rubber tramping

Here's a story from Matt Cuddihy, our Noosa noseriding king and now king of the road, about his trip to California last year....

Seventy eight days, five thousand miles and an '81 Volkswagon van called ”Honey”.

The start of another Californian Summer, I arrived into LAX like so many travelers before me with a 32kg bag full of surf boards ready for countless adventures.

It was all a bit of a learning curve, from finding the van, learning a stick shift and to add to things, driving on the wrong side of the road. Lucky I had friends to help me out when in need.

After spending the first 2 nights in LA pulling out seats and turning my newly purchased '81 Volkswagon into my home for the next 78 days, I was ready to hit the road.


I headed south to catch up with friends and surf the many breaks of Southern California. It felt good to be traveling on my own, stopping, eating, surfing, sleeping, surfing wherever, whenever. With constant swells and fun waves there was little reason to leave. When the swell dropped I packed up my van & headed North.


Santa Cruz was flat which gave me the opportunity to spend some time with friends and take in the scenery. When the surf finally picked up the water was freezing and full of seals, that’s where my thick wetsuit came in handy.

Having always wanting to go to Alcatraz I headed North to San Fran to see the sights and finally get to Alcatraz, but to my dismay there was only one boat and a 2 week waiting list. Guess I will have to wait until next time.

After lots of photos and admiring the beautiful city I headed inland to Yosemite National Park. I’d been there a few years before but this time I wanted to stay longer and go hiking. I settled in and found a great camp site amoungst the big pine trees on the Yosemite Valley floor. The valley was carved out by a glacier millions of years ago. I hiked for hours and hours taking many photos and enjoying the peacefulness and beautiful surroundings.

The local wildlife love the travelers, especially the bears. Every night they come into the camp sites to look for food.

Leaving beautiful Yosemite I headed inland along winding roads and snow capped mountains. I reached 10,000 feet and it was freezing cold.

5 hours later I was 250 feet below sea level and in the hottest place in America “Death Valley”. At 50 deg in a van with no air con I decided not to hang around and made my way to Las Vegas.

The road seemed endless until I saw the bright lights of Vegas and with an empty stomach I made my way to the MGM Grand multi level garage and found a camp site.
I put on my best clothes and made my way inside past thousands of slot machines and card tables. I had one thing on my mind: the buffet. This meal is the best $20 I have ever spent, with Sushi to Lobster to Chicken Wings to Pizza the list goes on. I spent my night in Vegas going from casino to casino watching people gamble away their life savings.

By morning I was ready to head back towards Malibu for the MSA Classic, a surf contest that I had entered in. It was so good to get back to the ocean after weeks of being away.

I won the contest. I had such a great time, made loads of new friends then packed my bags and set off to the airport and back home to the land downunder.

I look forward to my next trip away where ever it may be.

Matt

got the blues

It's been way too long since we heard from our mate Simmo, his photos are well worth the wait.

get some sugar

there are going to be some seriously foggy heads at the Sugarmill this morning after last nights burrito bonanza! I reckon you could talk Chongy into shaving a little extra off the price of that awesome wolf rider tee at their grand opening sale today from 9am & tomorrow.

I dropped a stack of TCSS stickers down there so if you're nearby go grab some for your board, your car, your dog.

& they have more burritos.... hmmm breakfast

black and white

salt in their veins

Luke Taafe and Mia Taninaka are both showing works on wood at the Retrospect Gallery in an exhibition titled The Inbetween, as in: There’s a balance to be found between career, life, passion. Somehow art survives and thrives in the inbetween....

Luke Taafe

Luke Taafe

Mia Taninaka

Beautiful work, it's up till next week with still a few pieces available

pocket barrels

Kerry Down shot these lil fellas through to us this morning. Not sure where they're from..but the water looks clean. 5 points to anyone that can name the spot.

painting far east

This is Jim Mitchell and Ben Waters painting up Masahiro's store, Far East in Daikanyama, Tokyo. Shot by Elle Green. Traditionally I'm a pixel monkey as a opposed to a cinematographer so..after effects is far from my strong suit.

the pregnant pause

One of my favourite artists, Jim Houser has a show opening this Thursday at the Monster Children Gallery. The show, titled The Pregnant Pause kicks off at 6:00pm. Hit here for more details.

bondi bowl-a-rama '10

Here's a few shots from the Skateboarding World Cup last Saturday at Bondi Beach, aka Bowl'a'rama.

