I don't know about you, but surfing makes such a huge difference to my mental health.
Being near, in, or on the water makes noticeable difference to me.
Thanks to work and life, it's now been 2 months since my last surf - a big change from at least 2 surfs a week.
I think I've only been fishing twice in that time too.
While life and work changes leave me feeling overwhelmed at times, this used to be rectified by a quick surf before work. Lack of surfing/fishing seems to be exacerbating this feeling of being overwhelmed.
Now, this isn't a pity party for me. Not by a long shot. I'm my own worst enemy, with taking on too much. And I know it.
I'm just reaching out to see how everyone is doing.
This longboarding forum is essentially non-active, these days.
Is this because the members are just not surfing as much anymore, or just not posting? Nothing to post about? Surely, someone can ask about fins?
When was the last thread about a group road-trip? - while never involved, there was always so much enthusiasm.
How are you doing? RU OK (2 weeks ahead of RU OK day)? I hope you are.
Hi mate great topic. You may remember me and my business. I've noticed the same as you, I'm now 62 surfing has sadly taken a backward seat the past few years. Sold up both business and the family home both solid long term and moved on. Yeah I've done ok but money isn't anything as many people say. The issue is, getting lost and finding a way out to the next thing whatever that maybe. I still froth on surfing but I'll do the hunt and make many excuses not to paddle out, am I getting old 100% am I too fussy? Maybe, but I'm now a 10 min walk to my local which I was a member of the board riders club back in 1980 but it doesn't do it for me, 15 min drive to my favourite right hander where I've enjoyed years of longboarding and it's not doing it for me. Something switched and I'm not sure what happened bout I'm not enjoying my surfing and it does my head head in. So if you've got some advice send it, I enjoy cruising the beach paths on my beloved ebike
The forum is quiet because there are a so many other platforms to communicate on.
I've been in the same boat as Mac, but after a bit of back surgery last year, I changed the way I do things in the mornings.
When daylight savings changed back to normal time. I reset my alarm to 5.50am, instead of 7.20 am. It meant in reality I was only getting up half an hour earlier (Yes, when the summer came around it was a trial to get up early, but I won eventually)
I think the main fun with surfing isn't actually the surfing. Well, it's not for me. Sure, I love to carve a good wave, even an average wave, but it's the few blokes you surf with that's gold. So, my morning routine is now to check out two breaks. If there's surf, go in. If there's no surf, I do 20 laps of the local pool both walking and swimming. The crew at the pool, and the beach are all friendly, encouraging and regardless of whether you get out on your board or not, you get a great deal of social interaction. It took months before I got to know some of the names, but now it's a challenge to get to work on time with all the chatter.
Now, a few of us go away for a week surfing. Some of us now play golf on a Friday and we have a surfer's Christmas drink at mine about three weeks before Christmas.
Say G'Day to the people you see on the shore, have a chat. It's amazing how much it helps the doldrums.
Macaha - of course I remember you, still use that S9 fin I bought off you. Or it's still in a board, if I was to surf.
I'm suffering the same sort of affliction. Yes, work and life is busier, but I'm also finding myself making excuses. I live in Brisbane and work at Southport, so squeezing in a pre-work surf requires some effort. When there is a rare window, there's just too many excuses - 'the forecast is crap', 'too tired' etc.
MR - I really need to keep this in mind. 99% of my surfs are solo (and often away from the crowd), but the most fun surfs have always been the rare ones with mates.
Where I typically surf, there's a crew of fellows that are often hanging out post-surf (or instead of, when the conditions are crap). I need to shoulder my way into that crew.
I guess I need to (awkwardly) start some convos in the water?
I used to surf the Alley, as my only surf spot, and got to know a bunch of the crew and really enjoyed the chatter. I went away from the Alley to avoid the crowd, which then has that social downside.
I've also been planning on joining the 'local' Longboard club, for the last few years, for the social aspect - but the youngest does Nippers, which clashes during summer. Maybe I still join and rock up post-'comp' and hang out for the sausage sizzle?
There's a few of us old seabeeze guys who have a instagram group called Woopi crew and friends, AI G , Scotty, Lance or Fishers his name was, Vanders rarely posts now days, Lacey and a couple of other guys. Sounds awesome MR
Select to expand quoteMacaha said..
