Newcastle Surfers with Style in the 70s

Posted on December 15, 2012 by geoffcrow

You gotta make it look good, no good doing the moves without your own style. Surfing has always had stylists to steal a bit off and add your own too. Some of my favourites are Phil Edwards Miki Dora Midget Farelly and Gerry Lopez, more recently Tom Curran and Joel Tudor, they all make anything they do look great.

Newcastle has many surfers with their own style.

For example Steve Butterworth shown here at Redhead in 1978, tubed with style.

Steve Butterworth Redhead 1978

Paul “Davo ” Davis – the legend of the Leggy at the Mattara contest Newcastle 1978. Paul surfed the Leggy with style and with an uncanny wave knowledge, always making it through the bowl.

Paul Davo Davis at Newcastle Mattara comp 1978

Around 1964, one of the first great Leggy surfers was Peter “Hector” Hogan who surfed it with a few Redhead guys with only a sprinkle of other guys. Hector was fearless and rode the place well always coming from behind, and it was long before legropes, and as such his boards were always a mess.

Mark Richards at the Leggy in 1978 cuts back effortlessly and gracefully and with style.

Mark Richards cutback Leggy1978

Dave Robbo, Col Smiths sidekick, at Redhead in 1979. Dave is an excellent tube rider and him and Col, were always getting tubed at Ghosties.

Dave Robbo Redhead 1978

Roger Clements had his own style, shown here at the Mattara contest 1978. Roger seemed to just skate around sections on a tiny twin fin.

Rodger Clements Newcastle Mattara contest 1977

Kenny once told me a clanger about style. He was surfing in Bali when an Italian guy paddles out with the nose of his board way out of the water and he was paddling with a very shallow stroke. He says to Kenny – heya mate you surfa good, you givva me some tips aye. Kenny tells him he could give his paddle style some improvment and catch waves if he moved up the board a bit and did deeper strokes. The guys goes – now way – THATSA MY STLYE! Well at least he had his own style and was happy with it.

Onother kind of style. Aussie girl in Bali 1977

Aussie surf girl in Bali 1977

Weather worn rock formation. Over years holes have been worn by wave movement of small rocks.

Rock weathered patterns 1980

The country side was pretty as picture at Sale in Victoria around 1977. When I found the negative was a bit worse for wear I photo shopped this one to look like a watercolour painting.

Sale Victoria countryside in watercolour

Surf EXPO 1987 – In conjuction with Surfest an exhibition of Newcastle’s finest surfing collectors items was arranged by Ronnie Rudder and others. A photo shoot was arranged at Redhead beach, then the boards were displayed at the Newcastle Showground, with buses provided from Newcastle beach and back. Here the Redhead groms eagerly grab some Newcastle surfing history and pose with a fine collection of 60’s Mals.

Surf Expo 1987 Mals Redhead Beach

Surfing at Redhead and other stuff

Posted on December 15, 2012 by geoffcrow

Col Smith 1978 Surfing Redhead’s Lefts. No one surfed them better.

Col Smith in 1978 surfing at Redhead

Lennox Head 1978. This place is one of the narliest place to paddle out.

Lennox Head 1978

Little Green Frog 2008. This little fellow was in full Ribet mode just outside our back door. Cool eyebrows aye.

Little Green Frog 2008

Redhead Bluff in July 2010. Heavy rain has washed the red colour down the clifff face.

Redhead Bluff face after rain July 2010

Me on my first motor bike in 1968 at Redhead 2nd creek. This was a 1948 Jawa, you didnt even see many of those around then. What is interesting in this picture is, in the top right you can see the initial revegetation of the sand dunes after rutile mining. A floating dredge went along the beach from Redhead to Blacksmiths and back.

Crow in 1967 on 1948 Jawa CZ Redhead 2nd creek.

Almost everyone in Newcastle took a photo of the Pasha Bulker grounded at Nobbys in June 2007, it just looked so surreal. Thankfully they got it off before any major damage was done to Newcastle, or the ship, or anyone being hurt. Great work all involved.

Pasha Bulker grounded at Nobbys June 2007

Sandy and Sam at Redhead Beach summer 1991. The water was beautiful.

