Lucky it broke!!Plenty sharks where i come from craftee,in n outta the water!!
My vote is for the shortboard & the leash. Because back in the good old days, crowd control was maintained by a 40 lb triple 10 oz glassed, Barndoor D fin. Yep back in the good ol days, those same kooks would chuck those 40 lb widow makers and dive for the bottom on a big close out set. Then the poor guys inside would have to paddle through the gauntlet 15 fiberglass missles, twisting ,turning and penetrating up to 10 feet underwater, looking for human flesh & skull to lacerate… AAAhhhhh, the good ol’ days.
There was a time in San Diego when mothers tried to get surfing outlawed. There was a time when surfboards were doing so much damage & death that it was almost banned from the beaches. I think the leash has been the best invention for surfing.
Beaver tail wetties,number 4.
softboards.
Damage,death?Ahhh the good old days!!I think everyones gone soft!!
The worst and gayest surf invention would be webbed gloves.People that I have seen wearing them are usually donkeys.
leashes
surf schools
surf industry
surf clothing
surf camps
longboard renaissance
pro surfing
my vote is for surf forecasting.
the main buoy is down this year in hawaii and it has made things very nice… i have scored a number of very uncrowded great days because we don’t have the 7hr or so warning that the swell is actually coming… as a kid some of the most fun days i had were after driving to the beach and finding no waves, the things we did for thrills and entertainment were crazy… the whole look at the forecast and plan your week accordingly has really screwed our sport…
yep-the nail in the coffin-surf forecasting and wave cams can kiss my ass…
G’day Mick,
What about that retractable leggie thats was out a few years ago, or the adds for the wings that you wear on your forearms to increase your paddling speed.
Pissed my self laughing when I saw that one.
Ever see the physiques of Doc Ball and co. in photos from long ago. No leggies and huge boards.
Not many surfers around with that level of strength, fitness and water knowledge anymore.
I cant imagine paddling out at some of the spots around here at 4-6 ft without a leggie, and those guys were paddling out to the outer reefs at 25 ft.
The new equiptment has made us all soft.
But look at the standard of surfing.
Surf schools usually do educate their students about ettiquette and the like, whether they listen is another thing.
Not many adults would be learning to surf back in the day. Now you have a 30 plus year old man to contend with. I’m sure he’s going to listen when you tell him to get back to the beach and stay out of your way.
Cheers
Daren
Arrrggghhh web cams.
Spent years building local knowledge of spots swell size and direction , winds tides etc. Now it’s served up to kooks on a platter via the web. Beginners are missing the sense of pride that developing knowledge of your spots brings . It’s what makes you a local.
Cheers
Mooneemick
Two words…
The Shredda
Hey Daren
Mate how were those guys from the early days. Every time I look at old footage of those days I feel like a wimp. Boards that most would have trouble handling in 2’ surf being taken out to unknown 20’ reefs. No leggies, no rescue skis. no helicopters. Just you and your ability and if you were lucky your mates.
Cheers
Mick
Word Hicksy !!
Cheers
Mooneemick
Hey Daren
What about the parachute leggie you tucked in the back pocket.
Mick
don’t assume all surf schools teach etiquette,etc. most DON"T. all they care about is getting as many people out in the water and standing up by end of first day, then rotate 'em through as fast as they can. for them, it’s all about $$$$$.
Surf schools
Internet surf forecasting
Short boardshorts
Tempted to add (cause I spent 25 years sanding) deep 6 channel-bottoms with glass ons
but they ride so damn good…
Oh,thanks for the reminder Hicksy,how could you not mention ‘the shredder’…?
I like my leggie,
How else I’m I going to garett some poop fool out in the water !
my vote is the 60’s slip check or the 70s water wing !
H
I’ve worked as a surf instructor at a surf school and surf camp for many years…best phucken job of my life.
Spent years as a commercial fisherman before that and I can tell ya…I felt a whole lot better pushing pretty euro girls onto waves than I did clubbing sharks over the head with steel pipes.
People are coming to Aus to surf whether we like it or not…whether they paddle out on hire boards at crowded point breaks with absolutely no phucken clue or get tuned into going down the beachbreak in the whitewater depends on whether they meet blokes like me in surf schools who tune 'em in.
Some kooks who have worked as surf instructors at surf schools : Duke K, Jeff Hakman, Nat Young,Rusty Miller, Chris Brock, Richard Schmidt, Cheyne Horan, Munga Barry etc etc.
Steve
HA , LOL !