There's a few of us old seabeeze guys who have a instagram group called Woopi crew and friends, AI G , Scotty, Lance or Fishers his name was, Vanders rarely posts now days, Lacey and a couple of other guys. Sounds awesome MR
I was on the Woopi crew, but didn't go there much and it appears I've been dropped off. Can't see it in my feed either. Not to worry.
Damned... we have a local long board club. Reef Riders. They have comps regularly, but I don't really want to be a member of a club that accepts people like me as members.... 
I do however play golf with a couple of the members and it's not a bad way to spend a morning. Surf, if there is any, coffee, then golf, then an icy cold glass of beer.....
Try not to let the froth go boys. Macca knows my story, basically medical issues for coupla yrs then advancing age too away my popup.. I'm 72 this yr. My TKR (total knee replacement) surgery really knocked the popup out of me. Yep life does get in the way but waddya gonna do ! there is other sports but will it beat surfing.... NAH.I....So i had a hard look in the mirror & said to self "do i wanna surf or what.? answer YEP ".. So back to training Pool, yoga, Pilates, weights, stationary bike. all of it that the old body is able to do .... So now I've got my froth back, drove 160k 3 times last for surf at central coast, loved getting wet & I got up (sniff ,tears in eyes)... some days I go out & just do laydown I don't care so as I'm in the surf..
Don't dither about too long or Father time will catch up & when you know you can surf but body says NO, it's ****in frustrating & that really plays with ya head . After 50yrs of being together my wife says "your back to your old self after a surf now".. pretty much says it all....Unclethirsty out >!
Congrats on getting back in the water! and rediscovering that stoke!
I got out in the water last Sunday (Fathers Day), with my 7 yr old son, my 20 yr old daughter and her Pommie boyfriend - on Body boards! Most fun surf I've had all year. The Pommie boyfriend literally had no idea what body boarding/boogie boarding was. And once he caught his first wave, couldn't get him out of the water.
I bought myself a new body board late last year, to body board with my 7 yr old (as part of nippers) - absolutely love boogie boarding with him - and we're talking just bombing the shorebreak.
Oh, and in May (?) we got to spend a week in Waikiki. A tropical low pushed large messy surf in, which hampered the longboarding, and by the end of the trip, my focus was hanging out with my son down at Walls - he was just having so much fun, getting smashed by the shorey, pushed up the beach, and then riding the water as it sucked back out. I loved it.
Oh, and I actually went surfing yesterday! Sat wide, so only caught some shoulder rides. And going into work with some sand in my socks and salt on my face entirely changed my day.
You're right, it's all about just finding ways to keep the froth.
How we all doing guys ? Damned are you driving from Brisbane to the GC daily? How long is your drive? I've been doing some work for Qantas driving from Miami to Brisbane Airport to Byron and back it's a journey
Hi team, a good post to shake the cobwebs off the keyboard and I'm sorry a few of you a struggling with your surfing Mojo.Do you remember in Point Break when the little grommet says 'Surfing's the source, can change your life. Swear to God' ?
That always resonated with me and whenever I get into a funk, that still lifts me out quick smart.
I got jaded by the whole 'your the board guy, can I get some advice' and have spent more time on a SUP Foil over the past 3 years, but given the injuries I've suffered doing it, am back riding my SUP quiver and feeling like a grommet again.
Sold most of my longboards / surfboards (aside from a couple of faves) and give zero you know what's about people's thoughts on SUP and do what makes me feel happy, free and involved.
Do we want to organise a few days at Woopi ? I'm up for it if some of the others are.
Stay stoked fellow breezers
I'm better than I have been in a long time due to new medication, less medication, and less alcohol, but still pretty down at times.
Like others I've been in a getting in the water fug - I used to go every day all year but got out of the habit and started making excuses not to go.
I reckon I can trace it back to Covid Lockdowns - I stopped, and down here we had nearly two years of it, and I've never got going again.
Crowds bother me a lot more than they did - parking lots more than in the water. There always seems to be people around and I just want them to piss off and go home.
I've stopped photography when I used to take a hundred shots a day, and can't be bothered setting up GoPros on my boards.
Got a new van, have revived the board in my avatar, and determined to try and get back to the old days as we come out of winter down here.
