New England National Park is a place of great beauty, sitting on the Great Dividing Range, west of Coffs Harbour. The park boasts spectacular views all the way to the coast and across the wilderness that stretches north and south. As part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area, it offers a rare chance to see Australian rainforest in a pristine state.

The New England Tableland area is much colder than the coast. Lovers of cold climates will enjoy the many benefits of winter walking. But if chilly doesn’t thrill you, visit this area in spring to enjoy the blossoms and birdlife of the season without the chill factor.

GETTING THERE

It’s a scenic drive from Coffs Harbour, first through Bellingen, then up the windy road to Dorrigo and Ebor. The journey takes a bit over two hours. Allow another hour if starting from Port Macquarie. There are plenty of places to stop along the way, including the fabulous cafes and bakeries in Bellingen. A stop at Ebor Falls is also recommended, the beautiful waterfall just a short stroll from the car park and toilet facilities.

Overnight Camping

After enjoying our drive, we arrive late in the day at Thungutti campground, using the last of the sunlight to set up camp. Our winter visit provides the opportunity to enjoy a campfire and although the mid-winter day has been beautifully clear and warm, the cold sets in as soon as darkness descends. As it can drop well below freezing overnight the warmth of the fire is very welcome.

Thungutti campground is well set up with grassy unpowered camping spots, fireplaces and firewood stacked up and ready. Bookings are required and internet access in the park is very limited, so book in advance. There are multiple camping areas over the New England National Park – check out the choices online.

Walking

After a cold night we warm up over breakfast, enjoying the stunning views from Point Lookout towards the coast. On a clear winter morning you can see all the way from Coffs Harbour to Port Macquarie. In between, the wilderness seems to stretch in all directions. It’s also a great place to start walking as many of the trails begin at Point Lookout.

Walking initially to Eagle’s Nest lookout, we connect onto the Weeping Rock Trail, another wonderful winter experience. The rock face has a steady drip of water but in the depths of winter these are transformed into ice, decorating the trail with icy stalactites hanging from ledges, frozen foliage and icicles all around. With every gust of wind, small ice chunks fall noisily to the ground. Listen out for the creaking groan of the rare sphagnum frog that lives buried in the mossy crevices of the rock.

After Weeping Rock we use the Lyrebird Trail as a connection out to the spectacular Wright’s Lookout for lunch. The views here are even more impressive, unimpeded to the south, east and west, plus a view over the Bellinger River.

The return is via a lovely forest walk with plentiful birdlife, the highlight is a close up of a yellow-tailed black cockatoo foraging in a tree just above us. The day’s walk has been exhilarating, with clear air, amazing views and pristine bushland. Time to get back to camp and get the fire going before another cool, clear night.

What To Take

Make sure to pack for the cold if you are camping. Apart from warm clothing and a waterproof jacket, make sure to bring a winter-grade tent and sleeping bags that are rated to at least minus 5. Even in spring the area gets much colder than the coast, so be prepared. Any good camping store or a National Parks officer can advise you on the best gear to pack.

All the walks are well signposted and formed, at a Grade 3 level. But of course the obvious hazards of walking on wet bush trails apply. If in any doubt, check out the details with the National Parks. Check out Glenn’s other recommended walks in Coastbeat.

The post Walk Me Through It: New England National Park appeared first on Coastbeat.

Words and images by Glenn Mead

Kosciuszko National Park is a wonderful place to visit outside the ski season. It boasts spectacular views from well-organised tracks, leading you through this strikingly beautiful alpine wilderness.

Getting There

There are a couple of ways to walk the high country, the most popular being driving to Thredbo and catching a chairlift. The walk from Thredbo to the top of Mt Kosciuszko is 4-6 hours. Or you can drive to Charlotte Pass and do the 18.6-kilometre day walk from there, returning the same way.

An even more spectacular option is to take the Main Range Loop. This is what we decided to do. The walk provides views of the alpine lakes, crosses the Snowy River twice and passes over or close to all of the 10 highest peaks in Australia. It starts past the Perisher ski resort, at Charlotte Pass, about 41 kilometres from Jindabyne. The road is suitable for most vehicles, but chains are recommended during the winter snow. The National Park website is informative about road conditions.

The Main Range Loop walk is close to 23 kilometres, at a National Park Grade 4 level, which makes for an enjoyably challenging day walk. However, we chose to camp one night, allowing us to explore some of the lakes and peaks off the trail.

