Old Fart Surfers Make it in New York

When old Frank Sinatra sang about New York, "If you can make it here you can make it anywhere", he was really anticipating the arrival of the Old Farts Surf Co. in New York City.  Good old Frankie had a vision of the big apple full of oldfartsurfers, and, althought he never lived to see the day, the OFSC has finally made it.  Here is a comment left by Davis Miller, an OFSC fan from Astoria, Queens:

I like this place! I love the idea and wish there was a place like this in Astoria, Queens. I am a surfer and found a "real surfer bar" in Point Break NYC. I am kinda jealous ;0PIts filled with surfers, people who like surfers, people who like the beach and people who don't want to live close to town. I really like this place. You know what they have these real Proctor and Channel One surfboards on the wall. It's nice for coming any day of the week and eating a late brunch. The food was outstanding. The brunch and sides were prefect and tasty. It is a perfect "escape" from city living. It is probably one of the only places where you can get a nice frozen pina colada or margarita. The service was on hit. They came up and checked on us so many times and made sure everything was up to par. It gets very active and the bartenders keep everybody having a good time. The bartender was very accommodating. He was nice enough to make a drink, that wasn't on the menu, for me :0) Did I mention the bartenders are nice eye candy. It was amazing to see their “das boot” which is shaped like a boot filled with beer. Don’t get me wrong, I am not drunk…it’s an actual boot shaped beer container ready to be emptied. Try it ..You will love it!! Oh. How can I forget, they even have a wheel o' shots where you just have to spin it and have to drink whatever shot it lands on!! Now call that bar creativity at its best!!! And when I spill a tray full of shots on myself, the bartender so kindly remakes them for me? Good music, too, and the decor helped us weather an otherwise overcast and rainy day. You know that old song "Brandy"? It goes, "Brandy, you're a fine girl, what a good wife you would be. But my life, my lover, my lady is the sea." I believe Brandy works here. No reason, I just do. And that song happens to be a guilty pleasure of mine, so that's a plus in my book. You can simply waltz over to this colorful and warm establishment, enjoy some drinks with friends, and walk home. The bar is right at the center, so you can walk to either side for drinks, and the bartenders are friendly and at your service. There is a variety of seating, good music, and friendly neighborhood people to make your time more enjoyable. Not pretentious, very cozy, I think Point Break is a fabulous place to spend some time with friends.

(New Jersey 1975, OFSC had initial reservations for a Splinter Group event due life guards and Jaws)

There is some mounting pressure to hold an Old Farts Surf Co. Splinter Group World Series Surfing event in NYC in the near future.  The Dude has sussed Spain and will soon be checking Java, Thailand, Vietnam and Bali for potential spots, but OFSC Head Honcho, the Mexican has ordered the global oldfartsurfer research team to scour the Hudson for standing waves and bow waves.  "I remember surfing New Jersey in '75" said the Mex, "it was my first view of the ocean in 12 months and the day after I saw Jaws.  There were lots of fat peaks and life savers ordering us to swim within the impact zone, and not allowing us to swim 20' further out where you could actually catch a wave.  No boards allowed!".  "The OFSC had written off New York until we discoverd Point Break and Brandy, the hottest little surfie chick ."
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Rouge in Secret Training Session in New Zealand

Oldfartsurfer no. 45, Rouge, has been caught on camera undertaking secret training in New Zealand.  Pictured in his Original Series, individualy numbered, Old Farts Surf Co. Tee shirt with his Motivator, Oldfartsurfer No. 58, Rouge is pictured in high altitude training and riversurfing in an attempt to get his body in shape for the 7th Round of the Splinter Group World Series Surfing Championship.

(Rouge and The Motivator doing high altitude training in the Land of the Long White Cloud)

(Petite Rouge giving his old man some useful tips on riversurfing)

(Rouge takes a big drop on the river)

When asked for a comment on his training methods, Rouge refused to comment.  However, observers who paddled up the coast to spy on the sessions said The Motivator really put him through his paces, practicing going over the falls,  a technique developed recently by Oldfartsurfer No. 4, The Mexican, recently in Samoa.  When asked about the technique, Mex said "it gives you a good thrashing and is really character building and some people actually think it is fun" (refer previous article "Legendary Surf guide Leads Boys Over the Falls).

