Celebrating 100 Years of Surfboard Riding at Manly Beach.

Picked this item up from our forums… posting here in case you missed it. Looks very good!

Celebrating 100 Years of Surfboard Riding at Manly Beach.
1909-2009.
To celebrate the centenary of surfboard riding at Manly Beach the Manly Life Saving Club Australian Surfing Museum present an illustrated account of the early developments in surfboard riding in Australia by Geoff Cater at the Manly Life Saving Club on Sunday 19th April 2009.

Synopsis
Tommy Walker and his Hawaiian Surfboard, 1909.
In 1908, Manly surfer, Tommy Walker, purchased his first surfboard while visiting Hawaii and upon his return in 1909, began riding the board at Manly Beach. Other local surfers joined Walker and the popularity of surfboard riding saw a growing concern for the potential danger to swimmers. While some wanted an outright ban, others sought to regulate surfboard riding and in 1912 an amendment to the NSW Local Government Act provided for council beach inspectors to regulate surfboard use, depending on prevailing conditions. By the summer of 1911-1912, Walker had honed his skill to the extent that at the Freshwater Carnival in January, the Telegraph reported:
“A clever exhibition of surf board shooting was given by Mr. Walker, of the Manly Seagulls Surf Club. With his Hawaiian surf board he drew much applause for his clever feats, coming in on the breaker standing balanced on his feet or his head.”

Tommy Tanna and the Introduction of Body Surfing, 1890s.
Walker was one of the first generation of body surfers following the introduction of the ancient Polynesian art by South Sea Islander, Tommy Tanna, at South Steyne in the 1890s. Tanna inspired several local surf-bathers including Eric Moore, Arthur Lowe and the first acknowledged expert, Freddie Williams. These early enthusiasts promoted their newly acquired skills with public demonstrations at local surf carnivals and representative visits along the East Coast. In addition, by 1907 bodysurfing was actively promoted in the press as a healthy and inexpensive recreation, with articles including basic “surf-shooting” instruction and action photographs.

Duke Kahanamoku, 1914-1915.
While the number of surfboard riders steady increased and spread progressively along the East Coast, in December 1914 surfboard riding became front page news with the arrival of Olympic champion, Duke Paoa Kahanamoku. Ostensibly in Australia for a series of swimming competitions and exhibitions, Duke’s fame as a surfboard rider initiated a series of surfboard riding exhibitions, the first at Freshwater Beach on 24th December. Further demonstrations followed in the New Year at Freshwater, Manly, Dee Why, and Cronulla. Duke’s impressive performances dramatically lifted surfboard riding’s profile and, despite the outbreak of WWI, it continued to flourish. In Sydney, the world’s first surfing newspaper, The Surf, issued twenty weekly issues in the summer of 1917-1918.

The Pacific Games, Honoulu, 1939.
By the 1930s, surfboard riding was firmly entrenched and in 1939 Australian surfboard riders confidently accepted a challenge to compete against Hawaii’s best. Before the competition journalist Harry Hay, the swimming coach to Olympic Champion and Manly surfer, “Boy” Charlton, claimed “Australian’s Are ‘Tops’ in Surf Board Riding,” predating similar contentious articles such as John Witzig’s “We’re Tops Now” in 1966 and “Busting Down the Door” by Wayne “Rabbit” Batholomew in 1977. A team of twenty-two competitors and officials arrived in Hawaii in July to compete in an extensive series of events including competition with surfboards, surf boats, outrigger canoes and the surf ski, as well as a full swimming program. The representative surfboard riders were Dick Chapple (North Bondi), Keightly “Blue” Russell (Palm Beach), and Lou Morath (Manly). The Australians also received the full benefits of Hawaiian hospitality, overseen by the then Sheriff of Honolulu, Duke Kahanamoku, and upon their return to Sydney in August, the Telegraph reported, perhaps not surprisingly, “Surf Tourists Find Real Work Unpleasant.” The carnival’s success initiated plans for another in Sydney in 1940, which failed to eventuate with the outbreak of WWII.

Other Surfcraft.
While the essential focus is on surfboard riding, the development by Australian surfers of alternative wave riding craft will also be addressed. For example the surf boat, pioneered by Manly’s Sly family in 1903, the surf canoe, the surf ski by Harry McLaren in 1928 at Port Macquarie, and Dr Ernest Smithers’ surfoplane at Bronte in 1932.