The Walk – Day 1

After leaving Jindabyne (the last chance for a morning coffee and supplies) we drive into the National Park. You can pay a one-off entry fee at the gate, or purchase an annual pass online beforehand. Then follow the signs to Charlotte Pass. We get an easy park about 100m from the trail start.

The sky is wide and blue as we head down the slope to the Snowy River, rock-hopping across the glistening stream. Immediately there is a long uphill, but every step unfolds a little more of the panoramic views of Australia’s highest peaks.

Near the top of this climb we take our first detour, across to Hedley Tarn, following around to the end of Blue Lake. Tarn is an old Norse word for a glacial mountain lake. Both Hedley Tern and Blue Lake are spectacular, carved out by the ice in ages past. Blue Lake sits in front of Mt Twynam, Australia’s third highest peak. The beautiful setting makes for a perfect lunchtime stop.

Continuing on, we reach a saddle with spectacular views of the drop-off to the west of the main range – close to 1800 metres down to the headwaters of the Murray River. From there it is up to Carruthers Peak, another of the 10 highest peaks. Carruthers Peak offers magnificent 360-degree views, including Kosciuszko, Club Lake (another alpine tarn), back across to Mt Twynam, Blue Lake and countless other peaks.

We are keen to set camp well before nightfall because the temperature drops significantly as soon as the sun starts to set. After a quick climb of Mt Lee, we choose a ridge overlooking Lake Albina, just out of the No Camping zone that protects these lakes. The sunset is magnificent over the range of Mt Townsend and Alice Rawson Peak.

The Walk – Day 2

It is a very cold camp. Overnight the temperature drops to minus 7. We wake to find a crusting of ice covering the tents. We had packed for an overnight temperature of zero, so our sleeping bags were insufficient for the unexpected cold. Best hint here is to take a sleeping bag rated lower than the forecast!

While waiting for the sun to melt the remnant ice, we wander down to Lake Albina to refill water bottles, bask in the morning sun and take in the beautiful scene. Today’s track is visible, winding high above us. The early risers are starting to pass along the trail so it’s time to be on our way.

Heading towards Kosciuszko, we down packs at a junction and head off to climb Australia’s second highest peak, Mount Townsend. This detour is less popular and more difficult because it involves some rock-hopping. While Kosciuszko is an easy stroll up a well-groomed track, Mount Townsend looks like someone has thrown a stack of granite boulders in our way. We clamber up under the midday sun.

Mt. Townsend

The views are worth every slip, slide and scramble. At this height the clouds are rising from below us, creating a dramatic backdrop for Kosciuszko and the surrounding peaks. We can still imagine Strezlecki standing here on what he thought was Australia’s highest peak before his surveying instruments showed him that Kosciuszko was just a few metres higher.

After climbing down from the Mount Townsend we follow in Strezlecki’s footsteps through the Mueller Gap. This leads back to the main path before the final winding ascent to the top of Australia. It is getting late in the day but there are still plenty of people enjoying the view from Mt Kosciuszko.

Home Safe

After photos and a snack, it’s a mostly gentle downhill path to Charlotte Pass. With our extra detours today, the sunlight is disappearing quickly. We arrive at Charlotte Pass in time to be dazzled by a last brilliant sunset glowing over the peaks of our two-day walk.

This fantastic walk was made all the more enjoyable by detours to the various peaks and lakes. The walking was easy enough, along well-signed tracks. We would recommend enjoying the Main Range Loop in Spring, or early Summer when the wildflowers are blooming. Most of the 350,000 hectare Kosciuszko National Park has been named a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, because of its valuable wilderness. If you love rugged vistas and wide open spaces, this is the walk for you.

Next time Walk Me Through It visits the New England National Park. You can read about last month’s walk at Coffs Harbour here.

The post Walk Me Through It appeared first on Coastbeat.

Let Them Play Toys began when the former childhood educator saw the potential in trimmed tree branches. Jules explained her philosophy for learning through play. “The designs facilitate creativity and imagination. Open-ended play and the child’s imagination will determine how play happens and what learning occurs.”

Never Too Old to Learn

The wonder of discovery learning is writ large across her kaleidoscope, which opens to allow you to fill it with whatever treasures you desire. The set comes with a vial of colourful petals and dried fruit shavings that look like a flurry of fairy wings through the kaleidoscope glass. You could just as easily fill it with coloured sand, spices, glass or even insects! It is part of her new range.

