Just Passing Through: The Coral Sea - video
It's not exactly Santosha but in this li'l clip from Reef, Mick and Kai and Mikala get a chance show off their footwear as they strut through the jungle. Even catch the odd wave.
Lovely slack key ukelele binds it all together and the scenery is to die for.
Comments
Nice.
Watched Mikala Jones in this earlier and then went and shared a line up with him for a couple of hours.
I saw him get pitted off his fucking head in real life, not so much on the video.
Real life rules.
Pretty looking place they are at though. I heard it's as expensive as fuck to get there.
I went here last year just after this crew had 'passed through'. Unfortunately they took all the good waves with them when they left. Amazing place though, and not too expensive if you go in the off-season Blowin, just don't expect too much in terms of surf.
How cool was that music .....
Curious to know if the editor/s at Swellnet had any second thoughts about posting this webclip,given the Isle's surfing community's tremulous reputation with the surf media over the years ? Does Reef (in this instance) pay sites for these marketing clips to be posted on the site or do does Swellnet just pick up the content for free and run with it ?
I hardly ever post comments on this site & when I have its only ever been when a sensitive spot in the Pacific gets blown up or when a racist comment needs to be tested when they occasionally pop up in these kind of comment forums...Usually most crew disagree with my old school views about keeping hush hush and I get that..Different generation,brought up differently..That was then this is now sentiment's run free & probably will again after this comment too.
My main point here is,does anyone else see the irony & arrogance of the producers of this clip to try to be stealth about the isle (ie the title) then computer animate a perfect silhouette of the island & add a bunch of its distinguishing features through the surfing clips.A couple of little edits here and there would of made all the difference...Still would of looked tropical,Still would of helped you sell your thongs...
I heard first hand a lot of the locals were very pretty receptive to see these guys surfing in the water & showed them their best hospitality too.
But Im guessing the marketing guys at Reef thought oh well..Its been a almost a year since we were there,We didn't really score anyways,but we got our catalog shots & campaign done and dusted,none of us marketing types are going to back anytime soon..so lets just blow it out with a webclip.
thanks for pointing out that the clip gives the place away
To your first question: Yes I did. I'm very aware of the islands backstory. Ultimately it came down to the waves and I think the filmmakers, whether intentionally or not, did a fine job of helping local surfers.
So you guys are just going to ignore the comments on the site about the Lennox cam, stu?
It's starting to look like you don't have a lot of respect for the mug punters here who have a fair grievance.
Email bounce back.
Yeah I changed it yesterday to bounce. As I wrote on the other thread, the fairly civil thread, the new cameras have made me wonder about the authenticity of SN and the commitment to sensitivity around different waves. That's one of the main reasons I've liked the site because its a big part of my values around surfing. If I've had a good wave in a remote place, no one is gonna hear about it. You guys have previously been down with that thinking, until these multiple new cameras started popping up in more and more places.
So I thought if there wasn't an explanation I'd start using a different site for forecasts etc. Why would I support this one if it's no different from any other? Since it was looking like nothing was forthcoming I cleared my details and changed my email to a bogus one and started getting to know other sites.
Anyway that's my explanation. It reads all pretentious but this is fundamental to me. Media attention changes the character of a place. It's almost the one observable law in surfing.
I get you want to have the conversations offline, and certainly not hijack this thread.
Ahhh, our condundrum continues. Keeping idealic surf locations secret yet the tsunami of human population surges through to wipeout the minority.
Windy. It always is.
Times seemed to have changed a bit over there since I was last over there. I have heard is they are welcoming some surf tourism as the island is struggling to keep occupancy up at the resorts. The Island is amazing although truth is, the waves are generally b grade and fickle...Place is expensive too. Great for a special trip with your lady but not one you'd head with the boys for a froth out surf trip.
Thanks for your reply Stunet...Its good to know that you at least weighed up the pro's n con's of this webclip before posting it & that you stand by your convictions...I think a lot of the younger generation crew in your position at the various websites wouldn't even of known the backstory & history this place has had with the surf media/brands before clicking post to their sites during the last day or two with this clip emerging out.
Dusty_balls is right-The local crew there are loosening up a bit of late from all accounts-Hence how this trip probably came about,but crew should know that it hasn't always been like that..During the 90's Hot Tuna (anyone remember them ? ) did a pretty good job of burning their bridges there after adding footage of their team there back in the old VHS tape days & a Japanese Magazine really did themselves a disfavour a decade or so later after publishing a massive article/covershot of the place...Time will tell how this went down with the local crew now that it is out there in this digital age.
I totally agree with Benski's call of "Media attention changes the character of a place. It's almost the one observable law in surfing" Spot on mate !!
Its good that Swellnet gives us minority ( by the looks ) at least a opportunity to maybe educate or at least get the majority in the media thinking about the footprint they leave on sensitive/idyllic places.
The world's rapidly changing with technology & recently with world politics,religious shifts and xenophobia on both sides gaining momentum,Some places that Western surfers have enjoyed for decades in the Indian ocean & (dare I say it Western based businesses/Surf Companies that have exploited for their own profits) could be very well be vastly different & difficult places to enter as a western traveller well within the next decade...So personally I think its best not to shit in our own backyard & tread carefully in the Pacific,so our future generations can have something idyllic left to explore themselves without localism and or Surf Camps/Elitist resorts trying to capitalize on in the short-term on spots that have suffered from too much media exposure...
Just had a quick flick around the web for some info on this place. Magical looking place, and a few good looking setups.
Think it's going the bucket list..
Went there 4 yrs back, amazing place. The only tourist surfer on the island and still got the cold shoulder and the death stares. Thank god for the beachies and one "local". Doubt if the attitude has changed that much.
Surfing and surf locations where sold out years ago. That is why surfing is such a joke these days.
Yep,A good buddy of mine from Newcastle years back that worked on yacht's summed up the vibe there a 15 or so years ago as "its heaven on earth for the newly weds & nearly dead's,but tread real lightly there with a surfboard under your arm,The local crew fish a lot more than they surf & they will know your there long before you do mate"
Age mellows most men,but it would still be interesting to see what the local crew are like now after this 1st real digital era burning of the place.(once they hear about it of course...don't think they have the quickest internet in those parts !!)
Always wanted to go there, looks like the most amazing place geographically with very unique flora and fauna including amazing fishing.
I'm sure the waves also get good on there day and if you lived there you would score big time, but all the footage I've ever seen looks so so and reports seems similar, i reckon if you only went there with waves as your focus i except you would end up disappointed .
I think I may have been there, a bit over 20+ years ago. Unless I have the location mistaken, is it .....................................
I have no idea where this place is and not really inclined to find out.
But, I loved the clip and the music was gorgeous.
Had a week over there in the early 80s only saw one 'local' surfer who put me onto a fun little reef break that was short but fun.Wind can be the problem but its the sort of place i could live on 6 months of the year.Beautiful spot and looks awesome when first spotted from the air and thats when you realise how special it is.
No doubt about it. The marine life and bird life is second to none. The scenery even better and yep it blows a gale consistantly. Apparently you"re not classed as a local unless your lineage can be traced back at least 5 generations. Sounds like Bruny island.