Old age and treachery, North Narrabeen style
If you ever bothered to read press releases for the Jim Beam National Surftag you'd see a few phrases get repeated: fierce competition, nerves, hunger, will to win. Yet at this weekend's National Final there's gonna be at least one heat where none of those descriptors are valid. For one heat some of the most influential surfers and shapers in Australian surf history will take to the water. And it's not a display heat either, it will be in competition. Just don't expect it to be fierce competition.
Allow North Narrabeen stalwart, Craig 'Tooky' Stephan, to explain.
“We went pretty well at this year's Surftag. We're the defending champs, we won last year, but this year we got three teams into the final. When we found that out we started thinking we wouldn't send the third team up to the Final.”
“It costs money and realistically the third team wouldn't stand a chance against the likes of Snapper, so we thought they wouldn't go. But then someone had the idea to make a legends team and the idea made a lot of sense. This year is the club's 50th year.”
“We're a very proud club, we're very proud of who we are and where we've come from. All the current members know that we're riding on the coat tails of what the older members did in the 70s and 80s.”
“We've got Mark Warren, Terry Fitzgerald, Damien Hardman, Col Smith and Greg Anderson. It's a shame we couldn't get Simon but he's in Western Australia and couldn't make it. You'll never get these surfers together again. Never. This is an incredible gathering of surfers and its our club's way of paying tribute to them. We've got a house out the back of Kingscliff with 17 people in it. We brought up a chef and we're looking after all the guys."
“As far as I know all the legends will be riding normal equipment...except for Terry Fitzgerald. Terry, I'm sure, will have a single fin, hard-railed up the front, with a long drawn pintail, and a nice spray job. It'll be three inches thick.”
"We don't expect the legends team to do any damage but that's not really the point. We're thrilled to have them here and have them surfing.”
The Jim Beam Surftag National Final began yesterday and runs through to the 29th. We'll have photos - including shots of the North Narrabeen legends - on Monday.
Comments
I have surfed many times with all of them and wish them well for the event. If it was being run under the prevailing NN rules circa 1978, I would back them for a win! My advice, in light of Simon Anderson's experience a couple of years ago......warm up and stretch. Your hamstrings are not what they used to be and you will be tempted to hit your signature cutback/re-entry/slash from previous decades.
Yeah I've been in the water at NN and met Fitzy, nice family man and I believe fit as these days from what Mitchell Rae from Outer Island tells me. Col Smith what a legend, I had plenty of chats with Col at DIDi's at Brookie over a few drinks back in the 80's, God! doesn't time fly. Col at the time was doing Ball room dancing if anyone is interested. If he dances as well as he surfed the floor boards will be rattling. Wazza, Fitz, Damo, Smithy, and Greg Ando, Hope you all give all the young boys a shock win!!! Oh Fitzy and Col you might remember me as that guy that looked like Rod Stewart. HAHAHAHAHA! Oh that guy!