Quiksilver recently opened its first store in Myanmar and it chose the location well. Situated in Yangon on the east side of Inya Road, a prosperous upmarket neighbourhood. The United States and German embassies are nearby, as is the University of Foreign Languages. Into this auspicious environment the Mountain and the Wave have made their latest foray.

Competitive surfing has a chequered history when it comes to child prodigies. For every teenage sensation that successfully made the leap to a professional career there are hundreds who fell by the wayside. Swellnet speaks to Steve Clements, father of Kobi, who at just 8-years-old is the latest - and perhaps the youngest - surfer to have the spotlight fall his way.

Just two weeks after work on the Kirra groyne extension was announced the project has hit a hurdle. Yesterday Swellnet learned the Gold Coast City Council haven't been granted development approval despite stating on the 29th July that "the first of hundreds of boulders will be moved into place today."

While nothing's certain, the details behind Kirra Point Incorporated's plan appear sound and they may just achieve their goal. What is certain, however, is that this is the last roll of the dice for KPI: They've finally wooed the government and scored $800,000 of taxpayer money, if this doesn't work the public purse will slam shut and with it the funding for further solutions.

Following a sporadic start to winter, the whole East Coast is on target for a pumping east swell beginning this Friday as a broad belt of trade-winds develop above New Zealand.

Just as some people surf to escape from the reality of life, so to do they expect fantasy and escapism in surf media. Or at least that's what the powers that be provide. Debate, dangerous ideas, and rigorous discussions – hell, counter-cultural rebellion - are largely spurned for superficial celebrations of surfing. Unfortunately for surfers the absence of critical commentary and strategic reflection within our community only reinforces the well-worn stereotypes of surfers.

Older generations disapproving of younger ones is such a common theme throughout human history and across all cultures that it must be deeply built into our psychology. If it was not, a few moments reflection by those inclined to criticise would lead them to the obvious conclusion that they cannot win. The old grow weaker and less influential, the young get stronger and more influential.

Such is the enormity of this typhoon, wind speeds are forecast to gust to 280km/h around the centre of Soulik as the pressure bottoms out at a phenomenal 915hPa this evening.

Call me skeptical but I'm always wary when people mix activism with leisure. It's a concept that surfers, who often travel to Less Developed Countries, have a special skill. How to allay First World Guilt while travelling to exotic yet poverty-stricken nations? Claim the surfing is good for the people or the environment, maybe even start a campaign about the plight of the locals, and then carry on unencumbered.

A new campaign is currently challenging the ethics of surf travel. Turning them on their head in fact.