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Cold
Water SwellsÉ The crowds have dwindled, the steamers have
been dusted off and itŐs a time of solo sessions on crisp, clear morningsÉat
least, it is if you live near us! WeŐre going a bit diverse this month with a
look at SUPs – the latest, greatest, anyone-can-do-it thing to hit
surfing. Maybe not everyoneŐs cuppa tea, but damn these boats are popularÉ ___________________ This Issue: All Aboard – SUPs
are here to stay. Classic Malibu is now producing a range of SUPs to suit any
taste. Rug Up – ItŐs a
vital part of winter surfing, but thereŐs a lot more to the humble wetsuit
than a few sheets of rubberÉ White On White - Classic
Malibu is a family business through and through. This month we spotlight
White Jr, Brett.
(Photo:
© Angela Raab) |
Newsletter :: July
Ő09 :: ___________________ Supping They
may be the scourge of many a lineup and yes, itŐs true that we ourselves have
cursed their existence from time to time, but Stand Up Paddleboards are big
news. Flat water, open ocean or pulling in to six-foot barrels, SUPs seem to
be able to do it all. We are
producing a range of different boards to suit all abilities and occasions,
whether pottering around on a lake or ripping it up on a beach break. Most
surfers think of these slabs of foam as nothing more than exactly that: an
unrefined slab of foam, good for floating but little else. But SUPs are just
as technical as more conventional surf equipment. Bandwagon
joyriding? Maybe so, but the SUP phenomenon is here to stay, and weŐd rather
see people riding boards of quality that do what they need them to than wasting
money on an inferior product. Just so long as they donŐt drop in on us in the
line-up! Read
on to find out a little more about CM SUPsÉ |
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By River Or SeaÉ Stand-Up
Paddleboards come in two general styles: flat water or open water. Essentially,
the main difference is that one is designed for maximum floatation and
balance, the latter for manoeuvrability whilst maintaining buoyancy. As
with all surfboards, the breadth of variation is huge, but we are refining it
to three core designs. The flat water model is a
parallel-railed, slightly wider board with a centre box fin and stabiliser
side fins. Generally you wonŐt be doing extreme turns, so removing the side
fins is recommended to reduce drag. The
next model is more of an all-rounder. With harder rails through the pulled in
tail and a more rounded template, this is a board for all seasons, giving the
benefit of fuller floatation with the looseness of performance. Definitely
not an extreme lip-basher, this board does however allow you to venture into
the surf and have a ball in more sedate conditions.
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Lastly
we have the high-performance model. With a highly refined swallow-tail
and flyers and an appearance far more akin to a shortboard, this is a board
for the waves, bigger in volume than a standard surfboard but trimmed enough
to still give it a whole bunch of zing. ItŐs a board for the more
experienced, but still a bundle of fun with plenty of paddle and float. |
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Chill Factor: When
it comes to protecting against the early morning chill and evading those icy
southerlies, even for us thin-blooded Northerners a wetsuit is essential. But
reading through the average wetsuit guide is about as easy as reading a
dishwasher manual in Flemish. So hereŐs a little rundown of some of the terms
and facts to make your shopping for rubber a little easierÉ - Thickness:
Wetsuits are often given a numerical reference of something like 3/2, 5/4/3
and so on. This refers to the thickness of neoprene. The largest number
refers to the torso thickness, the smaller numbers to the extremities. - Stitching: Overlock:
Overlock
is the lowest of the low – a super-basic system whereby the neoprene
seams are rolled then sewn, giving a ridge inside and out. Cheap, but
uncomfortable and prone to leakage. Flatlock:
Similar
to the overlock but with a bevel in the adjoining edges. Still permeable but
considerably more comfy. Blindstitch:
When
it comes to needle and thread, this is as good as it gets. Seams are bonded
with a urethane / silicone glue and stitched on the outside only, making a
comfortable, waterproof seal that is durable too. Welds/Bonds:
Each
manufacturer has their own method or term for this, but essentially this is a
glued or bonded seam, sometimes also taped to increase strength. By far the
best you can get but can be replicated cheaply, making them prone to
splitting and cracking. - Neoprene: The
fabric itself can come in all manner of styles. The basic is a neoprene core
with a thin nylon coating both inside and out for durability. From there, you
get different outer coatings, such as a rubberised layer to protect against
windchill, or a tougher plasticised panel for knees. Lastly are the laminates
– top dollar but definitely the goods, giving increased insulation and
superior flexibility. - Entry: Getting
your suit on and off can be a Houdini-like act. The majority of suits are
zippered. This is cheaper and makes for a more convenient suit but allows
water to get in. In cheap suits you just have to deal with it, but even
mid-range suits are now being manufactured with a batwing or barrier –
a thin inner layer that protects from leakage. Zipless entry sometimes requires
additional yoga lessons but is the only way to go in colder climates.
