More from the Shore!
The further away in time my visit to the North Shore becomes, the transporting values of a photograph grow ever more appreciated. From seeing Kelly Slater at the waters edge before a heat, and later getting caught inside on the reef in knee deep water, while further down at Off The Wall, Italo Ferreira goes for a free surf as kids play on the shoreline with no care for the surfing world champs, the photos take me back there.
Then there are the faces seen frequently on the beach and along the cycle lane behind the beachfront properties, running parallel to the coastline. Showing off a favourite board that’s snapped at Rocky Point, or sharing a stoked smile when passing on the way to Pipe. And down in Waikiki the boards have been secured before leaving the beach, although something is still troubling the passenger…maybe the crowds, but I’m guessing it’s always crowded there.
And course to be stood at the waters edge, watching the worlds best surfers at perfect Pipeline is a thrill and a dream come true. Despite all the films watched, magazines read, and endless images seen of Pipeline, only being there allows you to feel how open and raw the ocean is when it meets this stretch of coast. Often alluring, it can be brutal within seconds, even when picture perfect and not a drop of water out of place. More photos can be seen on the Gotta Getaway, North Shore page, which I am adding to each week.
Pipeline doing a good job of being friendly.
Caught on video!
Meanwhile, at work, Harry just happened to be passing with his phone at the ready, just as I was getting busy with a paint drag on a stock surfboard for springtime. I do like this technique, there is a fair amount of control, but the control runs closely with runaway elements that have no undo or off switch until the last drop of paint has been pulled from the foam. It can go wrong, and it is this that attracts people passing.
No luck this time viewers, it went as planned, now it will be sent on its journey around the factory – glassed, sanded and then back to me for black rails. I shall take some snaps and post them in further updates.