Off to Kingsciff tomorrow for a couple of weeks as a first step.
Select to expand quoteMacaha said..
How we all doing guys ? Damned are you driving from Brisbane to the GC daily? How long is your drive? I've been doing some work for Qantas driving from Miami to Brisbane Airport to Byron and back it's a journey
Yep - daily.
Indeed, in summer it's 6x week with Nippers on Sunday. 7x, if I go for a surf on Saturday.
The drive? How long is a piece of string?
Before the population boom, it was pretty much 45-50 min door-to-door. Now, generally 60 min to work (although, hasn't been too bad for the last few weeks, for some reason), but 70-90 min home.... And a fair chunk of that is Smith Street.
Traffic is now getting to the point where this year, I'm regularly getting traffic when I leave early enough to go for a surf.
That said, we are quite literally in the middle of tarting the house up to sell and move down the coast - that'll be a game changer for my mental health... I hope.
Yesterday arvo, I was all set for a Noosa run this morning (one of my fave things to do) - and by 'run', I mean drive up for a surf. My body is not built for running. Then decided, it was going to be too much to catch up on work, and had to 'force' myself to head down to Burleigh for a surf. Of course, there was an accident, so traffic sucked, and I got there just as the Northerly started to kick in.
Still, getting that 'surf' in before work, even if it was more of a short float in the water, really changed my day.
And I had a chat with a couple of the locals, both pre and post-surf.
This thread has really helped me to make a more concerted effort to surf - and to engage with the locals.
If the timing is right, I'm up for a crashing a trip to Woopi - but you're not allowed to laugh at how poorly I surf!
Oh, and it's RU OK? day (at least for a little while longer).
I think it's great that societal norms have changed in the last few years in regards to talking about mental health.
Nozza - great to hear you're doing better (not that I knew you were doing 'less well'). Have you played with the recent GoPros?
I really like the stability features - but I've had both a Hero9 and Hero10 fail in a much shorter period than is acceptable. That said, my old 4 is still going strong (last time I powered it up).
Re: 'parking lots' - is there scope to hit a less 'good', yet less crowded spot?
I love the wave at Currumbin, but can't deal with crowd, so surf the 'avenues' (2nd to 4th) at Burleigh - arguably doesn't compare with Currumbin, but much less crowded. And if a peak/bank has a crowd, there's always another far less crowded peak/bank a short paddle away. Might not be as good, but it's there.
Well I am NOT OK. Thanks for asking.
Stuck in Townsville, for over 10 years and only managed to go on a surf ONCE in that time when a cyclone swell hit up near here back in 2018. My son from WA was fortunately here with me and we both went for a surf, but it lasted one day and that was it. It was fantastic though. Nothing - nada ever since.
Kite surfing is my only relief being on the ocean, but I'd swear nothing beats a speedy run down the face of a wave at Bells back when I was there in the early 2000s and 90s. God I miss Torquay the most and Cosey Corner around the corner from Point Danger. Point Impossos even better! Mwaahhh stop it!!
I love those breaks. I grew up surfing them since I was in my 20s. Now I just reminisce seeing guys catching long waves on logs that I once owned too. Sold them all sadly. Anyone seen an old Gill surfboard - blue and red?
I am telling you guys - the power of the pussy is dangerous!! It can lead you astray and suddenly you're on another planet even!
Catch a nice wave for me fellas... especially if you're in Byron or Noosa. Those are places I want to retire in. Even fighting for a wave at Snapper is a good day compared to the slop up here.
Cheers
Lofty
Wow just read some of the above posts. SA your the man surfing every day yep I see your posts and yep jealous as, you have owned the most awesome boards I've ever seen and you know I like a quality board . Nozza it's great to see you posting again and stoked your back on track and the new van is awesome. Damned I take my hat off that's some serious miles your doing but try 3rd Ave Burleigh it's a great bank has been for a year now. You should join Burleigh Longboard Club great bunch of guys I'm no hope of winning a Comp there some superstars in that club. I've still got three yes three brand new boards that haven't been ridden I'm over the crowds over the wankers who have invaded the place with no respect shown at all so I too find myself looking and saying no thanks and head home
Select to expand quoteNorthernKitesAUS said..
