email from the cactus camp...

As I type this my long time friend the Doc, who is a periodic contributor to this blog is on one of his pilgrimages to a remote but epic desert surf location in southern Australia. Last night he emailed the following text and asked me to post it on the blog on his behalf. I have taken the liberty to include some pics of the Doc in his favorite desert habitat.



A Letter from Cactus

For the uninitiated Cactus is the surfers’ name for a series of desert breaks on the far west coast of South Australia, about 11 hours west of Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. There are no cacti native to Australia and the story behind the name is lost to antiquity.

The Cactus camp is full of familiar names and faces – old surfers return here every six months, like migrating Wildebeest, driven by some primordial impulse. Many talk about getting ‘leave passes’ from their spouses, clearly rolling pin wielding harridans or harsh uniformed women like those in The Two Ronnies, where the men are stripped of all authority and confined to frilly house dresses and exchanging gossip at the clothes line.

This morning we paddled out into building swell. In the water was a small herd of Wildebeest with a total of two heart bypasses, two cardiac stents and a knee replacement. The conversation turned to blood pressure and cholesterol medication and anti inflammatory drugs, before a solid set arrived and heart bypass spun around on his board, paddled over a feathering lip and disappeared towards the beach. Then cardiac stent took a late drop and tucked into a nice little pocket before knee replacement demonstrated his characteristic smooth carving lines, effortlessly milking the energy of his wave. All modern medical miracles.

The Doc

Fergus and gdaddy tied for 1st, Ramsnake 2nd Goomba 3rd...

A tie for first place!

As the end of our first year of the Surfers Over 50 blog approaches, we tallied the posts. Founder and blogmaster yours truly doesn't count, since its my self-assigned job to keep the blog alive =)

So, then, who else do we thank for sharing the stoke for us over-50 crowd? Fergus McDingo and gdaddy share the first-place tally for most posts, then Ramsnake comes in 2nd place, Goomba 3rd. Surfsister, mal, and monty made a showing with one post each.

Steve and Cher Pendarvis and Robert Parker (oceanautic adventures) have posted by proxy (via email to me).

The other 12 authors have yet to make a showing.

Love to hear from you guys!

Face Time Surfboards

Face time is quality time, time spent together, interacting, one-on-one, in person. When its you and the ocean, face time is the best time, surfing the face of the wave!

Just thinking out loud. About a name for my surfboard-making endeavors.

talk about it...

Our new forum is now open for everyone who cares to discuss the designing, building, and riding of surfboards. Come join us if you'd like, just click here

1st time offered - bahrman rails workshop

Since I've had and responded to many requests to explain my "bahrman rails" system, I've been thinking about how best to present/explain the system to an interested group. So after a year of using the system, I am offering a step-by-step workshop / class to interested persons. Cost will be minimal, at $15 per person. This is an online class, so all the teaching will take place at your computer, and in your own working environment whatever that is.

Bahrman rails are so named because many people asked me if my board had Jensen rails, and I had to explain it was my own rail system. So to distinguish it from any other rail systems, I began calling it the bahrman rail system. I don't claim to have invented anything new, I haven't patented or copyrighted it, and don't doubt something very similar has been done by others before. In fact, I know one shaper who posts pics online has a similar system, 'tho not identical.

With the bahrman rail system, the rails can be built first, and the strength of the board is in the rails. The rails effectively become the perimeter stringer, and a very strong one at that. Because of this, the remainder of the board can be filled in with a variety of different methods. If you normally work with foam, you can build your board with foam. The method would work well with compsand, and is probably similar to many compsand boards being made today. If you like the "fish bones" method of most hollow wood surfboards, you can build accordingly. To test the structure, I even built a board just using the rails and a piece of plywood glued top and bottom, it works fine so far.

The weight of the rails is comparable to most wood rail systems, and is dictated largely by the wood chosen. Balsa or paulownia are probably the lightest, although I have always used 2x6 Calif. redwood, sometimes combined with 1x6 cedar, because they are available very inexpensively at my local big-box stores. I recommend using an inexpensive wood that is fairly light and easy to shape for your first time. Later, once the process is understood, you may go to more expensive woods if desired.

If you want to get experimental, this is a good method to know. Because the rails carry so much of the strength of the board, the options open up for the actual remaining structure. Use your imagination. Once you understand the system, you will see that it can be modified in numerous ways, and you can proceed to customize and experiment on personalizing the process on your own future builds. A rocker table is not required for this system, but a solid flat workbench top is. Also recommended is a good set of shaping racks, like shown in the bottom picture.