Results from the sun-smacked day;
Pro Pool Sliders
1. Pedro Barros
2. Bucky Lasek
3. Bob Burnquist

Master Pool Sliders
1. Steve Caballero
2. Pat Ngoho
3. Mik Mulhall

Epic day, everyone was ripping the bowl and I was super stoked to be so close to it all. Got a few more shots here, gotta love a cross promo.

surf international volume 1

Just blowing the dust off a few covers and came across this gem. This issue of Surf International features a photo of the 'Golden Surf Express' by Paul Witzig set at the Joey. It's really a great looking cover. This issue came out in December 1967, how colourways and graphic design come back around.

happening happening in march

The Happening was good fun in 2008 and it's coming back to Sydney on 26th March, Brisbane on the 28 March and Melbourne on 31 March.

the empire visits thalia

The guys over at Empire Ave recently posted a review of Thalia St Surf Store. Thalia St is one of those few stores that you walk into that still has that sweet smell of wax in the air and a couple of wet wetties in the corner. It's authentic, the product is exciting (biased much?) and the guys really know their stuff.

Link from Shakas and Singlefins.

get down

Kerry Down, a new slider on the team sent us through a few of his favourites.

Photo of Kerry Down by Steve Lucas

Photo of Kerry Down by Ryan Heywood

Photo of Kerry Down by Paul Melynk

Photo of Kerry Down by Paul Melynk

afishionados

Definition: Those who tinker in all things of the fishy variety

big hearts on the big screen

I've been following the progress of the making of this movie over at goodcheer and am very happy to see that it premiers this month at the Dendy.

This is such a great story of kindness and salvation and surfing... I hope it comes to a theatre near you. Some of the press release from the film makers is below, they say it best:


Documenting the stories of the 54 children of Mision Mexico, who have come from places of unimaginable poverty, trauma and abuse; and their experiences of healing and transformation through surfing and love. The film is a powerful lesson on the important things in life, and the power of riding waves, whether you are a surfer or not.

With 6 kids of their own in Australia, Pam and Alan set off for Tapachula in November 2000 to volunteer for 12 months at the Mision Mexico orphanage where their daughter had previously volunteered. Shortly into their stay the major benefactor withdrew and the kids were to be turned onto the street. The couple’s volunteering adventure quickly turned into a life saving endevour and Mision Mexico, Giving Love, Life and Hope was born.

Mision Mexico’s mum and narrator Pam Skuse says: “In their short lives the children of Mision Mexico have experienced things that most of today’s society will never experience. Surfing is a potent form of therapy for these children. The ocean is not just a place of fun; it’s an escape from what life used to be for them. Through Mision Mexico we provide a family and community which supports, guides, disciplines, encourages, and directs these children to better themselves.”

“Surfing is something special, it’s not just a sport its part of my life, I feel like I don’t need anything more, I don’t need to take drugs, there is nothing better than surfing” says Jose one of the film’s young grommets, also a former street kid who was caught up with drugs and gang violence.

The filmmakers, Aussie surfers Stefan Hunt and Jonno Durrant got involved in Mision Mexico when they were asked to donate a DVD of their new documentary Surfing50States. Moved by the children’s plight Stefen decided to volunteer for two months. Touched by the truly inspirational story, Stefan asked Jonno to join him with their camera equipment and Somewhere Near Tapachula was born.

For more info go to:

www.somewhereneartapachula.com
www.goodcheer.tumblr.com
www.lovelifehope.com

monster of a show

Snapper, Elle Green is part of the Monster Children group show this Thursday. All the proceeds from the art show go to various charities. Come on down, crack a tinnie and throw down some ding on some wall candy.

the villains of bondi

A few weeks ago we had Faz, Dooms and Dan aka The Villainares setup in the backyard for a Summer Jam. Rockin' party until the girls in blue rocked up and shut the shindig down. Dooms has been super busy, both plucking his six string and getting t-shirt label 'The Astral Plane' off the ground. They make some super nice pigment dyed tees.

top hats fat cats & wooden slats

TCSS in Stab this month.

new society members

We welcome new Society members Sean Finnelley, Johnny Gill, Kerry Down and Nathan Oldfield.

Kerry Down photo Ryan Heywood

Sean Finnelley photo Nathan Oldfield

Nathan Oldfield photo Eliza Oldfield

Johnny Gill photo Sean Fin