Celebrating 100 Years of Surfboard Riding at Manly Beach, 1909-2009.
Geoff Cater
http://www.surfresearch.com.au/index.html

Presented by Manly Beach the Manly Life Saving Club Australian Surfing Museum.
Manly Life Saving Club, The Esplanade, Manly NSW.
2.00pm Sunday 19th April 2009.

Please direct inquiries to Geoff Cater.
02 44487490
geoff@surfresearch.com.au

Join the conversation about this on RealSurf’s forums by CLICKING HERE

10 Point Resume Health Check

So, you’ve been asked to step into the bosses office for a little chat? Likelihood is in this market that you might not have a job in the next 15 minutes (which can often be how short these conversations are). Regardless of the reasons or the validity of your employer’s argument, the result is the same. You’re going on a short holiday and then need to get yourself a new job.

The employment market has inverted over the past six months. Previously employees often called the shots, however now with the rapid increase in unemployment it is employers that have the upper hand. Recruitment agencies have more numbers on their books than they have in the past three years, so how do you stand out?

The first thing to do is to get yourself a decent resume. A resume is a marketing document designed purely to gain someone’s attention and let them know that you’re worth an interview. Once this is achieved it’s down to your personal style and fit with the organisation that may get you the role. If an employer is particularly savvy they may look at fit with behavioural competencies and other assessments of high performing characteristics. But before we get too ahead of ourselves let’s make sure you get through the door first.

Putting together a resume is not as easy as it seems. The following points are ones you can keep in mind to ensure you give people enough information to make you attractive as an employee, without giving them too much information to blow the whole thing:

1. DO NOT INCLUDE A PHOTO. (capitals probably tell you this is a pet hate of mine). Unless someone specifically asks for one, there is no need. OK… if you can’t resist because you think you’re that good looking and believe most people are superficial who will hire on looks then go ahead. But make sure it’s not that one of you down the pub with a couple of mates, or of you surfing, or in a bikini (doesn’t matter which gender you are). The fact is that it shouldn’t matter what you look like – you’re going for a job, not an audition. It’s all about the value you can add to the business. A photo just adds another possible element that they could use to exclude you. What if you’re better looking than your new boss?

2. Include some detail about your interests. But not too much detail. Given that you’re going for a job in the surf industry it’s good to tell them that you’re into surfing. But don’t overdo it. Statements like ‘surfing – especially when it’s 10 foot and slabbing bra’ do not help your cause. Neither does telling people you’re into origami unless you’re going for a job with Kikki K. Keep it relatively simple.

3. Keep the overall structure simple. People often look for the ‘next best thing’ in formatting a CV. Don’t do it. A resume should state who you are (‘Personal Details’ – name, address, interests), the education you achieved (‘Qualifications’ – 1st in spelling at Harbord Primary is probably not relevant) and where you worked in reverse chronological order (‘Career History’). Under this heading you should then provide a brief synopsis of the business – even if you think people should know who the company or brand is. Then split your role accountabilities into “Responsibilities’, the basic accountabilities in your job spec, and ‘Achievements’, what you achieved over and above others who may have had the same job as yours. This outlines the individual value that you can add to an employer and will separate you from average performers.

4. Do not use Comic Sans as a font. I can’t believe I have to say this, but using a font that makes it look like your kid sister in fourth grade did your CV is a career limiting move. This also goes for Broadway, Magneto and Wingdangs. Try something simple like Arial, Gill Sans or Times New Roman. Remember, it is your experience that should speak for itself.

5. Include a cover letter. But make sure it is at least partly tailored to the role you are sending it in for. Addressing it to “dear Mike” at Rip Curl when it should be “dear Wendy” at Oakley is not going to go down well. Apart from slandering Wendy’s entire gender by addressing her as a bloke, you also tell her who else you’re talking to. Not a good move. Read the ad you’re responding to and include references to the key areas outlined in the ad and how your experience reflects skill in those areas.

6. Make contact. This is not a piece of resume advice per se, but relates to it. Never send out a resume without attempting to call the contact named in the ad. If the ad doesn’t name someone then fair enough, but it could be worth a few calls to see if you can identify the key person responsible for the role. A personal connection can always help you stand out. It’s surprising how many people don’t do it.

7. Demonstrate results. In the achievements section of your CV, make sure you are able to indicate some sort of measurement of the initiatives you were involved in, and your personal involvement in those initiatives. Raw data and numbers speak louder than broad fluffy statements.

8. Keep it simple. A resume should not be your own personal version of War & Peace. Keep things to around four pages maximum. In the same vein it should be longer than a page – fitting it all on an A4 sheet makes it easy to lose and looks like you’ve got so little experience you should only be going for jobs as the lollypop man at the local kindy.