This is a solid rail system, that is carved or sanded to shape. To build the rails, you will probably want to use a handheld jigsaw (which is what I use) or a bandsaw (which I would use if I had one!). Clamps are helpful, although screws can be used instead, and then taken out once the glue dries. To shape the rails, a belt sander, 4" handheld grinder with sanding disc, and power planer may be used. Although they could be shaped without power tools (carved and sanded) if so desired. Although not difficult, if you are not comfortable with "shaping" your rails, this is probably not the system for you. And you should be aware that there is a certain amount of "waste" when carving or shaping, that differs from the minimal sanding required of rails built with strips.

$15 U.S. cost of class, no refunds for withdrawal. I will set it up so that payment may be made by PayPal, credit card, or you can send a money order by mail. Everyone will have access to a step-by-step detailed explanation of the process with accompanying pictures / drawings as needed. You can proceed at your own rate, but will be expected to keep your project moving forward on a regular basis.

Classes will be conducted through a private Delphi forum not open to the public, so you must join Delphi (free), and you must be able to post pics. A separate photo-hosting site is highly recommended - like flickr photobucket or picasa, (most are free), as Delphi picture size and space is very limiting, but with a separate photo hosting site, there are no limits. I cannot answer questions very well if I can't see a pic of your project, and I will expect every student to post pics of their progress. To see if you can use Delphi and post pics, you are welcome to try my free public Delphi forum Surfers Surfing Surfboards.

I will walk everyone who joins through the process. You must have a full-sized board template (plan shape) and rocker template (stringer shape) to proceed. Because this will be a group forum, we will learn from each other also, but without the distraction of outside observers and trolls.

Registration will be open until the end of the month. At the first of December, class will begin. What you will end up with is a wood surfboard perimeter rail. You can build your board using any method you want. While the class does not concern itself with the remainder of the build, I will answer questions and discuss the options for those who desire.

If you are interested, email me at doghousereilley@yahoo.com, and title your email "bahrman rails class"

- Huck

A Longer Faster Board for Fast Hollow Waves

I first began to really come to grips with consistent seriously fast hollow waves earlier this year when I began to surf the fabled sand bottom points of the Australian Southern Gold Coast on a full time basis.

Prior to giving up working for a living, my days required me to spend much of my time sitting on my ass in a very interesting, but somewhat sedentary job. I surfed some afternoons and odd weekends when conditions were suitable.

On retirment surfing returned to being a key focus in life, and with some measure of good fortune, I found myself on almost a daily basis tackling fast, small to medium, clean sand bottom barrels. Something I had always dreamed of doing but was never able to devote enough time.

But going from a relatively sedentary work life at age 55 to competing with a voracious "dog pack" most days for fast hollow waves required a level of ability that had deserted me in the intervening years. Despite my original optimism I found my overall fitness, flexibility and equipment were all seriously lacking for this new mission.

Apart from the issues of agility and fitness, in the order of things my most pressing problem appeared to be my current equipment. I was surfing a generic 7'6" roundtail thruster which had seemed to serve me well in my previous waves, but was found wanting in the current circumstances. It now seemed very sluggish in these waves and was not anywhere near fast enough to get me down the line on fast zipping waves.

After being ground into the shallow banks a number of times, I was initially a bit perplexed at how to deal with the problem, until I recalled a surf trip a couple years back to a remote Central Pacific atoll. The reef breaks there were very fast and hard to make, but one expat local was riding a long 9'2" pin tail that he had imported from the Hawiian North Shore. Because of the speed of that board he was the only one really getting through the fast reef sections.

Feeling the need for speed, I came apon a new 9"4" McTavish F4 Quad pintail in a local surf shop. After a bit of apprehension about owning something so long, I bought this board and have been riding it on long fast waves since July this year. It is not only blindingly fast in hollow fast waves, but with its quad fin set up it is incredibly manouverable for such a long board. It has seen me increase my wave count manifold and given me enormous pleasure and confidence to ride.

As for flexibility and fitness, I saw a physiotherapist who was also a fellow surfer. He gave me a range of really good yoga and core stregth exercises to do. Apart from yoga I now do around 60 sit ups daily. This has strethened my core body muscles and really allowed me to spring to my feet much more easily.

In combination with surfing most days, these excercises have really improved both my flexibility surf fitness and wave confidence enormously. So I guess the moral here is that with a little thought and enquiry it is always possible to maintain and improve your performance on waves regardless of how old you are.

