South East QLD and Northern N.S.W Cripple Stick Enthusiasts

[Mickhippy]

G'day Mick. I'm more north end at the moment. I can understand your injury problems and desire to surf good waves without crowds. I have a new son keeping me busy at the moment as well as breadwinning duties but am occasionally up for a paddle. It's always a blast to get in the water in company with another lowered centre of gravity type. When do you pick up the new board?

Im in Currumbin Valley now but grew up in Palmy.
Yep, screwed up my lower back in early 90's...
Was a beautiful summers day, only very small 1 to 2' peak but only 2 of us out. One of those days you just wanted to get in the water. Came up from a duck dive, shook my "hippy hair" and BANG (or TWANG) lol. Spent something like 2 years unable or scared to do anything that would bring that kind of pain on again. Really took the shine off surfing!

Sorry for the sob story. Im sure (I know) there are worse of than I! I remember a one armed kneelo back in the day. Surfed really well too!

Anyway, Im hoping to pick board up in about 3 an half weeks. Its a 5'11" rounded square with those concaves he does. I really didnt say to much about it to Dave. He's the shaper and every board Ive had of his has been great after the initial "getting used to it" sessions. I just wanted a good all rounder, what ever that is?????

I have trust in him!

Thanks for the reply McKnee! Where abouts are ya? What you riding?

I should of asked you as well Womble..... Surf mat???? Fridge door, ute tray???????? haaa

Details boys.............

[analbirth]

mickhippy, nice shot, almost got misty eyed. I grew up on currumbin hill in woodgee st. and that spot you took that shot from was part of my secret trails, i was only little. When the sand built up between the rock and mainland even a little grom like me could walk over at low tide. I moved back to woodgee st in 91 for 16 years and only left for cocky country 3 years back to escape the madness.
Although i surfed in front of the nippers club on monday mid morning some grinding 4-5' sand pits only a few out as well, tuesday there was about 40 odd i hear. I'm only just down the road at casuarina so give us a pm if your heading over the border happy to share a deserted peak. AB

[Mickhippy]

mickhippy, nice shot, almost got misty eyed. I grew up on currumbin hill in woodgee st. and that spot you took that shot from was part of my secret trails, i was only little. When the sand built up between the rock and mainland even a little grom like me could walk over at low tide. I moved back to woodgee st in 91 for 16 years and only left for cocky country 3 years back to escape the madness.
Although i surfed in front of the nippers club on monday mid morning some grinding 4-5' sand pits only a few out as well, tuesday there was about 40 odd i hear. I'm only just down the road at casuarina so give us a pm if your heading over the border happy to share a deserted peak. AB

You must be older than me. Sorry about that! haa
That pic was given to me a few years ago. I dont remember the Alley without the wall, but I do remember it without the north wall or what ever you wanna call it. The first time I ever went along a wave was at the Alley. Was the BEST thing ever!
What year was the wall built? I either missed it or was to young to remember.
Do you remember the sand mining/rutile refinery or what ever you wanna call it? It was where the car park on the left is now. You can occasionally see the stumps from it, unless they've been removed in the last 10 years.

Funny thinking back. I must of been 8 or 9 ('76-'77) and went to the Alley (more The Guts) with a neighbour. I was lent a single fin knee board! It had one of those black rubber old school leg ropes. I got so flogged by a 5000' bombie. Leggie snapped and I was left in the middle of the ocean scared shipless! How I didnt die that day I dont know! Oh, the memories.............

Currumbin beach front looked great the other day, but busy. Im still a little slack and not fit enough for getting smashed unfortunately.
If your onto a great, clean peak around the 3 to 4 foot, let me know. Be great to have a cripple off! haaa

[RMcKnee]

Mick, I also have spine damage that dates back to the early 90s. Exercise, drugs and sheer bloodymindedness seem to help. I figure if Mick Fanning can win a world title or two with a bad back and a gammy leg there's hope at least for the likes of us getting wet occasionally. The crowds here are another matter. AB, on the other hand actually likes to have company now and then in spite of what he sometimes says to the contrary.

There are plenty of old kneelos around here and a few of 'em still rip. If you haven't thoroughly explored this site already you're gonna have fun doing it.

David Parkes will turn out a good stick for you for sure. I reckon he's one of the most under-rated shapers on the planet, though he's getting more recognition these days perhaps. The rounded square concave will fly in small waves. I got one 5'10" with a quad set-up and channels a few years back. An unreal board: fast, loose yet very positive to ride. That's probably the board I ride most at the moment, though I love his fishtail quads enough to own a few.

Currumbin Valley's a pretty spot. Was doing a bit of work up there a while back and loved the serenity. Here in the swamp that stuff comes at a premium.
My nearest wave is the Spit.

[Mickhippy]

Mcknee, Back problems suck azz dont they! I really shouldnt of brought that up. Im just, I guess, mid life crisis or something. Dunno.

