The Field of Opportunity

Neil Young said, many years ago, "in the field of opportunity its ploughing time again".  When you're young (pardon the pun) you have it all before you and many oldfartsurfers are fans of Neil and we have benefited from what he sowed in that field.

Many years later, Paul Kelly, in his book "How to Make Gravy" laments the passing of time:

"When you're young you think everything's possible.  All of a sudden you're past the middle of your life, you've only done a fraction of the things you could have, and the field of possibility grows smaller every year"

 

There's always one more wave to catch.  RIP Reg, thanks for taking me to the beach when was a kid.

Rouge Gets Burned by a Lid While the Ladybirds Fly

Following the previous blog about the Surferqueen (OFSC No. 37) and the surferbirds tearing it up, Rouge was inspired to make the following comment:

Good one Mex. But you failed to mention that on the VERY NEXT PEAK, OFSC #45 was quietly working the lineup, his smooth moves being reflected by the Birds and SurferQueen.

cheers
R

Rouge's smooth moves on the birds proved too much for a jealous lid who burned hiim with a perfectly executed drop in manouver, documented by the following photographic sequence:

To his credit, Rouge kept his cool and let the lid live.  "I was having a good karma day" said Rouge "and didn't want to draw blood and attract the sharks while the surferbirds were in the water."

Meanwhile, Macho (OFSC No 23) and Mrs Macho had a bit of a chuckle at Rouge's expense.  "Hilarious" said Macho, Rouge gets the award for the most entertaining wave and for showing restraint".  "If the lid had dropped in on Macho the lid may not have lived" said the Mex.  "He didn't get the name Macho being a softy"

While Rouge provided the days entertainment, Spot slipped out on the other side of the surferbirds and pulled some smooth backhand moves.

The Mex slipped out for a couple and tried to use the beach as launching ramp for some new aerial moves.

At the end of the day Rouge was philosophical about the lid incident and decided to fix his steely gaze on the horizon and declared everything was good.

Click here to check out the previous blog on this topic.
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OFSC No. 37 Takes it to the Young Gunnettes

In the true spirit of oldfartsurfing, OFSC No. 37, otherwise known as the Surferqueen, pulled on a white competition singlet and took it to the young birds.  "I figured it was the best way to get the best peak on the beach for half an hour with only three other surfers in the water"  said the Surferqueen.  "I got one good ride and a few more that I wouldn't have got otherwise if the peak had been packed with 20 other surfers".

(The young Yellowbird showed a lot of enthusiasm)

The Surferqueen started the final getting a good sized right and working it in classic style all the way to the beach.  Unfortunately, the Bluebird, an experienced champion, soon  snared a couple of good waves and pulled off some big moves that the judges scored highly. 

(The Redbird was a strong competitor)

The Surferqueen fought valiantly as a representative of oldfartsurfers around the world.  Not only did she have to out surf the youngbirds but she had to contend with a vicious rip to try and stay on the peak.  "At times she was dragged 40m or so down the beach and had to summon Herculean strength to paddle back against the rip" said oldfartsurfer Macho (OFSC No. 23) who observed the contest from the beach.  "Surferqueen was an inspiration and when the heat was finished I grabbed my board and paddled out at a peak down the beach".

(The Surferqueen takes off)

The Old Farts Surf Co. Head Honcho,  Mexican (OFSC No. 4), said "it was appropriate Surferqueen was in the white singlet, she was like the White Knight defending the honour of oldfartsurfers around the world".  "Its a good thing he didn't tell me that before the contest" said Surferqueen, "it would have been too much pressure knowing I had that responsibility, I just wanted to catch a few waves".

(The Bluebird showing competitive experience)

There were unsubstantiated rumours that Surferqueen could join the Old Farts Surf Co. Splinter Group world tour of oldfartsurfing.  Best known for Expressions Sessions on hollow timber surfboards but also includes the likes of upstart Canuck Female oldfartsurfer, Moose (OFSC No. 3).