Extra-flexible fabric and an overlap shoulder / collar panel means you can
wriggle your way in without a zip and sealing yourself from the water. - The
end call is that you pay for what you get. Sure, you can get a budget suit,
but chances are it wonŐt last and wonŐt provide anywhere near the protection
or insulation of a superior suit. Next
Month: What You See Is What You Get: Colouring, Designing & Personalising
Your Board Classic
Malibu Cnr
Gibson & Eumundi Rd Noosaville QLD
4566 Ph:
(07) 5474 3122 www.classicmalibu.com.au Email:
info@classicmalibu.com |
Little White - The Second Generation - Brett White is No.1 son to our head honcho,
Peter, and wife Janet. At 29, Brett has developed into a one-man show, in and
out of the surf. A nationally renowned performance Longboarder and a chip off
the old block in the shaping room, Brett is also a master glasser, tenacious
sander and polisher and can fix any ding you care to chuck at him to a near
invisible finish. When it comes to surfboard manufacture, thereŐs barely a
question that could trip White Jr. But is that really any wonder, given his pedigree?
(Photo:
© Classic Malibu) As was his old man, Brett was spawned down
south in Victoria, dabbling his little piggies in the frigid waters around
the Mornington Peninsula. Ma White would take the young rugrat down to
the family surf shop and set him up in his cot out the back while she served
the customers, so the grommetŐs early vocabulary influences were the local
surfers and a dad who shaped. A youth in the local nippers gave him a
taster for the brine, building his fitness, confidence and ocean savvy. Although Brett surfed down south, it wasnŐt
really until the family relocated to the Sunshine Coast that the bug really
took hold. Living on the open beaches of Noosa Shire, Brett was more akin to
shore breaks and a faster wave, making him lean towards the performance
aspect of longboarding. Though a proficient shortboarder, it was very
much the plus-nine arena that took his interest and he soon became a standout
in local, state and national events. Junior and Open division titles
followed, with a defeat of his idol, Wayne Deane, giving him the Queensland
title despite carrying a serious foot injury. But it was in 2002 that his defining moment
came. Taking the yearŐs contest circuit by the horns, he threw himself into
as many events as possible, the dedication paying off when, at yearŐs end, he
was crowned Australian National Open Champion. BrettŐs days breathing foam dust began at
birth, his DadŐs shaping room the shed in the back yard, but it was at the
age of 17 that he began his career behind the planer. Starting off cutting
the blanks Peter would draw up for him, after 100 or so boards he moved up to
pre-shaping, extracting the shape from the raw blank with Peter finishing the
job. After a year or two, he got the nod and was allowed to shape from start
to finish, his own logo adorning boards and his influence creating a quiver
of performance longboards under the Classic Malibu name. Glassing, finishing and all that goes with
the industry, Brett has become an integral part of the smooth, and not so
smooth workings of the Classic Malibu label, a one-man show in the
manufacture of performance boards – and itŐs just as well. To say that Brett shreds hard is somewhat of
an understatement. Brett loves the big stuff: few and far between on the
Sunshine Coast, but numerous overseas and trans-Australian trips have seen
him hone his skills in overhead conditions. But thereŐs one thing that Brett
canŐt do, one key factor in his surfing that hinders him significantly. Where
Brett falls drastically short, in fact, is absolutely useless, is in keeping
a board in one piece. No matter what the glassing, regardless of
materials, in spite of number of stringers, BrettŐs penchant for pulling in
hard and late to sucky pits invariably results in his 9Ő1Ó Performer model
soon becoming a five-foot snub-nose before the end of the session. Often is
the call, when a good swellŐs running on NoosaŐs multiple points, of ŇDad,
can I have another board please..!Ó But when it comes to R&D in performance
longboarding few worldwide are as experienced from both angles, in the lineup
and in the shaping bay as White Jr.cm Next
Month:
Wax On, Wax Off: we connect with Jesse Watson, our very own in-house Mr
MiyagaiÉ |
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