Sandy & Sam Redhead beach 1991

Ant on Christmas bells Redhead bluff 1992

Ant on Xmas Bells Redhead Bluff 1992

Redhead Beach May 1978

Posted on December 15, 2012 by geoffcrow

Redhead Beach May 2007. Not a bad right and no one out. A film company making the movie “Newcastle” were set up in the beach car park, so other surfers were surfing a bank further down the beach. I paddle out here 5 minutes after taking this photo, when from the other side of the shark tower, one of the films surfing actors paddles out with a cameraman shooting from the water. I struck up a conversation with the surfer and he advised it was no problem with me out during the filming, so we shared the break for the session with just the two of us out.

Redhead Beach May 2007

Jellyfish. Photo by my daughter Ellen.

Glenrock Lagoon further up stream in 1993, not far from the now Fernleigh Track car park.

Glenrock Lagoon up stream 1990

Martin Littlewood 1977 surfing behind the Redhead Shark Tower.

Martin Littlewood Surfing Redhead 1977

Martin Littlewood shaping Delta Design surfboards 1977. In the old Chicken Shed Surfboard factory at Redhead. This was most probably my new board.

Martin Littlewood shaping a board 1977

Sandy and our kids walking back from the beach at Sand Bar 1993.

Sandy and the kids taking a drink break walking back from the beach at Sand Bar 1993.

Sandy & the kids Sand Bar 1993

Pacific Dreams – Wood and Glass Exhibition 8-9th December 2012

Posted on November 17, 2012 by geoffcrow

Some of Newcastle’s elder surfing statesmen have got together and will be putting on an exhibition of classic surfboards at Pacific Dreams Surf Shop at 9 Darby Street Newcastle on the weekend 8th-9th December 2012. Some of Australia’s vintage shapers will be on hand for a chat or signings, bring in any boards of their brands and get it verified. The list includes Sam Egan, Roy Lee, Bob Brown, Bob Keno, Brian Jackson and Barry Bennet. The collection of boards includes solid Rewoods, hollow ply and foam along with some classic boards from famous surfers.

Poster for the event: Gee some of those photos on the poster look familiar. And the guy with the redwood is legendary Redhead Beach inspector Wally Berwick.

Pacif Dreams Exhibition 8th and 9th December 2012

The guys got together over a few cold ones at the Pacific Dreams board factory and came up with the ideas for the exhibition. From left Roy lee, Ron Rudder,Glen Benton, Steve Butterworth, Peter McCabe and Sam Egan.

Roy Lee and the team

Wood and Glass Surfboard collection Saturday 8/12/2012.

Lots of Newcastle’s surfers met up and checked out some classic surfboards.

Pacific Dreams Wood & Glass Board Collection 8/12/2012

A chance for some old mates Crow, Jim, Al and Roy to catch up at Roy’s Pacific Dreams Surf Shop 8/12/2012.

Crow Jim Al and Roy at Pacific Dreams 08-12-12

Domma and Ted Harvey checking out Domma’s restored classic – a 10 foot Sam Egan owned by Ted around 1966.

Domma & Ted Harvey at PD's Wood & Glass 8/12/2012

Domma & Ted Harvey at PD’s 8/12/2012

25/11/15 Redhead’s Neil Dalby

Redhead 25-11-12 Neil Dalby

25/11/12 Crowd on a sunny day at Redhead beach

Redhead Beach Crowd 25-11-12

June 2011

Posted on November 15, 2012 by geoffcrow

Newcastle surfer 3-6-11

I met young photographer Sam Glohe at Blacksmiths last Sunday when I was going out for a paddle. Sam took some water shots in the solid closing out but sunny conditions and his photos are awsome.

Check his site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/samglohe/

Here is some of his stuff –

Blacksmiths by Sam Glohe

Pulled Back by Sam Glohe

Closed Curtain by Sam Glohe

Stringy by Sam Glohe

_______________________________________________________________________

Redhead local Bodyboarder John early April 2011 morning Redhead Little Beach.

