Table of contents for Issue 593 in Tracks

If you are a subscriber you would have unwrapped your Tracks postal delivery to find either Michael Peterson or Mark Richards gracing the cover. If you wandered into a news agents then you may have been forced to make a choice between MP and MR. And if you are a die-hard collector, I’m sure you’ll figure out a way to get your hands on both versions of the cover. Why split the cover run? The decision about who or what to put on the cover is never made lightly and we’re always acutely aware that a cover image offers a certain immortality, particularly in a high-consumption digital world. Millions of photos may be glimpsed on social media but long after the daily phone scroll is finished the cover shot will…

Surf hardware has always been divided into various sub categories – boardshorts, legropes, boards, wetsuits etc. The ubiquitous vest is another. With its thin layer of neoprene the vest ensured you had a shield from the wind-chill factor and a buffer between you and the board to prevent horror rashes. In the North Shore ‘Free Ride’ era of the late 70s (see Free Ride special page 86) O’Neill had obviously sewn up several of the world’s best surfers. While their list of sponsored team riders in this ad is impressive – Shaun Tomson, Peter Townend (world no.1), Gerry Lopez, Mark Warren, Ian Cairns and Reno Abellira – it’s the final line of their ad, which really grabs you. It insists the entire gang will be back next year to provide…

For a couple of decades now, I’ve belonged to a club known as the Surfdaddies. We’re actually better drinkers than surfers but none the less we always give it a crack and have been to so many cool places, both domestically and throughout South EastSoutheast Asia. We even made a movie ‘Living the Dream’ (vimeo.com/322528635). However, while we chase waves and unique experiences we try to give something back to the regions we travel in. It was on a trip to Wave Park (wavepark.com) in Siberut, with the Surf Dads, that I first came across SurfAid and today I’m still an active donor and now a board member. I had the opportunity to visit Sumba and Bali a couple of months back and see firsthand the incredible work SurfAid is…

By subscribing toTracks you are electing to have a tactile tome of surfing treasures delivered to your doorstep. Crack it open, grip it between two hands and drop into the most interesting corners of the surfing universe. Our reason for being is to provide you with a finely curated assembly of compelling stories and rapturous photos, which collectively offer the opportunity for total immersion. Our printed edition is the ultimate distillation of the creative forces at work in the subculture. Subscribing means you are plugged into the essential elements of surfing’s evolution. 1 YEAR (6 ISSUES) FOR ONLY $99.99 (SAVE 33%) • 6 ISSUES DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR ANNUALLY SUBSCRIBERS RECEIVE A SPECIAL GIFT WITH EACH ISSUE • FULL ACCESS TO ALL MAGAZINE FEATURES ONLINE ACCESS TO TRACKS’ CLASSIC ISSUES…

We all seek to frame a life around riding waves. Our Artisans series profiles an eclectic cross-section of individuals who have figured out a way to immerse themselves in surfing and surf culture whilst also pursuing a career that satisfies their creative inclinations. Ben Brown is a gifted illustrator and keen shredder who has worked on everything from surf-themed shirts and cartoons, to album covers for Nirvan. Filmer and director, Nathan Oldfield lends a distinctly artistic element to his work behind the lens with the likes of Dave Rastovich. Matt Chojnacki is a talented surfer, commentator and surfboard historian who can master almost any craft tossed his way. Between sessions you’ll find Matt restoring classic cars, an aesthetically driven occupation which perfectly complements his surfing lifestyle. Head to Tracksmag.com to…

Legends, Heroes, Gods or Monsters? The Bad-Boys of Australian Surfing and Why They Self-Destruct. This issue: Michael Peterson & Joe Engel Australian surfers love an out-of-control rebel. Particularly if they surf exceedingly well. We admire their free spirited, devil-may-care approach to life; both in the water and on the land. They do things in their own way, on their own time, and by their own rules, and are often motivated by a raging fire that burns deep within their damaged psyche. Initially, they’re driven to prove themselves, but ultimately, they’re driven to destroy themselves. It’s not pretty, but we can’t look away. It’s a rare and fascinating flame that draws them in. Predictably, there’s a never-ending supply of sycophantic acolytes who willingly keep that fire well stoked. I should know,…

Surrounded by spirits of the past in the Remembrance Centre of the Bali cemetery and crematorium, members of the Bali surf community sat quietly in the pews, whispering and murmuring to each other in sorrowful sentences. The tragic passing of Mikala Jones had sent seismic shock waves through those in attendance. In one of the largest gatherings of the Bali surf community ever witnessed, they waited for Mikala to arrive. The ambulance turned through the gates and approached, and as it did, every soul, children and adults alike, stood up in unison and silence. The ambulance came to stop under the covered pavilion and the rear hatch was opened and all could see the white casket that held the mortal coil of their friend, or relative, or father, or husband,…

PROFESSIONAL SURFING DURING THE 70S WAS A SLOW BURN. Division within the vision of the ‘sport’ created a difficult environment for sponsors to dump a bunch of money into a recreational pastime that relied on the unreliable playing field of the ocean and an anti-establishment underbelly within the competitors. To be a national and international promotional success, the industry needed some international surfers to turn up Down Under. There was no shortage of Aussies travelling to Hawaii upsetting everyone but the number of overseas surf stars coming to our shores was thin on the ground. Thanks to his foresight, promotional capacity, and a soft spot for surfing, two companies were instrumental in establishing the 2SM/Coca Cola Surfabout to be run on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. Offering a purse more…

ON THE COVER: MP, COOLUM BEACH, MID 70s BY STEVE COONEY Channel bottom surfboards were making their presence felt via shapers like Al Byrne (Byrning Spears surfboards) and Col Smith (Newcastle) and were received with a modicum of scepticism by the larger surfing community. Difficult to shape, even harder to glass and sand – all sorts of variants were being tested to gain credibility. Michael turned up at Coolum Beach, QLD for a Pa Bendall contest that would be held in soft, 2-3ft beach break conditions. In the stubble of banksia trees, in the car park above the sand line, the ‘King of Kirra’ was, as per usual, stalling his appearance on the beach to psych out the other competitors… ‘Is he here, will he turn up in time for…

It’s the stretch of coast that originally launched a thousand surfing dreams. The Bukit Peninsular was the enchanting visual gateway to Indonesia and its myriad of mysteries. For many, the first exposure came via the pages ofTracks and the subsequent release of ‘Morning of the Earth’ by two of Tracks’ co-founders, David Elfick and Alby Falzon. Released in 1972, MOTE features Steve Cooney’s and Rusty Miller’s first encounters with Uluwatu and the Bukit’s powerful magic. (Around the corner from this shot). A year after MOTE’s release, Australian surfer and shaper, Richard Harvey, followed a hunch and rock-hopped down to Padang Padang where he surfed sparkling, lime-lit barrels all by himself. Soon after the likes of Peter McCabe and Rory Russell were plundering Padang’s hollow treasures. Although first seen in…