Body Boarders Redhead August 2010

Posted on December 15, 2012 by geoffcrow

August 2010 – The sand banks have not been good for surfers – except for the hardy bodyboarders getting some gnarly closeout barrels. Unknown bodyboarder Redhead Little Beach August 2010

Bodyboarder Redhead August 2010

A week later a little smaller, but good shape for the bodyboards. August 2010. Is that Bob the barber walking down for a session on the right? Yep.

Redhead Bodyboarder August 2010

Simon Anderson wins Bells 1977. Simon surfed powerfully in a solid swell to win and he enjoys the moment after a close final.

Simon Anderson 1977 Bells Beach Winner

Ian Moss – Cold Chisel … sings Georgia at Belmont Sportsmans Club 1976.

Ian Moss – Cold Chisel sings Georgia 1977

A Hunter Valley Coal Mine around 1986.

A Hunter Valley Coal Mine around 1986

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles show Speers Point Park 1999. Surfers liked the Ninja Turtles, as the movie characters acted and spoke like Corky Caroll, the 1960’s legendary 5 times US surfing Champion who created surf speak and lives the carfree fun surfing life we all dream of.

Ninja Turtles show Speers Point Park 1999

The BIG Right hander in the Sky. A Storm coming over Redhead around 1984.

Storm Cloud Wave Redhead 1984

Peter Garrett and Rob Hirst Midnight Oils at the Mawson Hotel about 1978 getting serious.

Mignight Oil Garret & Hirst 1978 Mawson Hotel

Redhead Surf Club 70th Reunion around 1977. A bunch of old mates meet up over a few cold beers.

Redhead SLSC 70th Reunion

Redhead’s Col Smith in his shaping bay with a new batch of channel boards around 1978.

Col Smith shaping Channel Boards

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

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

June 2011 Storm

Posted on November 15, 2012 by geoffcrow

Another big June storm hit just north of Newcastle and we got the tail end of it’s fury.

Merewether Baths coping a flogging 14th June 2011.

Merewether in storm 14-6-11

Redhead beach on a dark on a stormy night.

Redhead in storm 14-6-11

2 Days before the storm was just building, Redhead Beach the surf is starting to get bumpy.

Redhead Beach 12-6-11

Newcastle Foreshore. A lot of country towns have a big thing like a big banana or a big pineapple, Newcastle just has a big thingy.

Newcastle Ferry Wharf 14-6-11

Redhead 2nd Creek walkway between rain squalls.

Redhead 2nd Creek Walkway 11-6-11

A walk along the Redhead 2nd Creek walkway between rain storms, and I found the fairies had been busy in their Dell.

Another look at this wave… I found 2 hell men deep inside trying to get out through the lip.

Redhead Heavy wave 4-6-11

Newcastle Beach mid week mid day.

Newcastle surfer 3-6-11

Redhead Bluff showing off it colour on sunset.

Redhead Bluff 9-6-11

This gnarled Banksia tree above the bright red soil has been doing it tough for a while.

Redhead Bluff 13-6-11

Going for a paddle around Swansea Channel, you see some nice sights.

Pelicans Swansea Channel 4-6-11

July 8th 2011 Big swell at Merewether and Newcastle

Posted on November 15, 2012 by geoffcrow

More winter swells on the way.

Newcastle at lunchtime 8/7/2011 no one out and some big ones hammering in.

Newcastle Beach Heavy Wave 8-7-11

This one looks a bit more rideable but there were a lot of closeouts.

Newcastle Beach good one 8-7-11

Merewether Point late arvo lining up 8/7/2011

Merewether Point 8-7-11

Merewether Point line up with evening glow 8/7/2011

Merewether Beach evening glow 8-7-11

Redhead Beach Saturday morning early closeout 9/7/11

Redhead closeout 9-7-11

Redhead Beach Saturday morning spray coming off a mean one.

Redhead wind sprayed wave 9-7-11

Black Neds Bay Swansea 30/6/11 – A nice place to go for a paddle, it’s only shallow so best go a high tide and you can see the fish moving around, watch out for the razor clams though.

lack Neds Bay Swansea 30-6-11

Blacksmiths 29/6/11 choppy and raining but still a nice sight.

Blacksmiths Beach rain cloud 29-6-11

Overlooking Newcastle City May 2011 some of it old and some new.

Overlooking Newcastle City May 2011

Wendy Saddington and friends visiting Redhead beach 1969. Wendy sings the blues properly and has one of Australia’s best voices and played at Newcastle Wests Bus Stop Disco the night before. Bus Stop Disco hosted Australia’s best bands like the La De Das and Levi Smiths Clefts and I didn’t hear much disco music there as it wasn’t invented yet – that was a 70’s thing.

Singer Wendy Saddington visits Redhead 1969

Milano’s Restaurant Pelican Marina Feb 2011 – nice food and service and a nice view.

