A Little Respect, In Byron Bay Today.

Now it was a rather glorious morning to say the least, sun was out, lines were reasonably clean and the crew were feeling well happy and mellow, in Byron Bay today. Then many sponsored pro Groms arrived in the bay. Now we got nothing Pro Groms, we got our fair share that live here and they are fine. But these guys were kind of different. Don’t know where they were from, or what their program was. But they brought a tonne of attitude and zero respect for anyone else in the water in the bay. So as much as I’d prefer not to, this must be said. Not cool behaviour guys, really not cool at all. Sure these kids were good, but hey we got local crew surf just as well or better, and they sure don’t behave like you guys did. Turning up at someone else’s home en masse and then proceeding to repeatedly burn and snake everyone else in the lineup is just plain lame. It’s not particularly good press for your sponsors either. So try to work with the crew when you visit next time, not against them. A little respect to the locals in the water goes a long way to making it all good for all concerned, In Byron Bay Today.

ANZAC Day – Lest We Forget

95 years ago, our diggers stormed a beach. Because of their heroism we can continue to do so today with freedom. Lest we forget.

ANZAC Day in 2009 was one of the best days of the year. Re-live it here http://www.wozthatyou.com/portfolio82031.html

Doug

www.wozthatyou.com

A new meaning for nipper?

In the email…
A small shark nipped a surfer on the leg at Mona Vale this morning. Expect a few more “nippings”. White Pointer sharks have been protected since the late 1990′s, therefore there’s going to be a lot more in the water.

The sharks that attacked surfers last year were identified as small White Pointers and I’ll put money on it that this morning’s attack was the same species.

Thankfully, BIG White Pointers aren’t doing the damage. This is because Whites are what are called “developmental habitat dwellers”. That is, a female shark gives birth about every 18 months to a small number of pups. About a metre in length at birth, they’re vulnerable to attack out in the open, deep water miles offshore, so they swim into shallower water to feed on bait fish, tailor, salmon etc. This is obviously around headlands and beaches.

Therefore, before they “develop” into bigger sharks and can target bigger mammals and fish further offshore, their “habitat” is going to be where we play in the ocean. If all those mature female White Pointers have been producing a litter every 18 months since the White Pointer’s protection in the late 1990′s, we will be seeing a lot more little sharks biting people in the surf.

We’re lucky we don’t have seal colonies close to surf beaches like in South Africa, otherwise the BIG White Pointers would be a problem.

As a surfer who grew up in the South Island of New Zealand, I had a couple of moments with White Pointers. This instigated a healthy respect. I’m now on the committee for a recreational fishing lobby group and have access to some really interesting State and Federal Govt. fisheries data on this species.

Just take consolation that these smaller sharks aren’t targeting humans. They see our flailing extremities such as arms and legs are fair game, something smaller than them. I’ve been told by a fisheries scientist that the reason why White Pointer sharks don’t “usually” carry on with it and eat us up is because of how we taste. His comparison was “sink your teeth into an unripe lemon and you’ll get the drift”. Most probably why the shark repellent kits issued to airmen in World War II contained acetic acid (bitter lemon taste).
-Warwick Gibson

A Walk On The Wild Side, In Byron Bay Today’s Surf safety readers letters are in!

After the near fatal wounding of pascal Datler, we decided to ask our readers for their opinions on surf safety in Byron bay. It’s too long to explain, lets just say we’re publishing  only those who had the courage to use their real names. It’s entertaining, occasionally controversial and it may just tweak your buttons if you think you’re captain cool, in Byron Bay today

In Byron Bay Today’s Car Park News.

What a week, firstly, I’d like to say we’re so stoked to see young Pascal up and moving so quickly, that’s great news. I’m also suitably impressed with the manner in which the young bloke, his family, friends and the broader Byron Bay recreational surfing community has handled yet another media circus in Byron Bay. Well done guys, you’ve managed to keep prejudice, personal politics and business agenda out of the picture thus far. Although there is highly concerned talk circulating the beach car parks of an Invites Only Community Forum on Surf Safety, being planned. Which is a bit of a worry, should it turn out to be true. I mean really, invites only, what’s that? Yet there’s hope  The Northern Star on Thursday reported the following quote: “We want to get the whole surfing community together to figure out the best options,” Byron United president Ed Ahern said. “We need to be proactive in this.” Well I suspect the whole Byron Bay surfing community and certainly our readers, will be waiting to see if big Ed is going to keep his word on that one, bacause the talk in the streets is of a cloistered council with hand pick reps talking on our behalf. Which in a democracy is just outrageous. By the way, don’t you reckon invites only community forum is possibly one of the best examples of an oxymoron that you’ve ever heard? In Byron Bay Today

Manic Monday in Byron Bay today.

Manic Monday In Byron Bay Today. It was a glorious day in the bay today, the sun was shining the waves were clean and the crowd was smaller than expected. So why the hell was it so hard to get a wave today? Every local surfer I spoke to today complained of being severely hassled in the water today, and to make it more difficult to handle, hassled by people with little to no surfing ability. I’m curious where did beginner surfers get the idea it’s cool to paddle out somewhere you’re visiting and try to take over like you own the place, is there website out there, that teaches Gumby’s how to hassle? I don’t know maybe people felt that they may never get another Monday off. Whatever it is guys, remember it’s not a competition out there, show a little respect in the water for your fellow surfers, visitors and locals alike. Or go somewhere else, because the local crew were not amused. It’s most uncool to manically paddle around the place and try to claim every wave. Remember people we’re in the water to surf, relax, chill out and take it easy, it’s about some time spent in the realm of Huey. It’s not about stroking your fragile liuttle egos, In Byron Bay Today.

Well there ya go, that feels much better, that’s my whinge for a while.

Byron Bay Today 12th July 2009

Byron Bay Today July 6th 2009

Byron Bay Today June 22nd 2009

The way it was in Byron Bay Today May 13th 2009