Yes, the crowds are insane these days. Pitty!
Im really hating that sand pumping cr@p. Made 7 or 8 separate breaks into 2 or 3 at the southern end and effected basically everywhere north to Burleigh.

Ive had a look through the site. To much to take in so Ill just go from here. Topics will keep coming up, same questions, opinions etc so its all good.

This will be my 3rd Parkes board. My all time favourite was a (Im guessing) '86 to '88, 5'6" Ski tail quad. Really a twin fin with 2 small stabilizers infront. That thing used to fly. Fantastic down the line board. Great at Kirra, Snapper etc but also loose enough to smack the lip on beachies. Loved that board. Literally used it till the glass came off the bottom. I was such a fool!

If this new board is anything like it at all I will be a happy man.

What kinda work you into?

I do actually have a question... What kind of pads you lot using? I can get the Parkes "bubble" type pads, not sure about his other ones. Whats the go these days??????

[analbirth]

Mick, hey old is the new young. Here is the guts before the nth.wall.

album_showpage.php?pic_id=16535&user_id=471

This was taken with my old SLR Richo in a w/proof bag. Summer 1978 It was a friday morning i remember this as i had surfed it every morning of this week before work by myself [ everyone else was surfing an A frame bank at 15th ave] monday was 6' and each day got a foot smaller, this was 2' and still looking like 6'. One of the best down the line take no prisoners barrelling waves on the coast, it snapped a lot of boards. Always scary at dawn and dark when the boats were trying to cross the bar, had a 15' boat land 10' in front of me on dusk,scared the s*&^ out of me and him.

I think the main wall went in in the early 70's the nth wall late 70's ish it could have the date on the plaque/dedication/rock/memorial thingy, can't remember too old. I'll try and dig up some old shots b&w's taken from our old house on top of the hill.

Rob, it can get lonely in Mexico

[Mickhippy]

Thanks for the pic Anal.
Ahhhhh, The Guts! What an understated wave when all things are right. Had many a great surf out there and yes, it walls up very nicely at times.

Remember the Catamaran Club. God they were dangerous damn things!

Would love to see any old photos you've got!

My true local hang when I was a grommet was 11th to 15th in Palmy. Had many many many great surfs out there. I also surfed all the points on the southern end after I got my licence. Did the pushy a few times as well! Makes for a very long ride back on the BMX after a many hour'd session!


On another note, were any of you lot out at Burleigh the other day. I think it was the 16th?

[RMcKnee]

Anal

Mick, we never ever call him that. AB most often, sometimes Mr Birth, even Al on the odd occasion. Personally I just can't quite bring myself to stoop so low as to use the A-word. I know Old crazy feels the same. There are people in America who can't believe there really is a guy using that name, but, well, there he is. You can even find photos of him on this site.

As for Burleigh on the 16th, unfortunately not everyone here is semi-retired. Some of us have to actually work for a living.

Re: Pads. I like the Parkes bubbles. Nice and soft but grippy at the same time.

BTW, do you have a son named Kyle by any chance?

[Mickhippy]

Ooops, Sorry AB! I dunno, if you choose a name like that, you have to stand behind it. No pun intended! hehe

As for the 16th, I was talking to my neighbour the other day. He was out there and told me a Kneelo was out causing dramas. Calling people off waves unnecessarily, loud etc. He said there were mumblings of bashing the guy!
How true all that is I dont know but my neighbour is or was a Burleigh local, and you know they can be a little hot headed.

How well do those bubble pads hold up over time? I liked the look of the grey stuff but not sure if I can get it.

No son, I have a 13yr old daughter.

You have any kids?

I found a pic of my first new board from around 1984 if your interested in seeing it???

[womble]

As dawn breaks on another Cold Toast morning ... Old Crazy is resigned to the fact that they just don't make those dawny things like they used to ... and as he cleans up the mess from another broken dawn it dawns on him that Ului has arrived for her holidays up the coast and is more than likely responsible for the breakages. Old Crazy is none to sure how to breakages ... but is quite certain that the older they get the easier it would be to break them ... the ages that is.
Anyway whilst pondering these thoughts and other maters of delusion ... Old Crazy noticed a small notion hiding in the dark recesses of this tumultuous mind ... a notion that was of not being alone ... and although he never is really alone ... with the thought racers to keep him company ... not to mention all that drumming that goes on inside there ... this was a different not alone ... the not alone of another creature being somewhere in the near vicinity.
Old Crazy could smell it ... like burnt toast ... damp blankets or a good jam tart ... and whats moor ... well its a swamp ... but whats more Old Crazy recognised the stench. The sweet musky aroma of sandalwood incense sandals puka-shell necklaces headbands old bands flared pants free love and groovy babies. Thats it proclaimed the crazy one ... its ... its ... its a bloody hippy thingy from happy valley ... and to justify this reasoning and put an exclamation mark on the though ... another sweet pungent musky aroma wafted over ... ah yes the irrepressible perfume of a perfectly rolled racehorse. A friend with weed is a fiend indeed ... proclaimed Old Crazy to his shadow ... which just shrugged its shoulders and continued sweeping up the shattered remnants of dawn.
Could this fallen flower child be another piece of the puzzle that is the road to world domination ... another cog in the wheel that drives the Kneeboard Militia forward upon this road.
Old Crazy strode to the window ... threw open the blinds ... looked into the future and screamed at the universe ... Quiver in fear ye sheep like fools ... the new dawn is broken ... and out of its ashes the Kneejerk Reactionaries rise once more ... tremble in fear and kneel before their majesty ... the lunatics have taken over the asylum ... the time has come ... for a nice cup of tea.