Well I am NOT OK. Thanks for asking.
Stuck in Townsville, for over 10 years and only managed to go on a surf ONCE in that time when a cyclone swell hit up near here back in 2018. My son from WA was fortunately here with me and we both went for a surf, but it lasted one day and that was it. It was fantastic though. Nothing - nada ever since.
Kite surfing is my only relief being on the ocean, but I'd swear nothing beats a speedy run down the face of a wave at Bells back when I was there in the early 2000s and 90s. God I miss Torquay the most and Cosey Corner around the corner from Point Danger. Point Impossos even better! Mwaahhh stop it!!
I love those breaks. I grew up surfing them since I was in my 20s. Now I just reminisce seeing guys catching long waves on logs that I once owned too. Sold them all sadly. Anyone seen an old Gill surfboard - blue and red?
I am telling you guys - the power of the pussy is dangerous!! It can lead you astray and suddenly you're on another planet even!
Catch a nice wave for me fellas... especially if you're in Byron or Noosa. Those are places I want to retire in. Even fighting for a wave at Snapper is a good day compared to the slop up here.
Cheers
Lofty
Lofty now that's a seabreeze legends name. Hope your well mate and trust me the older you get the harder it is the get a wave at Noosa Byron snapper, I'm starting to sound like a grumpy old frustrated longboarder I think I am
Hi All, yes very hard to get back after the knee replacement 2 years now as Mac said crowds etc haven't helped. I did go to 3rd Ave Burleigh this week and returned home. Hopefully next time. Cheers
Mental health took a hit this weekend! The most crowded I have ever seen it !managed a few waves and went home,there was more abuse and rage out of the water than in !a lot of people being told to get in the Far Que.Its a car parking thing .The problem with living in a holiday destination town,with none of the 3 states..school holiday coordinating so almost a month of crowd !and very few car parks for the locals !.happy days??
Select to expand quotesurfanimal said..
Hi team, a good post to shake the cobwebs off the keyboard and I'm sorry a few of you a struggling with your surfing Mojo.Do you remember in Point Break when the little grommet says 'Surfing's the source, can change your life. Swear to God' ?
That always resonated with me and whenever I get into a funk, that still lifts me out quick smart.
I got jaded by the whole 'your the board guy, can I get some advice' and have spent more time on a SUP Foil over the past 3 years, but given the injuries I've suffered doing it, am back riding my SUP quiver and feeling like a grommet again.
Sold most of my longboards / surfboards (aside from a couple of faves) and give zero you know what's about people's thoughts on SUP and do what makes me feel happy, free and involved.
Do we want to organise a few days at Woopi ? I'm up for it if some of the others are.
Stay stoked fellow breezers
Nothing i like more than getting to our spot SA and seeing you (and Troy) out on the SUPs staked out on the / our break!
I know if i am surfing with you guys i am going to be watching you guys slide in early to the bombs and silently wishing i had my Style again to get in even earlier :) ...but we all get our share and move away from the turkey's if they show up.
I know you dont care what anyone thinks
, i have seen it from the front row, there is agro everywhere and nothing like the wider Bate Bay locals and blow-ins to thicken the soup...we get out there early and often and get our share, have a chat and some harmless banter in between sets and then move on....rinse-n-repeat every day if i can make it! generally most dudes and dudette's out there are friendly with a smile and a chat....lets see what summer brings up
Lenny
Select to expand quoteLenn said..surfanimal said..
Hi team, a good post to shake the cobwebs off the keyboard and I'm sorry a few of you a struggling with your surfing Mojo.Do you remember in Point Break when the little grommet says 'Surfing's the source, can change your life. Swear to God' ?
That always resonated with me and whenever I get into a funk, that still lifts me out quick smart.
I got jaded by the whole 'your the board guy, can I get some advice' and have spent more time on a SUP Foil over the past 3 years, but given the injuries I've suffered doing it, am back riding my SUP quiver and feeling like a grommet again.
Sold most of my longboards / surfboards (aside from a couple of faves) and give zero you know what's about people's thoughts on SUP and do what makes me feel happy, free and involved.
Do we want to organise a few days at Woopi ? I'm up for it if some of the others are.