Milano's Restaurant at Marks Pt Marina Feb 2011

Milano’s Restaurant at Pelican Marina Feb 2011

July 14th 2011 Newcastle Big Surf

Posted on November 15, 2012 by geoffcrow

The swell kept getting bigger and meaner this week.

A big one coming past Newcastle Baths lunchtime 12/7/11

Newcastle Baths in big surf 12-7-11

Another big wave Newcastle point 12/7/11

Newcastle Beach big wave 12-7-11

Late arvo Merewether Point 13/7/11

Merewether Point 13-7-11

Merewether Point late on 13/7/11

Merewether 13-7-11

As the light fades a big set comes through at Merewether point 13/7/11

Merewether Point late 13-7-11

To get a feel for how heavy it was at Newcastle I got in for an eye level view – 14/7/11

Rough surf Newcastle 14-7-11

Big wave at Newcastle 14/7/11

Newcastle Beach big wave 14-7-11

Another big one Newcastle 14/7/11 with bonus bird.

Newcastle big wave 14-7-11 10 with Bonus bird

Some old stuff –

Girls watching Grant Kenny compete – Surf Carnival Redhead beach 1978

Girls watching Surf Carnival Redhead 1978

Redhead SLSC 75th Reunion 1977 – some long standing members.

Redhead SLSC 75th Reunion 1977

25th August 2011

Posted on November 15, 2012 by geoffcrow

The days are getting warmer and it’s starting to look like summer already. Late afternoon Redhead 25/8/11. A few different peaks showing up. Redhead surfer surfing the right across the back of the Shark Tower.

Redhead- surfer1 25-08-11

25/8/2011 Redhead Surfer on the right on the big Beach. Redhead surfer 25-08-11 2

Redhead surfer 25-08-11

Redhead surfer on the left just past the Shark Tower Redhead surfer 25-08-11 3

Redhead surfer3 25-08-11

Redhead surf Club 25/8/11

Redhead Surf club 25-08-11

The statue overlooking Newcastle Beach. James Fletcher 1834-1891. A Newcastle man worthy of the view, a mine manager that valued his workers, a politician that fought for workers rights and owner of the Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners Advocate. James Fletcher Statue Newcastle 22-08-11

James Fletcher Statue Newcastle

Belmont 16 Footers Sailing Race Sunday 21/8/11. The wind was strong from the east, doing someone some good.

Belmont 16s Race 21-08-11

Redhead Shark Tower Rocks 22/08/11

Shark Tower Rocks 22-08-11

Pigs grazing in the front garden NZ 1977.

NZ Pigs 1977

Steve Butterworth 1980 at Redhead Beach showing his tube riding skill with smooth style.

Steve Butterworth Redhead 1980

The top end of Newcastle. Looking down Watt Street, over the Hunter River to Stockton Beach – 2 water views. Watt St Newcastle 22-08-11

Watt St Newcastle 22-08-11

28th September 2011

Posted on November 15, 2012 by geoffcrow

Sunday morning, cold wet and windy. Didn’t get out of the car. Redhead Beach wet and windy Sunday 25/9/11.Redhead Rainy day 25-09-11

Redhead Rainy day 25-09-11

Redhead Beach 20/9/11 The wind was gale force from the West/South West

Redhead windy 20-09-11

Redhead Little Beach surfer 27/9/11

Redhead surfer 27-09-11

Redhead Little Beach Body Boarder 27/9/11

Redhead Body Boarder 27-09-11

Blacksmiths Surfer 27/9/11

Blacksmiths surfer 27-09-11

Marks Point 2011 Boxing Day drew a large crowd of picnicers, boaters and fishermen on a day made for it.

Pelican Boating Jan2 2011

Fishing at Pelican Boxing Day 2011

Pelican Fishing Jan2 2011

Moth Sailing Championships at Belmont 16 Footers club January 2011. The Moth sailing boats have a winged keel that lifts it out of the water as it gathers speed, so they just glide though the water with no drag.

Moth Racing Lake Mac Jan 2011

Moth sailing Lake Macquarie 3 Jan 2011

Moth sailing Lake Mac Jan 2011

Mayfield Pool 1988 at 6AM Arnold’s swim squad early morning training. If you want to be a champion swimmer you have to do the hard yards. A young Justin Norris was in amongst this squad of young swimmers. Mayfield Pool 1998 Arnold’s swim team

Mayfield Pool 1998 Arnolds swim team

Crow's Garage

Category Archives: Uncategorized

Body Boarders Redhead August 2010

Newcastle Surfers with Style in the 70s

Wooden surfboards and other things

December 2010

Old photos of Redhead and elswhere

June 2011 Storm

July 8th 2011 Big swell at Merewether and Newcastle

July 14th 2011 Newcastle Big Surf

25th August 2011

28th September 2011