sonny photos

This Saturday Night Tim Bonython's ASMF comes to Palm Beach RSL

so looking forward to it

been hanging to see this, the initial date, a few weeks back, at Palm Beach, was when we were on our road trip in the outback, so we could not make, but due to popular demand, Tim is having another showing so get yourself some tickets ( go to http://www.asmf.net.au ) and see you there for a beer ( there will be a live accoustic set as well, from a new rising star- bonus )
 

Not just a surf movie, a movie about surfing !

Trailer for Jack McCoy latest movie. Saw film maker Jack McCoy at the post office earlier today ( Aloha ) and he told me his movie was extended by a few days at the local cinema at Avalon. So I told him I would pop down later tonight to come see it And I'm glad I did, Jack gaves us a little intro and background information on his movie. ( wouldn't that be nice everytime you go to see a movie you get a little talk before hand from the film maker ) Jack is known for his many surf movies, but this was more a movie about surfing. So if you get the chance to see it , do it, and see how a young hawaiin princess a century or so ago influenced this whole global culture.
Aloha
:-)

 

Quick Head Dip ( blink and you'll miss it )

 

Trying out some new fins

Kristian Moon is letting me try out these fins. I must say, in my whole life of surfing, once the era of the finbox was over ( slide the fin forward for smaller waves, back for bigger waves ) and the new Fin system came out, I never really put much emphasis on fins and the different types of fins ( although in the late 90's I was impressed with the swivel fin system, what ever happened to that, and where is Aldo ? ) So for a good decade I been merrily riding my boards without paying any attention the to the fins, that was until I bought a new board back in December and the shop keeper said for an extra 30 dollars he would throw in some glass fins , as opposed to the plastic fins that came with the board, nah mate, don't worry about it, I said, but he insisted, and I'm glad he did, I love my new board, but it wasn't till I took the fins out and put them in my old board, and woauw, my old board turned into a new board, so much more control and better response. I remember having such fun surfing that day, and felt I was getting so much more out of surfing, I remember coming in, and Jacqui was sitting on the beach waiting for me, she saw the smile on my face and told me I best go out and catch a few more as I was clearly enjoying myself. So this brings me now to trying out these big widow makers ( as Mark Warren likes to call them, no guessing as to why :-) with a small stabiliser fin in the middle. At first it did not do much for me, Kristian was telling I would get more speed, I probably was, but the response wasn't the same and it did not feel as "complete" like I was struggling to do my round house cutbacks in a nice smooth turn, but then I placed my back foot further back, and then yes, it fired and I was having a ball. Until... I got one of the better sized sets ( it was a small day, with 2 foot sets ) I took off bottom turned, and I felt a weird crunch ( got a flash back to when I lost a fin Bali ) and thought oh no, it can't be, next turn , yep, board nearly slid sideways. The extra surface size of the fin, meant there was more pressure on the fin plugs, and the fin ripped right out of my board, plugs and all. Went back to the car and got  snorkel to try and look for it, but no luck, those things sink and get covered by the moving sand in no time. Bummer. oh well, got a few good waves, but now have no board to surf, till this is fixed.. :-(

Surf Time !!

Finally, a beautiful blue sky day, and a clean 4 foot swell As yes, same as while I was away covering the shows, the summer weather in australia has not been forthcoming, and instead there has been rain rain & rain

Surfing with Jacqui

Forgot about this photo, just saw it on my phone, was from our trip to Gold Cast and hinterland back in October

Insane big Teahupoo, shot on Phantom camera

BIGGEST TEAHUPOO EVER, SHOT ON THE PHANTOM CAMERA. from Chris Bryan on Vimeo.

Surfing at Avalon with the GoPro Camera

I did some frame grabs from one of the video surf sessions out at Avalon, waves have not been that big lately, but still been going out and try to get a few little head dips ( when the waves are small and you get a tube, or barrel, when it is this small, we refer to it as just a little head dip )Lining it up and placing left hand in the wave wall to try and stall a little and get a straight line ( a bit hard on the malibu ) Lip coming over and we are inside. Love it. Jacqui commented I don't look happy, but trust me, could not be happier when I'm inside, and well, surfing full stop :-)