9. Friendly but formal. Salutations like “Hey mate” or “g’day fella” should be reserved for when you’ve actually got the job. Your correspondence doesn’t have to be all “Dear Mr Warbick” but should at least maintain a modicum of respect until the employer has invited a less formal method of communication.

10. Use Spellcheck. Seems obvious I know but you’d be surprised how many people just click send without adhering to the basics. Spellcheck doesn’t get everything though so if you’re in doubt have that mate who won 1^st place in spelling at Harbord Primary have a look at it for you. He might be able to pick up a few other grammar issues that you missed. In this climate people can use all sorts of measures to cut down the shortlist. Make sure you’ve got the basics covered.

Once you’ve got all these sorted get out there and apply away! You’ll be in a much better position to get an interview and hopefully secure that cushy industry job.

Nick Chandler is Partner at Luminary Search, Chandler Macleod’s Executive Search business. He has been providing recruitment and consulting services into the surf industry for over ten years.

Late arvo update

Hello all,

Went out on an errand and decided to take the camera with. Got a few more snaps for you to close out Thursday.

A few bods in at Northy, but although it seemed pretty clean, it looked like long waits for pretty gutless offerings. As you came down the beach, the NE’r was chewing into it and no one was in the water. Lot of weed as Robbo noted, so that no doubt is contributing to the problem for potential visitors to the waves.

Around at Long Reef the conditions were quite clean, but the swell was just not doing much. Again, very fat looking and slow. You really need a mal to get much going on the outside. In on the banks, there was a little more push happening for a few folks on the shorter gear. Given that all the kids are out of school, I’m a bit surprised at the numbers being so low.

This wave never quite broke, but he got a fair old way on it.

About the juciest thing I saw late Thrs. arvo.

Ekeing out a few turns on a slow-rolling set wave.

Not many out and not many to be had either.

BSR 2009 04 09

BSR pic of the day

Bali Surf Report
Date = Thu, 09 Apr 2009
Time = 09:00 AM
Location = Padma – Legian
Size = 2-3 ft
Surfers = more than 20
Tide = high tide
Wind = offshore wind
Weather = sunny
Water = not really calm and little bit strong flow
Wave = not really consistent but still fun and power

Legian: High tide at Legian can serve up some of the most power-packed beachbreaks in the world. Always bigger than Kuta, although it usually closes-out on low tide. It also closes out on high tide if the swell is over 8 feet. Because Legian is in the curve of the beach, it collects the compressed energy of all swells. If Kuta is only 3 foot, sometimes Legian can be mignificent at 4 – 6 foot. A handy hint is that Kuta Reef is often about the same size at Legian. A hot crew of young Bali locals surf here regularly, so smile, share and be friendly to enjoy your sessions here.

Meyerhoffer – The Evolution of Wave Riding

The Meyerhoffer.

The Meyerhoffer is possibly the most radical design innovation in Longboarding for a generation. With this ultra-modern take on the traditional Longboard world renowned industrial designer Thomas Meyerhoffer and Global Surf Industries bring his design excellence into the realm of the everyday surfer, increasing the ultimate experience and propelling surfing into the mainstream consciousness more than ever.

Always in search of ways to increase the experience Thomas Meyerhoffer designs products in the areas of sports, technology and furniture. His previous experimental surfboards have been included in New York’s Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum and the Pasadena Museum of California Art, while Outside Magazine has tipped the Meyerhoffer Longboard  in 2009 as ‘a surfing product that will blow your mind.’

In action.

Each section of the board is optimized for maximum performance, the design evolving into an incredibly complex shape with three different bottom contours that transition smoothly into each other with its own purified purpose in an organic and seamlessly effective shape. Just like nature itself. The evolution of the Meyerhoffer has been a process of taking away more than adding to traditional forms, enabling Thomas a greater opportunity to shape the board.

“As a designer I believe in the proportions of nature. If you change a shape in one direction the flow on effect undoubtedly changes it in the other,” said Thomas.

From the wide tail through a minimal waist and into a more classic nose, the design brings short board elements into a longer board to maximize speed and turning, provides paddling ease and high performance nose riding. Every element of the board provides the ability for smooth transition from front to back.

“I want to further explore that indefinable feeling of surfing and I see this same sentiment within Global Surf Industries,” he added.

And in their quest to push the boundaries of surfboard design Australian company Global Surf Industries has teamed with Thomas for the next chapter in this evolution.  The Meyerhoffer once more takes us back to the Longboard and beyond the current shape while still encompassing core shortboard philosophies in its design.