Appropriately, her kaleidoscope is available as a limited edition from Coffs Central store Kaleidoscope. Despite having many Coffs Coast customers online, Jules says a lot don’t even realise she lives and manufactures here. She joined Coffs Central’s Kaleidoscope to connect with more local people and makers.

Tree Branches to Tree Views

Jules’ process of making begins with camphor trees that need to be trimmed at properties around Coffs Harbour. Every branch is hand cut then collected, dried, heat treated and turned into a unique toy or gift. Jules and the team work with what nature has provided and fashion perfectly imperfect objects. She says that’s what they want their customers to connect with.

“The whole concept with everything we do is connecting to nature through play,” Jules explains. “Our company aims to be as sustainable as possible which is why we use recycled cardboard boxes and biodegradable packaging, so we leave as close to zero footprint on our Earth as possible.”

Jules’ kaleidoscope proves that we are never to old to enjoy the wonder of discovery.

Visit Kaleidoscope at Coffs Central to see the latest range of handmade wooden toys. Follow Jules on Instagram to stay up to date with announcements and new releases.

The post A Kaleidoscope of Creativity appeared first on Coastbeat.

To inspire you to get up and get out to see this beautiful country, we’d like to share the journey of Port Douglas couple Rory White and Emma Stievano. Rory spoke to Coastbeat about their three months adventure around Australia and shared his amazing images and video.

What prompted the trip?

Rory: We had been working full time for a few years and wanted to do a big trip somewhere. We originally planned international travel, but after covid came along we changed our plan to go around Australia instead, which ended up being the best decision.

What did your preparation look like?

Rory: We didn’t do too much preparation. We had an idea of our set-up based on our budget and what was important to us, and from talking to friends about their experiences. 

Once we got the car we did a bit of work on it, added a bullbar, snorkel, drawers, dual battery, fridge/freezer and awning. We bought the boat and trailer on our trip when we passed through Brisbane and modified the trailer to be better suited to go off-road. 

In terms of planning our route we just planned it roughly according to the seasons, we wanted to go south first, along the bottom of Australia to get the warmer months and then we made sure we got to northern Australia for the dry season.

Top 3 destinations or experiences?

Rory: Difficult to choose! Probably the Eyre Peninsula, the coast from Shark Bay to Exmouth and the Kimberley. 

Any scary situations or close calls?

Rory: Nothing crazy. We were pretty lucky for the most part. One that comes to mind was when we were travelling from Honeymoon Bay to El Questro Station in the Kimberly, a 12-hour drive with lots of wash-outs and rough corrugations.

Our boat trailer was cracked and getting progressively worse. In the last couple of hours of driving the mounts for our bulbar cracked, but we weren’t aware of it until we arrived at the station. At that point the bulbar was hanging down on one side and was barely attached to the car. We were very lucky it didn’t come off completely on the drive. 

A friend did a quick welding job on it to get us to civilisation and the bulbar was replaced on warranty.

Most unexpected thing you experienced?

Rory: Seeing orcas was something we really didn’t expect, but you can see them consistently out of Bremer Bay.

How did the trip change your perspective on Australia?

Rory: It definitely gave us a greater appreciation for Australia.

We had spent so much time travelling overseas yet we live in the most incredible country.

Tips for people who want to embark on a similar trip? 

Rory: Have a hobby or hobbies to do on your trip and have plenty of time – you don’t want to feel rushed. If you’re a little short on time, then plan a smaller route rather than trying to do everything. 

We did our lap in 10 months which we felt was just enough; some would say 10 months is too quick. If we had gone to Tasmania and the Victorian high country we would have taken another two months.

Would you recommend an adventure like this? 

Want to get on the road but not sure where to start? Check out our camping for beginners story.

The post Australia by Road appeared first on Coastbeat.

SurFebruary is a fun annual event in February, where participants raise money for cancer research by catching a wave or getting in the water every day – rain, hail or shine. This philanthropic, grassroots event is now in its fifth year and is building serious momentum, more than doubling in size and donations year-on-year. With one in two Australians being diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, SurFebruary aims raise funds that will donated to innovative cancer research and treatment. As a partner of this awesome initiative, FCS caught upwith co-founders Mike Durante and Krista Huebner to talk through the genesis SurFebruary, the positive outcomes and how people are earmarking it in their calendar each year.

