This is my view (only) and something totally out of Sydney (OZ).. but anyone who isn't riding a Thruster in 2004 is not keeping pace with the dynamic that's happening in Australian surfboarding in the 21st Century. US surfboarding culture has developed along its own lines and has not necessarily followed the Thruster Concept (Simon Ando). Like the US is miles away from Narrabeen.. and that's all cool. But, for what it's worth, Thrusters allow the most drive and manoevreability in ALL conditions that the average surfer will experience.. and for every wave type that a Professional Surfer will experience also.. whether they be a Kelly Slater, Andy Irons or Simon Farrer..or Nov..or Colman..or Gallagher..or perhaps, you. Please keep your eyes open and you can be your own judge. Oh.. no offense but OZ still leads the surf world!
thank god for leaders ...I for one am glad that all those who wish to be led are well accomodated...and as australia is confident in this pursuit is laudable and worthy of praise and support...the roots of australian aquatic organization has set the tone for the leader - follower relationship... american or if you will western american culture spawned a surf culture based on individual effort and self reliance , a definite drawback in a club culture..be that as it may...all surf cultural roads may lead to london...Jack London and his spirit of adventure captured the western american Imagination at a time of cultural depravity and desire to attatch itself to the dreamlike alternative that hawaiian surfing provided and still provides ...this combined with the westward movement of the american culture makes the quest for things pan pacific and polynesian a logical step in our progressing evolution...thrusters...Master Simon Anderson...Kelly Slater World Champion,australian rules surfing... bravo... as the parade is led down the boulevards to the tune of Waltzing Matilda... be confident that out in the water there are a few who do not wish to believe in heat sheets scores and points and ratings and autographs and pictures and and and and andandand...but just love the ocean and the water and like minded souls who owe their state of mind to a group of named and unnamed hawaiian beachboys who guilessly shared their love and interdependence with the ocean and its moods with so many lost malahini souls in search of a center of their universe ....In all respect that center is in the hearts of all who surf and the song that plays ,to those who have heard ,is not waltzing matilda....but : WAI KI KI ...at night when shadows are falling , I hear your rolling surf calling , calling and calling to me * .................. ambrose........................I am glad I surf ...and so is my mom...she is 80 years old and cherrishes her surfing memories and cheers herself up by listening to the beach boys when she is down ...a true California girl 3-5 generation ....... one of her great great great? grandfathers, for the embarrassed Cornwallis, surrendered the British general's sword to General George Washington... Australia 's tradition of Tethered independence is well illustrted by their alternative breaking of ties with England and this comparitively sets the tone for the "maverick "(an un branded animal on the free range of the amrican west) american attitude...............* try listen to George Helm's haunting rendition...
thrusters do not glide
I for one could give a rats ass what competive surfing is doing. To me surfing is my lifestyle, not a sport. Single fin, fish, thruster, mat, sponge, or my body, makes no difference if I get to be in the ocean.
Ambrose, I've cut and pasted your words onto something that hangs on my wall in my office. Thank you (once again) for saying it so well. (And, thrusters will glide when bricks swim.)
i agree with everyone ....all of the above comments are relevant in my life ... i compete and endorse competition ,,,for the fact it drives development of equipment ,i surf because i love it ,its me and the ocean ..... regards BERT
Good Lord! I guess there will always be people who just don't get it. Personal expression, preference and attitude are the most important aspects of the lifestyle of surfing. If you don't have these aspects your living in a generic world generated by the full color pictures in the magazine. Some of these guys come across like they wouldn't step in the water if they didn't have thier "super power thruster". I know guys who could ride a 2x4 and still have a great session. Come on fools wake up get your head out of the magazine and go surfing for once in your life. I'm willing to bet alot of these guys never been on a longboard and glided, or experienced a nice drawn out turn on a single fin. How about surfing with the wave instead of on top of it? When you open your eyes you'll see that the guys you've been surfing with at your homebreak since you were a kid are the true inspired surfers.... cause they love to do it. http://www.soulsurfertv.com
seems i just read an article on the "superbank" and according to Rabbit, the best guy out there, who gets the deepest tubes is a kid who rides single fins, full outlined ones at that....
I think the saying going like this," You paint on your canvas and I'll paint on mine." Mike
yes Australia does lead the surf world!!!------your world. Seems to me You need to open your mind ---a smidgen -----------------peace,love incense,light shows. bells and beads.
I think it was his hollowness, P. Jensen, who said that “If you surf a thruster you surf the board, and if you surf a single you surf the wave”.
Pages