Guide to Duck Diving

Pushing under waves is a great way to streamline your paddle out to backline. When done properly, it can look like the most graceful and effortless act in the whole world.

When not done properly, however, pushing under could look something like my first attempt at getting it right as a kid.

After carefully observing how quickly and easily the older guys would push under waves, I was convinced that it would be a piece of cake. I mean, how hard could it be, right?

So, paddling towards a sizeable foamy, I pushed myself up and, with all the force I could muster, I pushed down on my board – but instead of sinking it even so much as an inch under the water, I head-butted my board with such ferocity that I almost knocked myself unconscious.

To add insult to injury, I then got walloped by the approaching wave while I was still seeing stars. I guess I overestimated how easy it would be for my 30kg frame to sink my 6'4 boat. This extraordinary fail is an illustration of how NOT to push under a wave...

But pushing under really doesn't have to be that painful. If you're in any doubt as to the correct way to push under, try it on a flat day first, just to get the motion right. Here's how you do it:

1. When the approaching wave is a few meters away from you, push down on your rails with your hands and on your tail pad with one foot. Some people use their knee instead of their foot, but I wouldn't recommend doing this unless you want a bunch of pressure dings on your top deck. The reason you only use one foot to sink the tail is so that you can use the other leg as a kind of 'floating stabilizer'.

2. You can sink your board about 1 foot under the water and hold it there until the wave is pretty much upon you. You'll learn the right timing of this – you don't want to push under while the wave is still miles away because you'll lose all your forward momentum. You don't want to leave it too late either, otherwise that wave is gonna flatten you before you can sink your board.

3. When the wave reaches you, duck under the water and flatten your body against your board. The wave will push you down a little as it passes over you and then, with the help of your board's buoyancy, it'll pop you out the back of the wave.

4. When I'm under water, I like to grab my board near the nose and thrust it forward a little. I find that this pulls me out the back a bit better. On bigger waves you can expect the turbulence of the wave to throw you around a bit. Just hang on, relax and enjoy the ride.

By: Sean Laughton

Only in Australia - The Bob Hawke Surf Team

A nice American boy with a college education, I was a little shocked when I migrated to Australia in 1985. Australian kids regularly did what I only did in fear and trembling when I was in high school and the waves were too good to resist - wagged (ditched) school. Not only that, an alarming number of them dropped out at age 15.

Bob Hawke was Prime Minister of Australia at the time. A "true-blue" Aussie Labor man, he made it easy for Australians to go on the dole. All you had to do was sign up and a handsome fortnightly cheque from the government was yours. It was too good a deal to resist. And so the Bob Hawke Surf Team was born.

He may not have been a member of the Team, but Mark Occhilupo was definitely an inspiration to thousands of young Australian grommets in that era. Occy quit school in 1983, as close to his fifteenth birthday as possible and immediately took the surfing world by storm. By the time I arrived in Australia in '85, he had already taken out the Pipeline Masters and the OP Pro and was a force to be reckoned with, right alongside the two Tom's - Carroll and Curren. Then Occy fell even further and faster than he had risen, but he picked himself up again and took out the 1999 World Title.

I learned a lot about Australian culture and ideals from Occy and the kids who looked up to him. Australians like to think of themselves as "battlers" like Occy and not "bludgers." Sure, they took advantage of Hawke's free lunch, but they didn't sit around doing nothing. They did what they loved to do and did it passionately. When it dawned on them that they weren't going to cut it as pro surfers, most of them got jobs and worked hard to be sure they and their children could always afford to surf. Today, a lot of those kids have become more successful than many squeaky clean college kids became and they're teaching their little grommets to surf. Watch out world, the grandchildren of the Bob Hawke Surf Team are on their way.

Written By: Rob Schneider

The Durbo - Freestyle Watches

What I like about Freestyle Watches is that they combine Style and Functionality when making their watches. This couldn't be more true with their recent watch - The Durbo, which happens to be Bede Durbidge’s signature time piece from Freestyle.

Featuring a minimalist clean design it goes great with any outfit. Wear it to surf and then wear it to dinner. But what many can't see is the hidden fin key on the side of the watch.





The best word to describe The Durbo is clean. Nothing to fancy, but not to bland either. Perfect for a night out and about or an early morning surf; The Durbo is a master at both.






The fin key just makes the watch stand out even more. It is very functional and works extremely well. Whether you have FCS or Future fins, the key will work. If you don't have a need for the fin key, then leave it tucked into the watch and you will forget its even there.



The Durbo watch is a stylish watch that also features some great features that go beyond the fin key. Although the fin key is definitely my favorite. I love to wear mine and have yet to complain about anything about the watch.




Introducing pro Surfer Bede Durbidge’s signature timepiece. Never loose your fin key again, The Durbo features a revolutionary Fin Tool accessory hidden in the case. Not a surfer? No worries, the key tucks neatly out of view into the watch case, you’ll never know it’s there.

Alex Waterbottles

Alex Bottles are a revolutionary new design for Stainless Steel water bottles. By being able to Un-screw the middle; Alex Bottles are easy to clean out after enjoying a smoothie or other drink. They are made out of 100% BPA Free stainless Steel. 

I personally tried one of their water bottles and really liked it. It was easy to clean out my protein shakes and other sport drinks and it was willing to take some abuse. And the appearance of the bottle is very unique & clean. I got many comments & inquiries as to what kinda of water bottle it was. 