FCS: Talk us through the origins of SurFebruary

It all started with a good friend, Jenna, who was diagnosed with a very aggressive cancer at 28, just after the birth of her first child. Jenna was treated at a hospital called the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, an incredible hospital in Sydney. Not only a cancer treatment facility, they are also at the forefront of cancer research and take a different approach to patient care. Their holistic approach treats the patient and their family, using the best of cutting edge ‘conventional’ medicine but also drawing from complementary and alternate therapies to accompany it.

Jenna is one of the Lifehouse success stories and through her experience, Jenna and Ronny, her husband, wanted to give back. Ronny surfed every day through Jenna’s treatment and was a massive advocate for the healing benefits of the ocean – aka ‘Ocean Therapy’. From there, the dots were connected and the idea of surfing everyday in Feb to give back was born.

FCS: How did momentum build?

The first year was quite small. The second year, it was just a bunch of our friends and then it grew organically since then. A lot of people have found a huge benefit in just being active and committing to a fitness goal. We have so many ‘repeat offender’ families who take part as a way to keep the summer holiday vibes going after school has gone back, and we’ve had feedback that it’s a great introduction to ‘giving back’ for young kids. A lot of our ‘core’ surfers find it a great reason to get in the water more regularly and change their approach – whether it be riding a different board each day or changing different fins every surf. There’s also a handful of weekend warriors who have seen the love die a little bit over the silly season and SurFeb has been an awesome way to rekindle that love affair and reconnect after a hectic summer. Whatever the motivation, we love seeing people re-discovering the stoke and sharing it with their kids and mates. There’s NO such thing as a bad surf.

FCS: What do you think was the reason for the heightened awareness over the last two years especially?

I think there’s a handful of macro reasons for it, partly due to Covid, because this is a positive and healthy way to be together in your community. It’s also something that you can positively engage with and impact, rather than feeling helpless in the face of endless lockdowns. Partnerships with people like FCS and Chris O’Brien Lifehouse have also really helped spread that message. On a more micro level, I think that we’ve grown organically and authentically because our crew love the true grassroots nature of it. It’s not a corporate thing – it’s for the love of surfing, and you’re doing it for your mum, nana, best mate, wife, brother… It’s been a really easy thing to galvanise your friends around. There’s a bit of a groundswell each February and people are beginning to be aware of it just through word of mouth. 

FCS: Is it a bit of a blur to see something that’s come from such organic roots claim the Greater Good Award at the 2021 Australian Surfing Awards?

What an honour. We certainly didn’t set out to receive any awards at the start, but that was definitely a nice acknowledgment from the surfing industry. I think the interesting thing about SurFebruary is that it’s just as popular outside of the surf industry as it is within. With one-in-two Australians affected by cancer, it’s a very easy conversation to start with someone about why to do it. So it’s meant the event attracts a very broad audience from rookies to pro’s and everyone in between. How you catch your wave a day is up to you – surf, SUP, swim, body bash…the biggest thing is to have fun.

FCS: Are you finding people are earmarking it in their calendar each year?

Yeah, for sure. We have a pretty impressive return rate – many ‘repeat offenders’ who we adore. They’re family. A lot of people even extend it beyond February and try to do it all year round. This is a bit of an anecdotal example, but over Christmas our whole family were heading to the beach each day to try and get in the water and our girls were like “but, it’s not even February yet,” and their friends have all pencilled in a plan to do before or after school as it happens once school starts back.

Join the FCS Team 

Donate to SurFebruary 

Got some sweet surf footage? Enter Real to Reel now!

The post Join the FCS Team for SurFebruary appeared first on Coastbeat.

Campfires, hiking, stunning scenery, curious lizards, arguments about how to put up the tent. They are memories of our childhood that we hold dearly, and so want to pass on to our kids. There’s been a definite shift in our attitudes towards the natural environment and our relationship with it. As cities grow larger and busier, more people are seeking periodic escapes to benefit both their mental and physical health. If you haven’t experienced the peace and quiet of a night or two outdoors, here are some camping tips for beginners. 

What are the Camping Essentials I Shouldn’t Forget?

For every camping trip, there are some absolute essentials that you need to ensure you pack, or at the very least, can have access to once you arrive:

Protect against the elements. Most people tend to forget that insects are attracted to light and water and will end up getting inundated by insect bites on their trip – making it a lot less fun. Be prepared for such scenarios by packing some insect repellent and bug-spray. Also, as you will be spending most of your time outdoors, don’t forget to put on plenty of sunscreen.