Redhead Beach bodyboarder John 2-4-11

Blacksmiths SUP Surfer Rick 14th May 2011

Blacksmiths SUP rider Rick

Newcastle Beach mid week May 2011

Newcastle Beach May-2011

Overlooking Newcastle May 2011

Newcastle 1-May-2011

Surfer at Redhead Easter 22nd April 2011

Redhead surfer 22-4-11

Surfer Newcastle 3rd June 2011

Newcastle Beach surfer 2-3-6-11

Another Newcastle surfer 3-6-11

NewcastleBeach surfer 3 3-6-11

Windsurfing in the 1970’s

Posted on November 15, 2012 by geoffcrow

Digger windsurfing at Blacksmiths around 1979 – At full throttle and fins out.

Martin Littlewood Windsurfing Blacksmiths around 1979. Martin makes all sorts of surfing equipment under the name Delta Designs at Margaret River WA.

This is what happens if you stay in the water too long. Barnacles growing on driftwood washed up at Redhead Beach around 1980.

Barnacles on driftwood Redhead Beach 1980

Egypt’s Pyramids. Photo by my daughter Ellen 2006.

Crescent Heads 1980 Late afternoon session.

Redhead Third Creek 1985. The third creek was man made, dug out to aliviate flooding at the Jewels Crossing, unfortunately it deviated a lot of water from the Second creek which rarely runs now.

John Dallymore Band at the Mawson around 1980. A great Aussie band.

Redhead Surf Carnival around 1981. Iron man Grant Kenny competed and lots of people grabbed a vantage point to watch.

Newcastle Beach nice left on a beatiful day June 2010.

Sydney Harbour Bridge by night 1985. The photo looked better photoshopped into a water colour.

Sydney Harbour Bridge 1986

Wooden surfboards and other things

Posted on November 15, 2012 by geoffcrow

In 1935 Tom Blake made a hollow surboard and put a fin on and surfing moved quicky ahead with many changes since.

Well, the hollow board has started to come back with technology advances, Weber is making chambered epoxy /styrene composites and Pope is making hollow epoxy boards and now many craftsmen are making chambered wooden boards again.

A good surfboard is regarded as a work of art, in this case a work of art – is a good surfboard.

Redhead regular David Chung met up with some other like minded Aussies and attended a mind blowing week on the NSW South coast making their own wooden boards under the guidance and trained eye and skilled hands of US craftsman Paul Jensen.

Here is a link to Paul Jensen’s blog, giving details of the process of building a wooden board.

http://www.hollowsurfboards.com/2010SapphireCoastAustraliaTripReport

Check out Paul Jensen’s Website: http://www.hollowsurfboards.com/

David’s new board detail:

Manna Fish 5’10” x 21″ x 2.5″ Built by hand October 2010 at Manna Park Merimbula Decks – Blackwood, Western Red Cedar and Paulownia Rails – Cork and Ply, Fins – Marine Ply Inspired by Steve Lis Designed by Paul Jensen Board Construction and Fins by David Chung Rails shaped by Jed Done Glassing by Jye Byrnes 45+ hours to build and a lifetime to enjoy.

David Chung’s wooden Board – Deck

David Chung’s Wooden Manna Fish November 2010

David Chung’s wooden Board – Bottom.

David Chung’s Manna Fish

Here is a collage of the week making the board :

Making Manna Fish Collage

Mark Richards Leggy Point 1978 heading for a place on a wave not many can come back down from.

Mark Richards Leggy 1978

Mark Richards cutback 1977

Dudley/Redhead swamp 1980. The white paperbark trunks reflecting in the water made a striking scene.

Dudley Swamp reflections 1979

The little crab in the top left was keeping very busy making this sand sculpture 1978 Marks Point.

Crab at Work Marks Point

Peter Allen took us all on a trip to Rio when he did this song at the Newcastle Civic Theatre around 1989. What a great singer songwriter and entertainer he was.

Peter Allan Civic Theatre 1989

December 2010

Posted on November 15, 2012 by geoffcrow

Late November 2010 Redhead Little Beach is starting to get some sand out the back again with the constant North Easters we have been getting.

Bells Beach 1977 Women’s top 3 place getters, who all put on a powerful display in very cold and very solid 8 foot surf. These ladies ripped.

Graham Parker & the Rumour at Newcastle Civic Theatre 1978. England’s Graham Parker produced some great R&B music with biting lyrics and had a great band. Here he lifts the obligatory shades and sings “Hey Lord, don’t ask me questions, cause there aint no answer in me”

Redhead Shark Tower left June 2010 unknown surfer.