Fergus McDingo

Fitness Tip of the Day

*EXERCISE FOR PEOPLE OVER 50*

Begin by standing on a comfortable surface, where you have plenty of room at each side. With a 5-lb potato bag in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your sides and hold them there as long as you can. Try to reach a full minute, and then relax.

Each day you'll find that you can hold this position for just a bit longer. After a couple of weeks, move up to 10-lb potato bags, then try 50-lb potato bags and then eventually try to get to where you can lift a 100-lb potato bag in each hand and hold your arms straight for more than a full minute.

After you feel confident at that level, put a potato in each bag.

What I've Been Doing to Revitalize the Blog

I've been working on revitalizing the blog for awhile now. I have several videos attached (I figured out the secret html to do the mini-videos, do you like them?). I have found some cool gadgets, the most recent is the "who has been here lately" from feedjit, kinda cool I think to see where folks are dropping in from.

I have been picking up new blogs to link to, so the little blog links on the right column are just chock-full of cool happening stuff in the surf world. And I scoured flickr for pics of older surfers that are not all "off-limits" copyright protected.

I've been trying to roust my writers, with limited success. Its always more fun when more people contribute - even if its just a pic and a line or two. Just cool to know what each other is up to.

Oh yeah, and I revamped the forum that no one ever used to include anything surfing related, and I've posted an announcement on swaylocks and tree-to-sea, as well as on all three of my blogs.

Let me know what you think about the blog, and if you have any suggestions.

Oh, and the pic. That's what my big brother has been up to lately. He doesn't surf. If he did, think of the trouble he could stay out of. Then again, would you really want to be out in the lineup with him LOL?

Pendarvis Quiver

Here's what one surfing couple has been riding lately. If you'd like to know more, just let 'em know! (count me in!) Maybe we'll coax Steve and Cher into giving us a detailed rundown on these blacktailed fishy looking shortboards.

Like designing, building, shaping, glassing, riding, or discussing surfboards?

Our new forum is for everyone who cares to discuss the designing, building, and riding of surfboards. Come join us if you'd like.
Surfers Surfing Surfboards (forum)

Still surfing after 50? How about Gary Linden?

Surfer, shaper, and big-wave rider Gary Linden was born in 1949, and he still charges in huge, powerful surf.

You can read more about Gary here. Gary is an inspiration to us surfers over 50!

welcome to the lineup new writer EP

Eric has volunteered to write some posts for surfers over 50. He's been struggling with some of the same issues a lot of us struggle with as we age, and it begins to affect our surfing.

He can tell you more about himself or his situation, if he wants, but we mainly want to extend a warm welcome from the writing staff here at Surfers Over 50! Welcome aboard, Eric! We are looking forward to hearing from you in the near future!

trouble with the popup

They're discussing this subject over on swaylocks right now - check it out!
swaylocks.com/forums/trouble-standing-up-aids

Hey surfers over 50 - watcha been up to lately?

This blog currently has over 20 contributing authors, but very few that are active participants. If you are listed as a contributing author to this blog, please try to post up once a month - just a note on any surfing-related things going on in your life.

We'd like to add some more prolific writers to the roster, and get some added imput from those senior surfers who just don't want to quit surfing and being stoked!

You don't have to be over 50 to be an author - just someone who is determined to stay fit, enjoy the active lifestyle, and never stop being stoked no matter how old you are!

If you'd like to join our blog as an active contributor, please email Huck. doghousereilley@yahoo.com Look forward to hearing from ya'!

Surfing with the sun, seals, and seagulls - and a call to authors

I went surfing this Sunday (haloween), had a great time, in spite of the small surf. I took out my experimental hollow board, the waves were a bit more consistent in the a.m., as the tide dropped so did the size.

(that's me holding my board, but not me surfing - I snapped a shot of a female longboarder on her last wave in)

The sun was shining, the seagulls were keeping me company in the lineup, and a big old gray seal was keeping his eye on me! I caught several waves, and am having a blast riding a single fin, something I haven't done for years.

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For the call to authors: If you want to join the blog as a writer, let me know your email (I'm Huck in the list of contributing writers down on the right column), we're looking for verbose senior surfers LOL.


It really doesn't call for anything profound, just taking a few minutes to post up a pic and tell us what you're up to lately. We all enjoy hearing about each others' surf sessions, projects, goals, etc.