(Our heroine reaches the bottom of a takeoff)

The Surferqueen's competitive effort was all part of the Old Farts Surf Co. Easter Classic 2011" said Mex.  "It was a true surfing festival typifying the ethos of the oldfartsurfing movement".

(The Surferqueen, crouches ready to pounce)

(The Surferqueen having fun on a fat one)

(Surferqueen aims to take out Redbird)

(Surferqueen style, forearm parallel to the board, pointing the way)

(Bluebird watches in awe as Surferqueen nails a bottom turn)

(Bluebird carves a heat winning cut back)

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Old Farts Surf Co Report on Snapper Rocks Quicksilver Pro 2011

(This guy couldn't stay on the wave)

Spot (OFSC No. 6) and the Mex (OFSC No. 4) covered the Quicksilver Pro 2011 event for the Old Farts Surf Co.  "We'd heard on the grapevine that there was something going on" said Mex, "so we decided to do some research on potential oldfartsurfer breaks."

(Crowd surfing)

"There was a huge crowd of people down at this little point break called Snapper Rocks yet there were only two surfers out" reported Spot, "it was probably something to do with the rocks and the shallow sand bank they were surfing over".  "That's probably it" said Mex, "there was a huge number of oldfartsurfers in the water down the point at a place they called Greenmount that had nice fat waves for them, so I reckon that's why the numbers were down at Snapper".

(Shallow sand and a fat lip kept the crowd down)

(This guy seemed to know what he was doing and stayed on the wave)

(Harry Houdini, disappeared and escaped)

(This guy called Mick, seemed to like the little ones further around the point)

(They set up a slalom course for this guy called Julian so he could weave amoungst the crowd) 

(Oldfartsurfer No. 10, Kelly, enjoys the fat part of the wave)

"There was one oldfartsurfer, a bald bloke called Kelly (Now OFSC No 10 AKA KS10), who had a bit of potential" said Mex,  "he caught a lot of waves, managed to get some shade under the fat lips, then he managed to ride them all the way down the point to link up with his oldfartsurfer mates at Greenmount where he switched stance to join in their fun".

(Oldfartsurfer No.10 hides under a fat sandy lip)

(Oldfartsurfer No.10, switches stance to join his oldfartsurfer mates down at Greenmount)

(Oldfartsurfers looking for nice fat waves should try down the point)

If you're an oldfartsurfer and want to surf this place the Mex and Spot advise you to try down the beach at Greenmount. The waves are fatter and there are more oldfartsurfers to share them with.
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The Mex and The Dude Hit the Road Early and Score

There is very little an oldfartsurfer enjoys more than a good long nanna nap, especially after a solid surf or a long night of hoirizontal folk dancing.  Basically, getting up before dawn for an early surf torments himn as he is torn between his love of surf and his love a good lie in on a Saturnday morning. 

Fortuntaley for Oldfartsurfers Mex (OFSC No. 4) and the Dude(OFSC No. 12) they overcame their desire to sleep in and scored some nice fat 3'-4' waves at the bottom of an island off the south coast. 

The Mex set the alarm for 4:45 am but his internal clock had him up at 4:30 am scoffing his mueslii and packing his board and on the road by 5:am.  He picked up the Dude at 5:30am and they were on their way to catch the first ferry at 6:30 am.

After a drive to the bottom of the island, a quick surf check indicated swell and glassy conditions.  The Dude was in the water first and cracked his first wave at 8 am. 

After a solid two and a half hours of wave catching the boys thought they had had enough, particularly with an onshore wind threatening.  The managed to get the 12:30 pm ferry back to get home in time for an afternoon nanna nap.