Don’t forget your good hygiene kit. Even though you are away from general civilisation, it is generally a good idea to keep up with your regular hygiene habits. To that end, don’t forget the usual essentials – toothpaste, spare toilet paper, soap, shampoo and conditioner.

Make sure you have enough lighting. Apart from having flattering lighting for amazing photos from your trip, it is important to have some good lighting to keep you company – both within your tent and for outside, when using the facilities after dark. Ideally, a solar-powered torch and/or lantern allows you to recharge easily and removes the need for carrying additional batteries or battery packs.

What Camping Gear Should I Bring?

One of the key factors that makes for a successful camping trip is equipping yourself with high quality, durable camping gear. Apart from your tent, there are a few other things to keep in mind:

Sleep well, with the right sleeping gear. Just because you are away from home, doesn’t mean you have to compromise on your comfort. Invest in a good sleeping bag (check out how to choose the right one for you), or get yourself a camping bed, and bring your favourite pillow along, or a comfortable camping travel pillow.

Invest in a great camping asset – your tent. If you are ready to make camping an integral part of your lifestyle, it is essential you get yourself a strong, sturdy tent with enough room to accommodate your needs. Remember to try setting up your tent in your backyard or a park.

Don’t forget creature comforts – kitchen essentials and seating options. Most campers take meals along with them, or source their own food options at the place they are camping at (more on that just below). Remember to pack kitchen essentials, food coolers, and furniture to sit outside and take in the view. 

What Food Should I Take With Me? 

Going camping equipped with a basic meal plan and as much of, if not all, the things you need is always a good idea and a great way to ensure you don’t go hungry.

Portability is key, and a whole lot easier. Consider boxed or canned food that requires little to no prep time, so that you can eat as soon as you come back from your adventure to your campsite. If you want to take the effort out of planning a nutritious meal, try portable outdoor meals.

Remember to pack snacks and drinks. Pack healthy snacks that require small amounts of storage space, such as dried fruit, nuts, trail mix, and muesli bars. In winter and cooler months, you’ll also be glad if you pack tea, coffee, hot chocolate and instant soups.

Visit Kathmandu at Coffs Central this summer!

The post Camping Tips for Beginners appeared first on Coastbeat.

Every person is a summer person. Don’t believe them if they claim to prefer winter. We all have that one mythical summer – two or three if we’re lucky – when everything was perfect. That special person held our hand. We agreed to a spontaneous camping trip and came home with lifelong friends. The music at the festival sound tracked the night of our lives. The ocean held us as we gazed up at a huge sky and we felt our hearts swell with gratitude and wonder. What will this summer bring? Make it one for the books. 

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Camp Out

We’re surrounded by spectacular national parks and pristine beaches with plenty of plots for everyone to pitch their tent. But you don’t have to venture far from home to enjoy the camping experience. Set up in the backyard, the neighbour’s front yard, heck, even your own loungeroom! Camp life brings you into the moment and reminds you of what’s important.  

Learn to Surf…Again

Sure, most of you are already pros, tearing up your local break. But this summer we reckon you should try a different craft. Shortboarder? Give a 9’0 mal a go. Already familiar with that much foam and fibreglass under your feet? How about a – shock horror! – bodyboard instead? Mix it up, be a beginner again!  

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Take a Hike 

You know the popular bush walks in your region, but we’re fans of getting off the beaten track. Now’s the time to venture to that special spot you’ve been meaning to visit. Look harder, go further, sit longer – really take it in. We’re so blessed to live here! 

Wild Swimming 

Exchange the sand and surf for freshwater and falls. Here on the Mid North Coast, we are absolutely spoilt for choice when it comes to waterfalls, rivers and creeks. Last summer we got to explore so many and it made us wonder if we’d ever need to leave the region again! 

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Movie Night 

Remember how good it felt to forget the world and lose yourself in a movie? Put your phone away, dig out a classic film and get that feeling back! Even better: track down a projector and turn a wall of your loungeroom into a movie screen! Some classic faves include Dirty Dancing, Grease, My Girl, Fried Green Tomatoes and Endless Summer. 

Shoot a Roll of Film 

Yes, 35mm film still exists and yes, it’s still as glorious as you remember (or don’t remember!). Pick up a waterproof disposable or a reusable film camera like the Kodak M35 and get snappin’. With only 24 or so exposures and no way to review your shots until they’re developed, you’ll stay in the moment and experience the beautiful memories as you snap them. 