(Some hot action on New Zealand's wild west coast where Rouge has been in training)

(Rouge fans sneaking up the coast to watch their hero in action)

The plot thickens, will Rouge arrive and tackle the other Oldfarts in the Splinter Group "Somewhere" in the Southern Ocean swells, or will he go home to mummy?

For the previous report on Rouge click here.

To order an Original Series Individually Numbered Old Farts Surf Co. Tee Shirt Click here.

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Rouge Rumoured to be Traveling South for 7th Round Splinter Group World Surfing Series

(Original Oldfartsurfer Tee No. 45 worn by its proud owner, confessed oldfartsurfer, Rouge.)

There is a rumour floating the surfing world that Original Oldfartsurfer No. 45, Rouge, will be heading south for the seventh round of the World Series Surfing series.  The seventh round is to be a mobile event "somewhere" in the Southern Ocean.  OFSC Head Honcho, Mex, said it would be a boon to the industry to have Rouge at the event, and, I'll even lend him my famous hollow timber surfboard, 'The Mexican', so that he compete."  Mex went on to say that "there is a remote possiblity that if Rouge can make it then Oldfartsurfer No. 66 may also appear."  Who is OFS No. 66?  the mystery will soon be resolved.
For a previous report on the Rouge Rumour click here.
To order an Original Series Old Farts Surf Co. Individually Numbered Tee Shirt as worn by Rouge click here.
To tell the Oldfartsurfer what your really think click here.

Day 4 Finals Action, Spot vs Moose - The Showdown

The Old Farts Surf Co. World Series Surfing Splinter Group Mobile Cold Water Classic event moved from the remote north-west coast to the far south-east just to prove how mobile and cold it could be.  OFSC head Honcho, The Mexican said, we made the call on Day 3 so that the logistics team could transfer the contest to the other end of the island.

(Moose taking the tactical initiative)

With hot favourite's The Dude and the Mexican eliminated in earlier rounds, the finals were fought out between Canadian upstart, Moose, Spot the rising star and some cheats who resorted to towing in a desperate attempt to upset the two young crowd favourites.

Moose took an early lead in the final, on a small wave just before a closeout bomb cleaned up the field. The wiley Moose said "I saw it coming on the horizon and I knew if I got a quick score it would put me in a commanding position while the rest of the finalists tried to recover." Mastersurfcoach and tactical analyst, the Mexican, said "that was one of the best tactical moves I've seen in a World Series Splinter Group final."  "Its frightening to think where such a smart head on an upcoming athlete can lead in the world of oldfartsurfing" he said while staring at the horizon.

(Shot 1, Moose paddles for a piddler)

(Shot 2, Moose looks back as the piddler breaks behind her)

(Shot 3, Moose takes off on the piddler)

(Shot 4, Moose rides the piddler with classic backhand grab rail stance, apparently she's been taking lessons from Slater)

(Shot 5, Moose trims on the piddler no one else would catch)

(Shot 6, Moose pulls a massive bottome turn on athe piddler)

Moose then consolidated her lead with a bearly ridable whitewater piddler.   "No one else would have caught that wave, I was a bit stunned there" said Spot.  However, the rising star wasn't stunned for long.  He soon pulled a big scoring wave slashing across the face of the wave in front of Moose as she was walking back out.

(Spot slashes across the face as Moose walks back out)

(Tow in surfer trying to upset the finalists)

(Spot on a backhand foam ball)

Spot then followed up with a backhand foam ball on what he described as a Tube.  The judges didn't see it that way but they still awarded top marks for his foam riding skills.   "He's always claiming tubes that don't exist" said Moose, concerned for her fellow athlete.  "Perhaps he should see a mental health specialist" she quiped to the water cameraman who past the comment to waiting journalists.

(A stylish bottom turn from Moose)

Moose regained her lead with a stylish little foam wave with a perfect little bottom turn, however, as she turned to walk back out she watched Spot ride a perfect foam faced wave to take the lead back off her.

(Spot on a foam face watched by Moose)

After his foam faced ride, spot quickly paddled out and caught the wave of the day to seal his victory.