Stay stoked fellow breezers
Nothing i like more than getting to our spot SA and seeing you (and Troy) out on the SUPs staked out on the / our break!
I know if i am surfing with you guys i am going to be watching you guys slide in early to the bombs and silently wishing i had my Style again to get in even earlier :) ...but we all get our share and move away from the turkey's if they show up.
I know you dont care what anyone thinks, i have seen it from the front row, there is agro everywhere and nothing like the wider Bate Bay locals and blow-ins to thicken the soup...we get out there early and often and get our share, have a chat and some harmless banter in between sets and then move on....rinse-n-repeat every day if i can make it! generally most dudes and dudette's out there are friendly with a smile and a chat....lets see what summer brings up
Lenny
Bring on summer waves my friend
.we will duck and weave all summer long.
Select to expand quoteMacaha said..
Wow just read some of the above posts. SA your the man surfing every day yep I see your posts and yep jealous as, you have owned the most awesome boards I've ever seen and you know I like a quality board . Nozza it's great to see you posting again and stoked your back on track and the new van is awesome. Damned I take my hat off that's some serious miles your doing but try 3rd Ave Burleigh it's a great bank has been for a year now. You should join Burleigh Longboard Club great bunch of guys I'm no hope of winning a Comp there some superstars in that club. I've still got three yes three brand new boards that haven't been ridden I'm over the crowds over the wankers who have invaded the place with no respect shown at all so I too find myself looking and saying no thanks and head home
2nd - 3rd ave is where I normally surf. The 3rd ave bank has been the best option in the last 12 months, for sure. But it comes with the additional crowd, so I'll typically be closer down to 2nd.... and then there's the parking issues with the building construction and current beach access limitations with the boardwalk revamp.. so I might end up anywhere along that stretch.
Nonetheless, if I'm in the water for about an hour, and score one half-decent ride, I hit the beach a happy man.
I'm also losing some of my excess weight, over 10 kgs so far (thanks Ozempic!). So excited to see how that helps my surfing. That said, there seems to be some loss of lean muscle mass too, so need to make more of an effort to exercise to lift that too.
The weight loss is also helping with the mental state too, so double win?
And only 3 new, unridden boards? You slowing down these days? Are they all McTs or is there another Tak or two in that batch? Did we ever get a decent report on your Tak Prince?
I bought myself a bodyboard late last year, to play in the white water with my 7 yr old son. Even bought one for the wife a couple of months ago.
During the school holidays, we camped down at Hastings, and one arvo, the three of us went bombing the shorey up at Cabarita - was so much fun.
Anyway, on the weekend, I went out and bought myself a decent pair of swim fins for bodyboarding. Idea being that if the conditions are too crap to bother with taking a longboard out, I can go out and have some fun dragging some nuts. Crappy onshore conditions, here I come!
Sounds like my own,recent journey,because I live in mat central,with several very good riders of all ages I thought ,I can do that no problems.WRONG,it is so difficult!,I have actually given up at least 4 times.much. To the amusement of other Matt riders,if you want it that bad,you just gotta hang in there ,everyone of them have been encouraging,and are happy to help but. Most of us have to go through the process , how ever approaching 72,my body with injuries,is not handling something different,so I'm not sure if I want to go through the process,,enter body boarding,seems to be better for my injuries,but early days,just trying to stay in the water
I did it. I went bodyboarding.
I saw that the conditions were likely to be less than optimal for longboarding this morning, so headed down with my boog and fins.
First wave, and I had a massive smile on my dial.
I 'bodyboarded' with my son quite a bit over last summer, but that was just catching white water with him - also heaps of fun, but mainly because it was with him.
This morning was catching waves. It's been over 30 years since I last bodyboarded 'properly', and I clearly forgot how much fun it was.
Without question, in this mornings conditions, I had way more fun on the lid, dragging ones nuts, than I would have had on a longboard. Not only that, it was simply a tonne of fun.
And great exercise too - I'll be feeling it in my calves for the next few days, for sure.
I think it will be a game changer for me - in the seemingly rare windows I have for surfing, if the conditions look crap, I'll be out having fun on the boog, as opposed to not even heading to the beach.
The only downside was the embarrasment of walking down the beach with a lid under my arm! But had so much fun, I walked out loud n proud.