(After an early start the Dude catches his final wave of the day before heading home for an afternoon nanna nap)

(Worth an early morning drive and the $28 ferry ride)

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CrossEyed & Painless, Live at Tom Price 1981

The Oldfartsurafer recently received a surprise package in the mail from Rouge (OFSC No. 45) containing a CD rarity - the 30th Anniversary edition and rremastered version of the infamous Live at Tom Price 1981 concert of West Aussie legends CrossEyed & Painless.  No explanation or covering note was proffered, however, this is one of the rarest and most unique recordings ever made.  Fans of the CrossEyes liken the Live at Tom Price 1981 recording  to The Shane's "Live at the Duke Vols 1 & 2" which celebrated the Mexican's (OFSC No. 4) 50th and the yet unheard Montague Street Back Shed recording of Cheech & Chong, the Nine Inch Nail and ex members of both The Shane's (Mex) and the CrossEyes (Rouge).  The uniqueness of the"Tom Price 81" album (as it is reverently referred to) is that it was recorded before CDs & MP3 players were invented.

According to the liner notes "If you happened to call into Tom Price pub in 1981, you might recall seeing 4 guys who travelled from Paraburdoo on Friday nights to play in the lounge bar.  Named after the Talking Heads album, the guys were a raw passionate acoustic combo, with a driving conga percussionist."  Rouge provided vocals, Bolero Acoustic 12 string and harp and the congas were provided by Chris De Burgh before he paid the ferryman instead of the lady in red.

(CrossEyed & Painless, circa 1981, Rouge on the bottom right)

The original recording was mixed live in 1981 by Ernie (who drove a fast milk cart out west) and recorded directly to a Maxell C-90 tape.  The old tape was discovered in a garage clean out in 2010 and skillfully remastered by Rouge using a Boss Digital Recorder BR-600,just in time for the 30th Anniversary.

The CrossEyes are gifted musicians who gave their own interpretation to classic modern songs of the time including songs by the Ozarks, Dire Straits, Taj Mahal, Talking Heads and Neil Young as well as an original by band member Wil Cuperus I'm OK, You're OK.  It is so good that tts hard to pick a highlight from the album, but the Little Feet Classic, Willin', stands out along with Neil Young's Cinnamon Girl.  The Tom Price 81 album presents a raw live performance in a mining town pub in outback Australia.  Pub music in Australia is about as good as it gets and this album is the next best thing to being there back in 81.

Click here for the previous related story.

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Spot & Moose Redefine Mavericks

After conquering Canada, popular oldfartsurfers Spot (OFSC No. 6) and Moose (OFSC No. 5) heard there was a big swell headed towards Mavericks.   Spot was keen to take off behind the peak on some 20' bombs and Moose was keen to show her new big wave style.

(Huntington Beach)

Our team landed in LA and asked the local cab driver to take them to the big surf.  "He dropped us off at Huntington Pier" said Spot, "there was a bit of a ripple so we shot (from) the pier."  "It was really cool" said Moose.

(Venice Beach)

"After Huntington we hitched to Venice Beach for a romantic pre-Mavericks sunset" said Moose.  "That really set the mood for what was to come."  They got so moody in fact the then decided a detour via a Chateau Montelena.

(Chateau Montelena)

"We liked the wine so much we thought we might buy the Chateau" said Spot.  Moose said "the Chateau Montelena 1973 Chardonnay was exquisite and we spent the afternoon sculling down two bottles of the beautiful stuff".  "In the end we decided not to buy the Chateau because it had a really stupid philosophy of 'making best period' - go figure, I think the best period is the one we are in now" said Moose.  "Although it could get better" suggested Spot.  Quietly they both agreed that the pinot noirs didn't hold up to the Winstead pinot 1994.

(Spot at redefines Mavericks)

After sculling the two bottles of 73 Chardonnay and gorging on cheese Spot and Moose slept soundly and prepared their minds to take on Mavericks the next day.  There has been no further word on how they tackled the great wave although rumour has it that Spot has changed perceptions on what real surfing is in waves of consequence.

Click here for the previous installment on Spot & Moose in the New World.

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