESURF AND WHAT EACH SECTION SETS OUT TO ACHIEVE
We currently focus on 5 core pillars:

PRODUCTS: A showcase of the best surf products that all surfers should know about.
ENTERTAINMENT: The best surf clips that are guaranteed to have you frothing! We also throw in a few crazy clips and images mix things up…
EXPOSE: Interviews & travel stories plus industry profiles of photographers, artists and shapers who the surf industry the amazing place it is.
FITNESS: We work with industry professionals to bring you key fitness techniques that’ll make you a better surfer.
TECHNIQUE: Quality surfers take you through a step-by-step guide on how to rip in the line-up.
NEWS+EVENTS: The latest news from surfing Australia, mixed with interesting and unique news items from the mesurf Blogs.

HOW DID MESURF COME ABOUT?
mesurf has been a project that’s been brewing for about 2 years. Back 12 months ago we launched a site called Shaper Search (www.shapersearch.com.au) designed to connect surfers and Australian shapers. Whilst working on Shaper Search we kept coming up with loads of additional content and big ideas which they didn’t really fit with the core offering of Shaper Search, that’s when mesurf started to take shape.

I’d been gagging to get my hands on info about the product side of the sport for ages. Just wanting to know about the latest gear as it dropped and about the quality of the products circulating the market. There wasn’t really a central place that covered this information and so my business partner, Dave, and I started toying around with some basic sketches of what mesurf.com.au was going to be and offer and then we just went for it.

YOU MENTIONED SHAPER SEARCH EARLIER, WHAT’S THAT ALL ABOUT?
Shaper Search is a massive passion of ours! Boardies, apparel and wetties are all sick, but without boards who’d give a f*ck? We’d all be playing golf! Shapers are the true core of the surf industry. It sucks to see these guys, who are the foundation stone of the surf community, having their businesses eroded by cheap pop-outs hitting the market. The few bucks you save buying imported boards just isn’t worth the cost of the loss of connection with our Shapers and the knowledge and experience they bring to the table. We want to reverse this trend, give Shapers a voice and put the soul back into the surf community.

If you’re a Shaper reading this, we’d be stoked to hear from you. Drop us a line at info@mesurf.com.au

WHAT’S BEEN THE REACTION FROM SURFERS AND INDUSTRY?

We launched mesurf at the end of 2008, and since it’s inception we’ve been growing at a rate of close to 20% month on month, with May 2009 posting over half a million hits. For a site that’s not even 7 months old we’re blown away with it’s traction!  We have a strong portion of unique visitors that are finding us organically and a very healthy return rate, which we’re attributing to our constant updating of the site so it’s fresh every time you come back.

We’ve had very positive feedback from the industry that have been involved with the site which is fantastic. If you haven’t been on mesurf, then you and your brand are missing out!

HOW DO YOU FIND PRODUCTS AND HOW CAN BRANDS BE INVOLVED?
We’re always searching the web, checking in with marketing managers and just keeping a finger on the pulse of the industry. We offer mesurf as a free service for brands and ask that they just keep feeding us information on any or all of their products as often as they want – mesurf serves as a gateway for brands to tell the surfing world about their products and services. The fact we’re free to use and designed in a way that it heros the product makes mesurf a marketers wet dream! To conduct reviews we require product for a few weeks to put through it’s paces. We then give the product back if the client so desires.

ANYTHING EXCITING WE SHOULD BE ON THE LOOK OUT FOR?
The beauty of online is that you can continually evolve and that’s exactly what we’re doing. Shortly we’ll have CoastalWatch surf reports and forecasts on mesurf. We’re also currently toying with video reviews that will be a new element to the site. mesurf also have a mobile arm in the wings that will be all time by late ‘09.  This in itself will be massively exciting and like nothing that is currently in the market place.

LET’S TALK A LITTLE ABOUT THE TEAM BEHIND MESURF. WHAT’S YOUR BACKGROUND AND CONNECTION WITH THE SURF INDUSTRY?
My (Ben) background is aerospace and mechanical engineering, which is a long way from the surf market I know! I pulled out of that arena years ago and moved into the sales/marketing area of the workforce. Beginning in magazines I later moved into a role at Australia’s Surfing Life for almost 3 years and finished up with them late 2007. I’ve also worked part time around the traps in and around surf shops here and there while I was studying. Since leaving ASL I have been working with Dave on mesurf, Shaper Search and a few other projects.

Dave’s background is in advertising and marketing. He’s a nightmare to work with as he’s always got a new idea that’s got to be done, then he’s off and you don’t see him for a week! But more often than not they are sick ideas, so yeah, it all works out well!

SO DO YOU STILL MANAGE TO GET THE ODD SESSION IN BETWEEN ALL THIS CONTENT?
We try to surf everyday. Sometime we get pretty hectic with mesurf and miss out on the odd session, but if the surf’s pumping we’re out there. It’s good to be out as much as possible testing new products, speaking with surfers and keeping the dream alive.

OTHER THAN SURFING WHAT ARE YOU BOYS INTO?
If we had the time we’d be doing something active every minute of the day! I’ve (Ben) recently been getting into longboarding (hill skating) when the surfs flat. This is a pretty quiet area in Aus but I can see if growing quickly. Speed, sliding, carving, it’s a mad little sport that can help with your surfing. I’m trying to make more of an effort with practicing yoga and have a huge passion for snowboarding and wakeboarding when I can fit those in.

I was into dirtbikes as a kid until breaking both arms and a collar bone back 3 years ago, but will get back on a bike again soon. Pretty much anything that’s fast, fun and requires some balance I’m into.  Surfing however is number one, always has been, always will be. Dave is also a mad keen snowboarder and it’s hard keeping him at bay during the winter season. Wakeboarding and motorbikes are his other interests, but like us all there’s just not enough time to be hooking in.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO GET OFF YOUR CHEST?
While mesurf is Australian based, we cover all areas of the world, so don’t think you have to be an Aussie surfer, photographer, artist or brand to be a part of mesurf. If you surf and want to speak with other surfers then come check us out and get involved.