[RMcKnee]

Mick, as you'll have figured out by now, all of us up here eschew crowds. Kind of ironic that we're in one of the most crowded surf zones in the world, but there you go. Dealing with them is any surfer's biggest challenge here. AB is by far the most successful at avoiding the teeming masses, but he had to leave town to do it.

When I do paddle out at Burleigh the only thing I call for is help ... with the sweep. Dunno who it would have been calling people off but around here you get to see everyone the breeze blows in. Probably a tourist from Vicco. A lot of the time you find that guys blow harder the further they are from home. Maybe they figure they can get away with it for the couple of weeks of their holiday ... I'm not the only one who prefers to shut up and surf.

The Parkes bubble stuff is fine for longevity. Just take David's advice on the whole deal: you won't regret any of it.

Kids ... I have three sons, oldest pushing 25, youngest just into his 2nd year. Looking forward to giving a few more surf lessons a little down the track.

Pictures of boards, old new or in between ... plenty of people here are interested. Just post 'em in the Boards Album.

[jdkneelo]

Mick the hippy wouldn,t be mick Pinder by any chance would it?

[analbirth]

I'm quite proud of my handle there 10 4 good buddy. I think it's more a case of rob being a bit homophobic perhaps, not that i am a homo apart from the sapian type & not that there is anything at all wrong with being of that inclination. Mr Hippy you can call me anal if you like. The reason for me using this "analbirth" is i could & i think it suits me so there

[Mickhippy]

Well, I strained my eyes reading through Wombles (or is that Hunter S Thompsons???) wafflings. Not only do I need another coffee but a Panadine Forte! I might even let the dog lick the blood out of my eyes! How else do you respond to something like that? Was that a question? An Answer? An observation? Hmmmmmm Pondering................

Anyway, The Sweep anywhere along the coast is a nightmare when theres any swell as you know. Im well over paddle fest's, especially when theres a crowd! That mate who told me about Burleigh was out for 4.5hrs, "caught less than double digits in waves." I am so totally not into that! I remember surfing Kirra, Snapper and Greenmount back in the day. Constant paddling for 3 hrs or more. But I'd get waves so was worth it.

I had surf in Palmy, must of been early Spring. There was a rip which formed a reef looking type peak. Sucky as hell but to stay on it was a struggle. You had to put everything into it just to stay in the take off zone." Got some nice juicy waves and was a very good work out on the shoulders. But, there were only 3 or 4 other guys on it so was worth the effort.

Your probably right about the guy at Burleigh. I was just passing on what I was told. More of a "topic" than anything else.
As far as loud, I dont mind a chat if its quiet and a bit of a "hooooot" if someone gets a great wave but thats about it!

Yeah, as soon as I saw that bubble stuff I was kicking myself for not checking out "new" stuff years ago. If that makes sense? I have the old Gorilla Grip knee pads from the 80's. It has lasted very well but it was never really soft!
I do trust Parkes! He's the man!

Sons 2 to 25! Man, you've spread them out! haaa Having our daughter was enough for us!

Its funny, I was thinking about another (work related) forum Im a member of. Its American and a few Aussie's found it. We ended up having the longest thread on the entire site. That forum had something like 80000 members and there were 5 to 10 of us. Every afternoon after work or on rain days we'd get on there and banter, take the pizz, you know, what Aussies do. In the end the Mods gave us our very own sub forum. Our thread was always at the top of the "New Thread" postings and really got under the skin of the Americans.

[Mickhippy]

I'm quite proud of my handle there 10 4 good buddy. I think it's more a case of rob being a bit homophobic perhaps, not that i am a homo apart from the sapian type & not that there is anything at all wrong with being of that inclination. Mr Hippy you can call me anal if you like. The reason for me using this "analbirth" is i could & i think it suits me so there

Anal it is then! I can tell it suits you just fine! haaaaaaaaaa
A sh!t stirrer with a sense of humour! We'll get along fine!

Now I have to wash the dog. He got my eye blood all over himself!