Learn the Ukulele

It may be a bit of a stretch to master the guitar or piano in three months, but the ukulele is achievable! Just ask Stephanie Sims, Director of Joy at Uko Ono, Stephanie Sims. She’ll show you the ropes and get you playing in no time. 

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Art in the Heart 

Hot and windy outside? Don’t sleep on your local art gallery. There is so much to discover on the walls and likely a workshop or two to sign up for as well. If you’re in Coffs, you can even see world class art in a shopping centre. Visit the Concierge Desk at Coffs Central and grab Sculpture Trail guide then tour the centre and see all 12. 

All fashion from Coffs Central and Port Central

The post Summer Bucket List appeared first on Coastbeat.

BEHIND THE CURTAIN WITH MICK FANNING

Go ‘Behind The Curtain’ with 3 x World Champion, Mick Fanning.

In this episode, we get exclusive insight into Mick’s smooth, classy approach to surfing and what his quiver is looking like now that he’s retired from the tour.

Who: Mick Fanning and long-time pal Richie Lovett with a guest appearance from from shaper, Darren Handley (DHD Surfboards).

What: Hit play and discover a range of equipment Mick is vibing on for his next surf trip.⁣

Where: Come along as Mick opens up his garage and talks us through a few of his favourite boards and preferred fin setups.⁣ ⁣

The post Caught Inside – Top 5 Surfing Clips #3 appeared first on Coastbeat.

Cb: What is a hydrofoil?

Ronnie Goddard: Hydrofoils have been around for a long time. It’s an underwater fin with a flat or curved winglike surface that’s designed to lift a moving boat or ship. Prone hydrofoil surfing was born in Hawaii like a lot of water sports are. It was the Maui guys like Laird Hamilton and his mates who thought Why can’t we strap ourselves onto boards and ride waves with them? Basically, it’s a little aeroplane under the water. It works exactly the same way as an aeroplane wing does, where the water travels over both surfaces, it travels over one surface quicker than the other which creates lift and pulls you out of the water. When you’re on a hydrofoil board, it’s virtually riding a wave like a dolphin, while you’re standing on its back. You’re using the slope of the wave to generate the speed. They’re fast and scary. 

Cb: Sounds wild! Is it hard to do? 

RG: I tend to say to people, If you want to learn how to hydrofoil, it’s a bit like taking a judo lesson and realising your instructor doesn’t like you and you’re going to get smashed. Or it’s like having a schizophrenic dog that bites you for no reason. It’s a giant slice of humble pie. Because of my age I get smashed more than others. It’s a young person’s sport. The easiest way to start is behind a boat or jet ski. It’s pretty easy to get up and ride behind a boat but the hard part comes in when you have to paddle into a wave. It’s like flying anything – the take-off and landing are the hardest!    

Cb: Any hairy moments or bad spills?

RG: Yep, lots. It’s hit me quite a few times – nothing serious, touch wood. But the reward far outweighs the risks. I can’t compare it to surfing because there’s no rail to turn off like on a surfboard. You’re actually flying. So rather than turning you’re banking it. A lot of young guys are doing phenomenal things on them. Things no one thought possible. It’s unbelievable where it’s going. 

Cb: What got you interested in hydrofoil boards? 

RG: I’ve been building surfboards for more than 50 years now, I started 1969. I still love it, but I’ve retired now. I sailed before I surfed and when I first came to Coffs around 1972, I got into sailing Hobie Cats. After that it was pretty much the birth or sail boarding and I wanted to build them. That kind of morphed into kite surfing. Eventually I was designing all three. I was lucky enough to be at the forefront of all of them. You couldn’t really copy anyone – there was no Instagram – you got the basic concept of it all and then it was up to your design know how as to how good your boards were. That’s how I approached the foils, too. I’ve seen a lot of change. Sometimes being at the beginning is not always good as designs are often crude. But it’s good to be able to look back over it and know you were there from the start. But who knows what the next thing will be. If you had have told me I would put a tiny mast on a big surfboard and flown around the ocean with the wind I would have thought you were crazy. And while we were doing that if someone had said Soon you’ll put a kite up and be pulled around on your board I would have said You’re on drugs! And when you finish that you’ll be up on top of this hydrofoil, out of the water scooping along wave faces…what’s next?