Redhead Shark Tower left May 2010

Sandy on a windy day at Redhead Beach 1984.

Sandy on a windy day at Redhead Beach 1984

Redhead Surf Club Members after the annual general meeting around 1977.

Redhead SLSC Members 1977

Who you gonna call? Turd Busters! Apply named business – Central Coast plummers truck at Bateau Bay around 1992.

Turd Busters Central Coast around 1992

Redhead Lambton B Colliery shut down and on the way out around 1980. This coal mine was the financial backbone for Redhead during it’s many years in operation.

Redhead Lambton B Colliery closed around 1980

Old photos of Redhead and elswhere

Posted on November 15, 2012 by geoffcrow

On Surfari around southern NSW near Bega 1977 getting close to susnset, we went through this water way and then went back and did it again for the camera.

On surfari near Bega 1977

Redhead Beach from the Bluff 1978

Redhead beach 1978

Ray Lunn stalls hard and then later gets a nice tube from behind the Redhead Shark Tower 1977.

Ray Lunn Redhead Beach 1977

Not a bad surf for no one out. Redhead Little Beach 1978.

Redhead Little Beach no one out 1977

Redhead Beach by moonlight 1977. Even looks good in black & white. A 30 second time exposure.

Redhead Beach by moonlight 1977

Bring back the chariot races and the pillow fights at Surf Carnivals! Newcastle region surf carnival Chariot Race at Blacksmiths around 1978, these teams look like they were having fun.

Newcastle area surf carnival Chariot Race 1978

We gave them the book, but it didnt seem to help much. My daughter Ellen and son Sam seem to be taking the business of toddler taming a bit too lightly.

Toddler Taming Sam & Ellen 1990

An uncrowded line up at Arrawarra around 1977.

Arrawarra 1977

A bee on a flowering thistle plant close up make a nice combination of colours.

Bee on flowering thistle 1978

Blower & his Dad and band playing some super cool music at Belmont Yatch Club around 1978.

Blower & Dad’s Band

Redhead surfers in the 1970’s

Posted on November 15, 2012 by geoffcrow

Surfing at Redhead in the 1970’s

I started surfing at Redhead in 1963. Redhead was always a great place to surf with good surfers. Somehow I found time to take some photos along the way.

Col Smith was Redhead’s best surfer and in the 70’s and 80’s became respected for his surfing world wide.

Col Smith Channel Boards he took to Hawaii

Col Smith the day before heading to Hawaii with his new channel boards made by Shane, shaped by Jim Pollard. Col went well in Hawaii in 1976 winning the Pro AM and places in all other events including 4th at Pipe.

Col Smith surfing next to the Shark Tower at Redhead about 1976.

Col Smith in his shaping Bay making Channel Boards

Col started making his own harder edged Channels in his Dad’s Shed that he and Martin Littlewood from Delta Designs worked out. This one was my 6 foot 5 inch single fin.

Martin Littlewood was another good Redhead surfer in the 70’s shown here at Redhead Beach. Martin has been making surfboards since then and is now over at Margaret River WA making all kinds of surf boards under the name Delta Designs.

Martin Littlewood Redhead Beach 1976

Peter Kuba was another good surfer from Redhead shown here in a nice tube same day as the photo above.

Peter Kuba surfing at Redhead 1976

Here is Col Smith again in an excellent position, making getting a good photo easy. These lefts next to the Redhead Shark Tower were solid this day in 1976.

Col Smith Redhead Beach 1976

Redhead Boardriders Club was very competetive and finished 2nd to Merewether in the Newcastle area teams comps, having a great surfer like Col Smith helped. This team photo after a club competition was held at Col’s place and all members were having a good time as usual.

Redhead Board Club 1976

Crow's Garage

Category Archives: Surf

Newcastle Surfers with Style in the 70s

Surfing at Redhead and other stuff

Redhead Beach May 1978

Pacific Dreams – Wood and Glass Exhibition 8-9th December 2012

June 2011

Windsurfing in the 1970’s

Wooden surfboards and other things

December 2010

Old photos of Redhead and elswhere

Redhead surfers in the 1970’s