W.A. ! what! what!

Three flights and about 30 hours later I’ve seen the ocean, eaten an apple and am waiting on what will be my bed for the next couple nights listening to Ben Folds and waiting for my turn to take a much needed shower.

We are outside of Perth, in a beachy suburb called Cottesloe, it’s a small place but next to the one small grocery store there is a Louloulemon so we aren’t talking untouched by any means. I’m pretty excited, waves look good, there is surf to the South and the North of me. To top it off our hostel, Ocean View (named because it does in fact view the ocean) seems to have Michael Franti and Jack Johnson albums on constant loops, I love it.

Margaret River and all the legendary surf spots that surround it are so close I can feel the vibes pulsing up the coast line, however I’ll have to wait a few more days to see this energy in person when we take a road trip inland, then south and back up along the coast.

The atmosphere here is so obviously relaxed, the air is wet and smells like salt (a welcome relief as my nose had been suffering its first and longest nose bleed since I was 5 from breathing so much dry plane air), I’ve seen 3 people plodding along in bare feet (even in the grocery store), everyone says “HI” (or maybe I’m just really excited and say hi to everyone and they can’t refuse a return hello).

The temperature, probably my biggest stress thinking about this trip, is a balmy 21 degrees with a light cool breeze. Our couple hour stop over in Brisbane worried me, it was freezing…15 degrees with no sun IS freezing (I had jeans and a sweater and socks all scrunched between my toes because I refused to take my flipflops off). I feared arriving in Perth, even further north, on the beach because we were in Australia but wearing all our clothes and still freezing our asses off.

Its my turn to shower and eat some food (with a 12 hour time difference its breakfast for dinner or dinner for breakfast?). Then probably try and get a good night sleep I’m so confused by the traveling and constant changing time I don’t know what I’ve eaten or how much I’ve slept, I just know its now 2 days from when we started this crazy journey. I’m just really excited for some surf action in the very near future!

P.s. If you know whats good for you check out the Mick Fanning video Lighting Strikes. Its all about his world title win. I watched on the flight over here. His very first ride gasp! it was so awesome.

A few photos taken so faa...




 

Hey-sus! The landscape from above is stunning and sometimes scarey, you can pretty much see the dream lines flying across the country, this is my only one but my bro got some great pics as I lost my window seat on the charge that I was "squandering it".

 

Brrrrr Brisbane airport, its as cold as it looks.

The good stuff starts....

Jack Johnson @ Burls Creek Park

Its Jack Johnson, need I say more? I will... Mason Jennings opened for him! The crowd was was massive, 40,000 people massive, exiting the park then exiting the car park was horrendous, hours in deadlock  horrendous, but Jack pulled off a amazing concert, great sounds and good vibes with ease. Perfect end to a wicked long weekend up north.

SUNCRASH-MUSIC FESTIVAL August 2nd Orillia, Ontario

This is Suncrash. Its the second year for this one night camping festival and party held on the Saturday of the August long weekend on a family farm just out side Orillia. Its obvious the work that the amazing Kearey-Moreland family puts into this non-profit event in everything from the scandalously cheap food and beverage to the many stages and featuring killer Ontario acts to the super clean port-a-potty's. 

The main stage featured acts like the ever popular locals Golden Dogs, Sadie May Crash (a sorta No Doubt circa Tragic Kingdom esque band) and Weyborne Project (dirty reggae beats) to just name a few. Each band did an incredible job getting the increasingly booze drenched crowd out of their seats and dancing.

For a chill time the Forest stage highlighted the acoustic styles of the many talented people floating through the few hundred attendees. Set in a overgrown apple orchard, complete with the need for 'watch for falling apples' signs, this small stage seemed to be designed to feel like a secret for those able to navigate the winding paths through the woods past a small pond and river. Not to worry if you couldn't find it on the first go however as there were plenty of willing guides amongst the many volunteers. 

The night ended (or didn't) with a dance party tucked next pond, multi-coloured christmas lights were strung in the surrounding trees and a great camp fire provided a haven for those who didn't want the party to end but couldn't muster up a dance move. Always thinking of everything, the proper ingredients for smores could also be purchased for mere change. Aaamazing!

