Central Coast Open

8 foot finalists: 3: Dave Witt 6: Matt Cook 1: Mitch Fraser 4: Damien Farago 2: Nick Farago 5: Hugh Daugaard

Under 18s finalists: 2: Erin Dark 4:Bryce Williams 6: Jake Boyd Skinner 5: Micheal Nixon 3:Hugh Daugaard 1:Kai Ellice-Flint

Open Women's finalist: 3: Madi Daugaard

for full report see Wraps at www.australianlongboarding.com.au

Steve O'Donnell

Bennett Surfboards linked me up with Steve O'Donnell in 2010 and since then he's been shaping my longboards. He thoughtfully crafts his boards and they are amazing to ride. In 2012 Steve will be shaping under his own label and Bennett Surfboards is introducing me to a new Bennett shaper. I really respect Steve's board shaping skills but also appreciate the many hours he's been willing to spend talking about boards and surfing and the encouragement he's given whenever we've been competing at the same events. I'm stoked about meeting my new shaper and keen to learn different things board design but will be looking out for Steve to catch up at future comps.


free surfing on a Steve O'Donnell shaped high performance Bennett eight footer

the log

Visiting one of my fav places. Great boards to dream about.

Steve brings out the insane log he's been shaping for me.

It's the sickest board in the world

It's my Christmas gift. Thanks Dad, Mum, Greg, Andrew and Steve.

Malibu Boardriders

My local longboard club is a lot of fun. We travel up and down the central coast looking for waves each month. After surfing we get stuck into the barbeque (with Waks famous flaming chillie jam). The club runs the Magoo charity longboard event and raises funds for cancer services on the coast.

Great BBQs

Magoo handing cheque to Central Coast Health

Pic taken by Tom Fallon Jr at JDs

Soul Classic

My local short board club runs a very popular Single Fin Soul Classic every year. All soul - no leggies. This year it was held in small but fun waves. Thanks for the lend of your classic board Clarky.

more visiting the shaper

More of visiting Steve O'Donnell from Bennett surfboards

The downside of travelling into and around Sydney is the traffic and all the crowds of people

But sometimes there's interesting sights (people).

Best of all is arriving at Bennetts and checking out the boards.

Crescent Head

The Crescent Head Classic was back in May. It was great fun but there was a major storm one the first night. The wind blew heaps and during the early hours of the morning the tent was blown over a couple of times. We had

great meals at the country club - hugest lamb shanks! Jodie Barsby MC'd the preso - very cool.

(surf photos by Hope from http://www.crescentheadsurfshots.com/)

Critical Cyclonic Conditions

Noosa this year was great - keen to ride the new Steve O’Donnell shaped Bennett high performance longboard at 2011 Noosa Festival

(photos thanks to Tess at Surf Industries)

Testing the new Eight Footer

The new 8ft rides really well with it's quad fin set up. Its really noticable the difference a hand shaped board makes.

old mags

I've been chilling and reading surfing magazines at the moment. In particular two magazines from the 60's. Pretty fun read. Thanks Greg at Bennett Surfboards for the mags.

Eight Foot

Received an Eight foot Steve O'Donnell hand crafted Bennett board for Birthday! Thanks Mum, Dad, Greg, Andrew and Steve!

Seal Rocks

These last holidays I went with my family up the coast to seal rocks.


The surf was small and mostly offshore so I got a good chance to use a Bennett log.

Took the Alaia for some shore break, bit of old skool fun

The Present

The surfing film The Present is a movie that, after two prequel movies Seedling and Sprout has a lot of eager expectations to uphold. Does it uphold these firm expectations? I and almost all other viewers agree that while being very enjoyable, it is also one of the best surfing movies available.
Why is it so entertaining, you may be asking yourself. This film is so good for a number of reasons. Firstly the laid back style instantly makes it appealing to all different ages and types of people. Some parts of The Present are just for pure fun. One of these parts is called The Monkey Novelty event. This part is a dress up muck around comp with characters like; Flower power, Count Dracula, Fecal man, Tweakal, Nordic Jack and a golfer.
Another great thing about The Present is that there is a style in there for every type of surfing. From Alaia riding at Waimea bay to Dane Reynolds shredding the Californian Coast line, Belinda Baggs logging New Zealand and even Dave Rastovich surfing in wild Africa. This is a movie for any surfer riding any equipment. This movie is unique because there are so many different boards ridden with so many different people places and styles.This movie is rare and I strongly recommend all surfers watching it at least once. If you are a fun loving surfer looking at the different styles of surfing, there are no other movies to look at.

Late last year, I went to the premier of the Present and met Rasta.

Board Froth

As a team rider for Bennett I've just recieved a newly shaped, newly sprayed performance longboard. Hand shaped and custom made by Steve O'donnell it rides really good.
Thank's Greg, Andrew and Steve from Bennett surfboards

freshwater

Last weekend I went down to Manly and saw crowds of people hanging around so i went to see what was going on and it was the Manly Freshwater area being announced as a surfing reserve. Amongst is was 1963 world title winner Midget Farrely, womens 1964 world title winner Phyllis O'donnell and my shaper Steve O'donnell.
Photo from surf city

Yellow Eight Footer

Had a go of Steve O'Donnell's Yellow Eight Footer.




Great speed and turning ability!

Can't wait for my new one..

day tripping to visit the shaper

It’s always cool going for a trip to visit Bennett Surfboards. Part of it is the journey and the stuff you see on the way - here’s a new way travelling oldies to describe their lifestyles: “recycled teenages”. But all roads eventually lead to Brookvale and Bennett Surfboards

Talking with Steve O’Donnell you get the chance to see and think about your surfing and the boards you ride in a different way. He knows his boards and can make subtle suggestions that just tweek ideas and shapes so that they might suit the performance to the individual rider and their different styles. He rides in comps and knows all about the range of conditions you face and what can make the perfect board.

I’m currently trying out a log shaped by Steve – really smooth, very stable

Steve O'Donnell shaped Bennett Board

I've been trying out a Bennett performance longboard (thanks again Tom!) shaped by Steve O'Donnell. Not much in the way of waves on this day but i'm noticing more and more the precision that a custom shaped board makes.