(Spot takes off on the wave of the day)

(Spot's perfectly timed and powerful bottom turn sets him up for down the line speed)

(Spot's speed drives him through sections down the line) 

It was the first Splinter Group Series win for Spot.  In receiving his prize Spot said "I owe this win to the Mexican who lent me his hollow timber surfboard for the final."  "It catches waves real easy and drives on down the line with such speed it is frightening but always under control". 

The Mexican's hollow timber surfboard was designed by the Mex himself and handcrafted by Mastersurfcraftsman, The Dude.  Independant analyst and mastersurfcraftdesigner, Macho, said he thought "the board's 'magic' performance was due to the volume to weight ratio with subtle single to double concave and smooth soft to hard rail transitions from nose to tail.

All contestants ride Old Farts Surf Co. hollow timber surfboards, handmade by the mastersurfcraftsman, The Dude.  Click here for more information or to order your unique piece of ridable art.
Click here to read the previous article in this series.
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Day 3 layday curse

After the bad kharma of day 2 of the OFSC World Series Surfing Splinter Group Cold Water Classic, the Mex was struck down with a curse that saw him heaving his brunch for over 24 hours.  Whilst Spot and The Dude sat up all night drinking the Mex's beer and wine and chewing the fat, all the Mex could do was lie in his tent and grown.  Moose, who was toasting mashmallows for the crew, finally took pity and kindly gave him a drink of water before total dehydration killed him.

(house overlooking the break, paddle 50m off your back yard into the peak)

Not only was the Mex cursed but so was the whole contest.  The swell dwindled and only a few fat peaks dribbled through while contestants bobbed around the water in wetsuits to suit the cold water in 30 degree heat.  As soon as the contest was called off there was a SUP invation of the fat peaks.

(kelp beds to lie in)

(Contestants in cold water and scorching air temperature waiting for fat peaks)

(Spot and Moose find some shelter)

(Just like Capt. Cook - SUP invasion, the day before Invasion Day)

Conditions worsened during the day and the Mex had to pull the pin.  Contestants abandoned the remote west coast site and headed for the big smoke.  The Dude said " I drove non stop for 10 hours with the Mex growning in the back, I thought the journey would never end."  When they got back to civilisation The Good Woman made her universal panacea , vegemite on toast, and the Mex was cured of the curse.  "Thank Huey for the Good Woman" cried the Mex in relief.

• Click here for a link to the previous article in this series.
• Click here to tell the Oldfartsurfer what you really think.
• All contestants ride OFSC hollow timber surfboards handcrafted by mastersurfcraftsman, The Dude. Click here for more information and to place your order.

Controversial Day 2 of the OFSC Splinter Group Cold Water Classic

The second day of the OFSC World Championship of Surfing Splinter Group Mobile Cold Water Classic featured great surf and great controvesy.  An early heat, saw the Mex pitted against his mate the Dude in an epic battle.  According to Spot the observer "The Dude and Mex went at it no holds barred, pulling out all the manouevers and competition tactics".   "It was awsome to watch, it went way beyond chewing the fat out the back" said Spot.

(The Dude Scores big time with this layback on the kelp bed)

(Photos above and below, same place same surfer,  35 years later, Mex emulates his 1975 style with this stylish backhand bottom turn)

At one stage during the heat things really heated up with Mex dropping in on the Dude.  "I was really fired up after the Mex dropped in on me" said The Dude,  "So I who paddled back out to ask an unsuspecting cripple if he had ever tried to stand up".  "I know it was really politically incorrect to do that in the middle of a heat but, he was really grumpy about it and I couldn't take it out on my mate Mex."  According to Mex "I saw Mr Grumpy give The Dude the eye when The Dude wasn't looking so we then focused our joint bad kharma on him until he relinquished and paddled in".  "That's what mateship's all a about" said the Dude, "turning your anger with each other on some poor cripple".

