Ulu
Our friends at Photogerson.com have just sent us a warming and fascinating set of photos of the Mentawai people. Luke and Kate have been in Indonesia for some time, you may remember last year we published their photo essay of the Mentawais.
On the Road
The Sitting Room Gallery
If you’re anywhere near Cowaramup, WA, do take five to drop in and see Russell and Catherine Ord at the Sitting Room Gallery. The Ords curate what is essentially a collective of independent local artists, all heavily influenced by the ocean and the natural environment.
The gallery opened this March, and is a great place to hang out, kick back and feast on some eye candy.
D-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-don’t do it… baby
El Salvador. The most dangerous, god-forsaken hell-hole in all of Christendom. What in Beelzebub’s name were we thinking coming to a place with such a bad reputation? Even in the badlands of Nicaragua people would lean in, speaking in hushed tones, as they told tales of hapless surf-travellers being accosted on the beach, a line being drawn in the sand over which they were forced to lie face down with their heads on one side of the line their bodies on the other as the prelude to an horrific, yet reassuringly accurate beheading.
Slide Nights
Sunshine and green water. Both Simon and I are pretty stoked on our new body slide equipment. When the surf gets too small you can leave your board and still get tubed… Crazy… We even got a visit from a curious seal.
World Cup fever
Drift contributer Tim Conibear and South African champion free diver Hanli Prinsloo have just launched their Soccer Surf Road Trip blog.
Taking an alternative look at the World Cup festivities, the blog aims give an insight beyond vuvuzela horns and mega-stadiums.
Stories from the North Sea
The North Sea has a rich if somewhat short and inconsistent surfing history. Like the inconsistent waves that grace our Northerly shores. From hidden world-class spots to thumping beach-breaks and from ex-world champs to heroic explorers. The North Sea has its fair share of varied landscapes, classic spots, characters, legends, and myths.
Mana-Gwa, Nica-Ragwa with a Jag-wa
The trouble with these remote-access Central American point breaks is that you can’t take a camera. To get to Lance’s Left near El Astillero, Nicaragua we took a bone-rattling ride in Johnny’s pint-sized hire-car to the fishing village. We then walked north up the beach for half an hour, fording rivers and scrambling over high-tide storm debris until we reached the headland which forms the point-break. We then had to inch our way around the rocky headland, making a run for it between sets to avoid being dashed upon the rocks before finally reaching the paddle-out spot.
Surf tax
Everybody has to pay their dues some time or another. Whether you do so in small, regular installments or save it up for the mother of all beatings, like my friend Ando, pictured here, is neither here nor there. We’ve all gotta pay… [Photos taken by Tim Delaney, punishment taken by Paul Anderson.]
FULL STORY »
Face vs board – board wins
Earlier in the year I wrote about re-losing my surfing virginity in Australia.
After a couple of months out of the water I vowed that I’d spend as much time surfing as I possibly could – and never again would I be content spending that much time not riding waves.
The Grain Surfboards Rollin’ Nolan Tour
Reporting on the Grain Surfboards Rollin’ Nolan Tour: some introspective thoughts by Nolan – past tour happenings – and the last few stops coming up…
FULL STORY »