RipCurl Pro Search!!!!

Rip Curl Pro Search Live web feed, Somewhere in .....INDO! Padang Padang is the consenses. 

Day one has come to an end, Slater seems to have been running on his toes since J-bay and has taken the top score in round one. Like its a surprise. Parko and both the Irons boys are doing their best to give him some heat. 

Can't wait to see more live feed and wicked lines over the next week. 

Billabong Pro JBay....ON NOW!

Wicked, the long long lines of Jeffery's bay are a reported 4 ft and nary a wind is blowing. The live trials are on this very second and the boys are all running for the finish line. Its early in the morning there since we are looking at about a 6 hour ahead time difference from Toronto to South Africa. The live video feed displays the beach, rocks, greenery, a bit of a grey sky and some half decent waves. Not amazing waves for this challenging break but waves none the less (remember I live on a lake).

With more than one past winner of this event, 45 full time pros and 4 wildcards the competition should be stiff. Watch legends and newbies alike make it look easy live for the next ten days at www.billabongpro.com .

Enlightened-Sports Photography Exhibition July 2-30 @ Steamwhistle Brewery

 

Its sports photography, skate,surf,wake,climbing photography. After careful selection from well known and amateur photographers including, Dano Pendygrasse (photo editor of Future Snowboarding Magazine) , Jeremy Koreski (photo editor of SBC Surf) and Ryan Allan (local skateboard photographer). Selected photos have been displayed in 2'x3' light boxes along the walls of the Steam Whistle Brewery. The light boxes provide an awesome viewing experience by enhancing colours and contrast making impressive captures that much more dramatic.

Prints of each of the photographs are available for reasonable varying prices and the full light box set ups going for around 500 dollars. 

This is the second year running and already the show has gathered a media buzz around it offering cash prizes to top photos and gaining sponsership from the surf giant Quiksilver among others. 

The work is impressive, the admission is free, flip-flops or skate shoes are totally acceptable foot wear and its located downtown in a brewery. Totally worth popping in and taking a look before the month is out. 

As an added bonus, surf inspired art work by Great Lake Native turned Hawaii local Christie Shinn is also on display. www.shinnoriginal.com

ROXY spokesmodel search.

ROXY is on the hunt for a spokesmodel. To me this is a very exciting thing, I am learning more and more that the things that excite me do not exactly line up with the rest of the city's idea of exciting, proving once again that I don't really belong. Toronto was the only Canadian stop on the tour, an open casting call held at Boathouse, with a surprisingly small turn out of girls with the dream of representing ROXY on a global scale.

Alas, my name was not called as one of the three finalists, but dreams are not shattered yet. 

In addition to the spokesmodel search ROXY is accepting video pitches to have your wildest dreams brought to life with a 10,000 dollar bonus from ROXY. The competition is going to be tough, check back for updates.

Great Lake Surfers Unite - Beer Night Sucess

       

 A great night was had by all at the Steam Whistle Brewery last Thursday. Local surfers and friends hooked up to party, watch vids and not feel guilty for chatting exclusively about surfing and/or surf related issues. 

There were lots of good friends, familiar faces and new ones as well. VonZipper, Boardsports and Billabong hooked us up with some goods for silent auction and little sandwichs. James G. brought his custom built Five surfboards with him and showed off his newest long board creations, a raw carbon fiber deck and a deck with wood sandwiching a foam core, super fun light rides.

Everyone was very festive and many of us stayed until the staff were politely pushing us out the doors. 

Great success, can't wait for some surf to stir up and to see everyone in the water again. 

The room....

 slowly filling at Steam Whistle Brewery, surf movies rocking, food to the left and sweet auction deals to the right.

 

Five boards and their creator James....

high quality local Toronto boards. I've seen his boards make the transition from lake Ontario to Pacific ocean with out missing a beat. 

Robin  of the wahine crew....

representing the freshy girls.

The many faces of Marston Clarke.....

 who is a lovely guy for real.

Testing out the new Five carbonfiber longboard model....

way too much fun.

We love swag......

among many others I will not have to buy another bar of cold water wax for at least a few years/forever.

Team kills it....

spreading the love.

A brief flash of alumni nostelgia....

and the end of a great night.