(Photo 1 above: Thinking that The Dude was too far inside, Mex drops in)

(Photo 2 above: then, Mex sneaks a guilty glance back to make sure The Dude wasn't about to spear him from behind)

(Fired up after his encounter with Mex, The Dude lines up an Mr. Grumpy, the cripple with the red board)

(Mex lines it up)

(Local law enforcement keeping an eye on things so they don't get out of hand)

(2nd round heat winner, afternoon relocated venue)

(Spot and Moose after 2nd round heat wins)

(2nd round competitor)

(big crowd for 2nd round afternoon session)

After lunch, emotions calmed down and the event moved to a new location down the coast to complete the day 2 heats.  According to OFSC Head Honcho the afternoon on the second day "had some of the most magestic peaks" of any Splinter Group contest series.

(Contestant scores big time with this new move, bottom turn to head dip as you go back up the face)

(Some observers lichen the second day to the great day in 1975)

(the Dude, Moose and Spot combine to put curse on Mex)

After lunch bad Kharma took over and Mex was struck down with a mysterious illness.  "I fell violently ill after lunch and couldn't compete in the rest of the contest" said Mex.  "That's what happens when you drop in on your buddy, it was an innocent drop in, The Dude was way too far inside but I deserved it, and there is a lesson there for all young surfers".  Young Candadian upstart, Moose, said she "learned how confronting World Series Surfing can be and the consequences of overstepping unwritten rules of mateship and competition".  She then gave Spot a good dig in the ribs with her elbow to make sure he got the message.

• Click here for a link to the previous article in this series.
• Click here to tell the Oldfartsurfer what you really think.
• All Contestants ride OFSC hollow timber surfboards handcrafted by the mastersurfcraftsman, The Dude.  Click here for more information and order.

More Day 1 Action from the OFSC Mobile Cold Water Classic

The Dude has supplied a few extra photos for followers of the Old Farts Surf Co. World Championship Surfing Splinter Group.  Some bonus behind the scenes action from Day 1 and some hot action from a local wildcard.

(Mex, Spot & Moose check the surf before their first round heats)

(Local wildcard entry gets slotted)

The Dude did mention that the left he surfed was the best he'd had since the famous Changu with the Mex and the Young Dude.

(Mex, Spot & Moose settle in for the evening meal at the luxury accommodation provided by the OFSC)

• Link to the previous report on this event.
• Click here and tell the Oldfartsurfer what you really think.
• All contestants ride OFSC hollow timber surfboards hancrafted by mastersurfcraftsman, The Dude.  Click here for more information and to place your order.

Splinter Group World Series Surfing Goes Mobile - Day 1 Results

The Old Farts Surf Co. (OFSC) Splinter Group World Series Surfing kicked off the 6th event for the series on the Invasion Day long weekend with a mobile contest at a remote cold water location.  The Mobile Cold Water Classic was hailed a huge success by OFSC Head Honcho, The Mexican, who promised similar contests in the future to support the local community.  "We plan to bring all our sponsored surfers to these contests to show we are really committed, that means The Dude, The Mex, Spot and Canadian upstart Moose"  he announced.  "My only disappointment this year was that we couldn't get The Young Dude, The Other Dude, Macho and Rouge because of family committments" he said.

(The contest Scene for Round 1)

The first day of the contest say some hot action in left and rights off a kelp covered reef.

(Spectator boats take shelter from the wind)

This contest included entries from local wild cards who proved they could really surf.

(Round 1 Wildcard action)

Logistics director for the OFSC, The Dude, arranged travel so that all contestants arrived at the end of a 6 hour drive as conditions peaked on the first day.  "I'd been studying the swell, wind and tide charts and consulted local fishermen in order to get the contest off with a bang" said The Dude.

(Local lady wildcard wins heat, Moose paddled out to check the scene in front of Spot Mountain)

(The Dude sneaks an early score while The Mex waits on the outside)

(The Mex bags a keeper)

Readers will be pleased to know that all their favourite surfers and top seeds, The Dude, The Mex, Spot and Moose all made it through to the second round.  At the end of the day contestants camped out on a chilly night and kept warm with an egg and bacon pie made by The Good Woman and a bottle of the Dude's best Shiraz, snuck out from The Cellar.
More to come on Round 2 in the next issue.

• All contestants ride Old Farts Surf Co. Hollow Wooden Surfboards hand made by the Mastersurfcraftsman, The Dude.
• Tell the Oldfartsurfer what you really think.