“It has always been a goal of mine to help create definite design differentiation in the retail surf industry,” said GSI Managing Director Mark Kelly.

“As a whole, surfboards are very similar and I believe today it is shapes over construction that we need to develop further.”

Global Surf Industries is the largest surfboard distributer in the world, distributing to over 50 countries. Mark believes if you were to take 20 random boards from the rack at your local surf shop and remove all brand definable markings, most of us would be at a loss trying to differentiate between each. Unless however, included in that collection are the latest Meyerhoffer Longboards.

“We are a company for the recreational surfer and I cannot wait to give every surfer out there the opportunity to ride this truly innovative piece of modern design,” concluded Mark.  The Meyerhoffer model was release in limited numbers in the USA this month. It will be available around the world over the next few months.

The Meyerhoffer is being marketed under Global Surf Industries – Modern Longboards brand. It was officially launched and surfed at this year’s Global Surf Industries Noosa Festival of Surfing in Australia. The Festival ran from March 15 – 22 and encompassed the GSI One Design Invitational – all contestants surfed the 9’2 Meyerhoffer model. Reports from all surfers who rode the board was that is outperformed their expectations and the comment “There’s some special about this board” were repeated over and over.

For more information, videos and reviews go to www.surfindustries.com/modern

BOARD SPECIFICATIONS

All boards are constructed in GSI’s SLX – Super Lightweight Epoxy – technology to ensure maximum responsiveness. We have glassed all boards with white tinted epoxy resin. They have 2 X 6oz layers of fiberglass on deck and 1 X 4oz bottom with a 6oz patch on the fin area. We give the boards the gloss polish finish and they come 6” or 8” Centre fin and FCS side fins depending on their length.

Morning run around, Freshy to DY

All pretty fat and full along the southern end of the peninsula this morning (as those of you who checked out the vid broadcast from the beach).

Here are a few snaps to give you a feel for the conditions.

Corner had the most juice at 0900

Tiny Freshy section gets a whack.

Not looking the very best at the north end.

South Curly was weed free and small

Took this with a standard lens on the Sony a900 DSLR.

Distractions: tweets from this morning

joelparko
Got a bunch of crew asking about the dimensions of the bells board. Its a JS 6’2 x 18 3/8 x 2 1/4… Also its my birthday tomorrow yew!

KangaCairns:
A really great training video featuring Brett Simpson http://tinyurl.com/dfsemd Aaron Lieber is traveling with Brett documenting his year.

UnaOla
Just surfed perfect waves all day. Follow link to my Costa Rica Surf Report – http://tinyurl.com/ctvv2y

Dee Why to Bungan report 10:45am

Drove from Dee Why to Bungan earlier this morning, checking everything along the way and the tip is South Narrabeen, although you’re way to late to avoid the crowd that’s gathered.

Lots of quick, zippey barrels, quite a few close-outs and mountains of seaweed on the inside, but some great waves. Not much happening anywhere else though should improve as the tide drops.

Cheers,

Rob

Mona Vale

The surf is only about shoulder high, and pretty inconsistant, but it’s so nice and clean and fun when they come through! well worth going out if you can make it past the seaweed mountains.

Sunny skies and a little smaller

Hello Friends,

Nice to see sunny conditions and a few little waves around along the northern beaches this morning. The tide is affecting it, but the swell is sticking around, albeit at a slightly diminished size and power level. Average is around 1.5 metres and it’s coming from the SSE at around 9 seconds apart.

Sets at Dee Why are pushing into the shoulder high range, but it has to be said that they do look fairly fat and slow. Pull out the fishy or the mal for best results this morning I’d say.

High tide was at 0751 and low is at 1357.

Here’s the Bureau’s call and if you scroll to the bottom of the main page you can see what the extraordinarily reliable Goat has to say about our prospects…

I’m planning to get out and about with a camera, so keep an eye on the the latest live vid report link bottom right of the main page… when it shows today’s date, you’ll know I’ve filed a progress report from my travels.

Thursday until midnight: Wind: Variable 5/10 knots, tending E/NE 10/15 knots in the afternoon.Sea: to 1 metre. Swell: SE about 2 metres.
Friday: Wind: NW/NE 8/13 knots, becoming NE 10/15 knots in the afternoon.Sea: around 1 metre. Swell: E/SE 1.5 to 2 metres.
Saturday: Wind: N/NE winds 10/15 knots ahead of a S/SE change 10/15 knots.