NORTH COAST SURF REPORT 19-09-08

September 19, 2008 at 4:47 pm

Surfing’s image has come a long way since the first boardriders broke away from the surf life saving clubs in the 1960′s. Then, they were looked upon as rebels and stigmatised as lazy freeloaders, enjoying their life riding waves at the beach as the rest of the nation worked to support their lifestyles.

Today, surfing is mainstream, from the multi-national surfing companies supplying products to surfers and non-surfers around the globe, to pro-surfers competing on a world tour, through to the regular mums, dads and kids who gear their lifestyles around the surf.

Society has embraced the surfing lifestyle with open arms. Over the past month the north coast has hosted a week long surfing festival and a grom cup competition, both attracting people from across the country, and overseas.

A few years ago a local Coffs Harbour family invited some friends to town to enjoy a few days surfing, at the beginning of the spring season. After going home and telling others of the fun they had this has exploded into a family surfing extravaganza. This year familys have travelled from most states of the country to meet up, socialise and most of all surf.

Today’s shots taken at the Gallows in Coffs Harbour show a variety of surfers with a range of experience, enjoying some fun half-metre windy waves. Old blokes, young blokes and girls all enjoying themselves, just surfing.

We should see much the same conditions over the weekend, with small waves, nor-west to nor-east winds and warm sunny days. Enjoy.