Everyone I came into contact with while testing it out was very interested in it. Alex Bottles are definitely going to be around for awhile because of their unique design and high quality products.

San-O Shark Sighting

Board Shorts = Walking Shorts

My favorite part about boardshorts is that they can double as walking shorts. Throw them on with a t shirt or tank top and you are ready to run errands or go to a friends whether or not you are planning to get wet. 

A lot of times they are more comfortable than regular shorts because they are often made from stretch fabric. I suggest you buy 2-3 pairs of board shorts for summer to use both for surfing and for regular day to day use. Then again this could just be another way I justify buying way to many pairs of boardshorts every summer.





Surfing with Legends - Tom Carroll and Ross Clarke-Jones

A recent gig I had writing press releases for the World Premier of Storm Surfers - New Zealand on the Discovery Channel ( July 14, 2010 - sorry if you missed it) took me on a trip down memory lane. The video stars Tom Carroll and Ross Clarke-Jones and follows them on their quest for ridiculously big and dangerous waves off the south coast of New Zealand - hence the title.

Anyway, my flashback was to the one and only time I surfed "with" these two guys. It was out at the big left-hander at Forresters Beach, NSW. RCJ got his taste for big waves there and at nearby Terrigal Haven when he was a kid. On this particular day, for some inexplicable reason I was the only one out. It was biggish, maybe double overhead, but probably less. It was a weekday, but that doesn't stop Aussie school kids from wagging school and workers from taking "sickies." In Australia, if the waves are good, weekdays don't make a dent in the crowds.

I was actually feeling a little lonely sitting there all by myself, so when I saw two dots paddling in the distance, I welcomed their approach. My heart sank when I saw who they were, though. TC and RCJ both had a reputation for being ruthless. If they wanted a wave, they took it.

Instead of staring me down and sending me cowering to the beach, they both smiled politely and waited on the shoulder while I took the first wave of the next set. It continued like that for about an hour. I'd wait on the shoulder until they got their waves and they waited for me. We didn't exchange words, other than a polite "G'day mate." Finally, my ageing muscles tiring and the winter cold penetrating my bones, I paddled for one last wave.

For some reason, I felt like thanking them for their generosity. Instead, I just turned and grinned as I paddled into my last wave. Tom grinned back. It was a great wave and took me all the way to the boil on the inside, saving me a long paddle to the beach.

I'll never know why my favourite left-hander was empty that day or why Tom Carroll and Ross Clarke-Jones let me have all those waves. All I know is that the session is up there with my top 20 best surfing memories. Thanks, Tom. Thanks, Ross. There - now I've said it.

Written By: Rob Schneider

G-SHOCK AND SURFRIDER FOUNDATION LAUNCH EVENT

I was stoked to be invited to the G-Shock Launch Event last night in Huntington Beach. It was a great event and awesome to see G-Shock & Surfrider's Collaboration.


G-SHOCK AND SURFRIDER FOUNDATION LAUNCH EVENT

G-Shock Technology Meets Surfrider Style



Huntington Beach, CA – After last summer’s highly successful collaboration to commemorate 25 years of protecting the world’s oceans, waves and beaches, G-Shock and the Surfrider Foundation have joined forces again to create a second co-branded collaboration watch. To celebrate the launch of this new timepiece, G-Shock and the Surfrider Foundation hosted an intimate affair at the Hilton Water Front Resort in Huntington Beach.


Just footsteps away from the palpable U.S. Open of Surfing excitement, G-Shock collectors, surfers from around the globe and supporters of Surfrider's incredible efforts all turned out to check out the latest timepiece collaboration. This year, the work that the Surfrider Foundation champions is even more highlighted by our current eco-crisis. These disasters call out to the importance of an organization like the Surfrider Foundation to protect the world’s oceans, waves and beaches.


Ecologically conscious, the G-Shock X Surfrider watch has Self-Charging, Tough Solar Power technology – a tiny, solar panel combined with a large-capacity rechargeable battery, which enables a variety of energy-hungry functions to operate smoothly. The result is an impressive solar timepiece that assures reliable timekeeping and greatly reduces the need for battery change. With its shock resistant construction, unmatched solar power function and recycled packaging, the GRX5600SRF-3 is a tough, fashionable and more importantly, eco-friendly accessory.


Built for avid surfers around the globe, the G-Shock X Surfrider timepiece features a Tide Graph function with 100 pre-set site locations as well as a Moon Age & Phase Data indicator for the ultimate tracking the tides. The watch’s bright yellow and deep jade motif with the Surfrider logo on the band and the back case add an extra pop of color on the beach or out riding the waves.


The GRX5600SRF-3 combines G-Shock technology and Surfrider sensibility with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the non-profit organization. Available now for $130, visit G-Shock Watches for more information.



Ocean Swims

The best surfers are the one's who are most comfortable in the water. Most of the time they are experienced surfers who have logged countless hours of surfing. They most likly are also strong swimmers.

If swimming lap after lap in a pool sounds boring to you then I have a new way to become a better swimmer. Start swimming in the ocean. The trick is to start with very short distances close to shore.

ALWAYS SWIM WITH A FRIEND. 

But grab a pair of body surfing fins and go for a swim. As you get better you can go for longer distances further from shore. but for now start close to shore and only swim for a short distance. Swim in a pool first and be sure you have a strong stroke before you go ocean swimming.

Unike a pool - you can't jump out when you get tired or cold while swimming in the ocean.