Cb: People have argued hydrofoil boards are dangerous and have no place in the surf line-up. Have you experienced hostility? 

RG: It’s a matter of conjecture. Surfers are the biggest haters in the world. They pigeon-hole themselves all the time. I can see their beef, but it’s like trying to take chocolate off an addict! I’ll put up with the flack just for the buzz. You need a specialised wave and that happens to be a soft, rolling point break or something similar. Nowadays points are pretty well packed with long boarders so you get a few people who don’t like the fact you’re there. You wouldn’t want to learn in those conditions but even when you can do it, you’re capable of doing causing damage if you let the thing go. I think they’re here to stay. If anyone doesn’t like them, they’re just going to have to suck it up. 

Cb: You attempted your own foil. How did that go? 

When I made mine I was totally winging it. I did what I felt the thing should be like. It roughly looks the same but the leading and trailing edges are much finer on my commercial one. I quickly realised I didn’t have enough of an idea about how it works to make a really good one. It works but nowhere near as well as my state of the art one. All of the research and development has already gone into them. The amount of work in them is phenomenal and I couldn’t get mine strong enough. The professional ones have carbon fibre, titanium and tricky yacht building stuff! Mines is all in patches where it has broken. 

Cb: What advice would you give people keen to give hydrofoil boards a go? 

With this sport you have to go back lower than square one. Square one people are doing much better than you! That’s a hard pill to swallow for someone who has been doing something for 50 years. I always say if you’re going to learn to hydrofoil, be prepared to eat the whole humble pie – not just a slice. There are true water people out there and that’s why these sports go ahead. They’ll give everything a go. They’re the people we should look up to, they’re the real innovators and they’ve gone back to square one to try to master these things. The rest of us experience better things because of them. That’s the beauty of it all. That and the pull of the ocean. Once it gets ya, you’re gone! 

Cb: Thanks Ronnie, happy foiling! 

Follow Ronnie on Instagram and check out Gary McEvoy Surf Videos

The post Surf Craft Evolution: Hydrofoil Boards appeared first on Coastbeat.

Coastbeat: How and why did the Make A Wave challenge start?

Laura Casaceli: SurfAid was established by a small volunteer group of surfers in New Zealand in 2000. The aim is to provide support to remote communities adjacent to surfing locations. From small beginnings, two decades later SurfAid has grown to a leading global non-profit development organisation. The Make A Wave challenge kicked off this year as a partnership with SurfAid and Billabong. We want to mobilise surfers across the world to make an impact while they surf together throughout the month of September. 

Cb: Who should get involved and what do they need to do?

LC: The Make A Wave challenge is open to surfers of all ages and abilities who are keen to challenge themselves to surf every day for a month. At the same time, they’ll be fundraising for SurfAid’s programs. The programs support access to healthcare, clean water and food security for families in remote surf communities. 

Cb: What’s the fundraising goal? How will the funds raised be used?

LC: The Make A Wave challenge aims to raise $100,000. The funds raised from the Make A Wave challenge will go towards SurfAid’s Mother and Child Health programs in Indonesia. They’ll also be directed towards SurfAid’s programs in places like the Mentawai Islands. Our support is needed more than ever there. Last year alone, SurfAid reached more than 52,000 people living next to the world’s most remote waves who struggle to access basic services. Sadly, the World Bank estimated eight million people in Indonesia fell back into poverty in 2020 due to the economic shock of the pandemic. 

Cb. Where are the communities you support and what are their needs? 

LC: SurfAid’s geographical focus on the heartlands of surfing where few visitors but surfers go, makes our work unique. We support communities in the Mentawais, Nias, Sumba and Sumbawa in Indonesia, Solomon Islands, and Baja California, Mexico (SurfAid USA). In Indonesia, a mother dies in childbirth every three hours and 20 babies die every hour. Half of these babies are less than one month old. In remote areas, these figures are worse. We know that simple solutions can have an enormously positive impact on the health of women and their families. Things like hand washing prior to delivering a baby, practising exclusive breastfeeding and improving nutrition.

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Who’s On Board?

So far, we have more than 600 surfers from 20 countries taking part. Naru Surf Gathering’s Goori Groms have committed to the challenge. A team from the Coffs Harbour Lifeguard Service are on board too. FCS team rider Isabella Nichols is a Make A Wave ambassador. Local ambassadors include Paul Van Den Boom, Will Martin and Vaine Rabana. 

Sign up to Make A Wave here.

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