Posts Tagged ‘Mandala’

Down On Bended Knee Freaks, Mandala and Mackie Deliver the Goods….Big Time

Monday, August 30th, 2010

I’ve been called all sorts of shit, and sometimes you may start to believe it, “retro fucker”, “70’s throw back”….  You think it would be easier and i’d get called less names if i’d surf a 6′2″ x 18 1/2″ x 2 1/4″ rounded square shortboard, like all the normal fuckers out there.  Wouldn’t it be easier if i didn’t want the boards i ride and the boards i stock done up to the hilt in crazy unbelievable colours, wouldn’t it be easier if all my boards were finished in spray on protec and not polished to within an inch of its life, wouldn’t it be easier and cheaper if i rode and stocked 6′2″ x 18 1/2″ x 2 1/4″ shortboards. Yes it fuckin would my friends, yes it fucking would.

These  and other self doubting thoughts dawned on me as i drove between Sydney and Newcastle at 5:30 am on my day off to collect 11 Mandala surfboards from a container that had been at sea for 5 weeks, that it had taken a total of 53 emails to Mani regarding the order, another 16 emails to get them picked up from San Diego and delivered to a waiting container, an amount of paper work that makes the yellow pages look like a kids book, dealings with customs agents and officials that are suspect on anyone with a beard and then this half day jaunt to Newcastle saddled up next to my Venezuelan partner in crime. Yes it would be easier to surf and stock 6′2″ x 18 1/2″ x 2 1/4″ rounded square tail shortboards, but that is not what gets me off, and i knew this as i looked down at my hands that were shaking as i unpacked the first of 11 of the most freakishly amazing surfboards i have ever ever felt. I knew that it was all worth it, i knew that these 11 boards would put smiles on that many faces that it was all worth it and what i did was special.

And as if this one delivery wasn’t enough on the very same day my fibre freak friends i receive like a batch from the heavens above some locally made produce that has kept me awake for 3 straight nights trying to work out which one of the 6 new Mackie stubbs i’m going to extricate for myself. Mick has excelled himself and should in my books be voted in as our next prime minister. The man is a freak.

Below are some group shots of the boards in question and over the coming days I’ll have shots of all the boards to put up here. These boards are not on the racks at Surf Culture yet so if your keen on any of them direct all enquiries through my email ben@sixounceboardstore.com.au or call my mobile 0408 259 783. All the models are listed in the Boards in Stock section and I’ll have full details of dimensions, colours, finishes and prices up in the next couple of days.

ben

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The World is Beautiful or Fucked…

Saturday, August 14th, 2010

Hey there fibreglass freaks a lot going on at the moment waves wise, with a swell or two a week gracing us with it’s presence, sand here and banks there one minute only to be washed away and be replaced with a bunker, rip bowl or in Bondi’s case a couple of fatish winding lefts (my wave of choice). Pleasure and pain is what best describes whats been happening aquatically, hope you’ve been getting your fair share.

As far as boards go i’m in a bit of a holding pattern, the Mandala order hits the docks this week and will take a little while to filter through customs while they saw a couple in half looking for massive blocks of hash, so i’d imagine i’ll have them in my hot little hands within 10 days. I’ve hooked up an exclusive agreement with Mandala Surfboards so Six Ounce will be their go to guy for this part of the world. I’m in the process of putting together an order now so if anyone out there is keen on a custom then let me know and i can get it happening. There are a bunch of boards from Mackie that will hit the racks late next week with two new models and some funky art work that should put your heads in a fuckin spin. Talking about spinning heads Dain Thomas and Paul McNeil from Sea Surfboards have started a new underground board and clothing lable called Zed, Six Ounce will have the very exclusive first batch of stock boards from these two very talented fuckers in the next 6 weeks or so, Dain sent me a couple of pics of some prototypes that they have been working, the 9′4″ is a real heavy blade like log that has been under Dain’s feet and is meant to be off the chissang, the other are yet to be surfed, i’ve included the photo’s below and keep your eyes on my site for all goings on Zed wise.

Below is a bunch of random shots from the last couple of weeks and a few customs that have been filtering through.

Never ever stop surfing

ben

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Life Style Commando

Wednesday, July 7th, 2010

I recently was in a situation where surrounded by a group of not so like minded people, i was asked the age old question…”so Ben what do you do”?

My instant answer was “I’m a father and a surfer”.

A small part of my personality is that of an agitator, i do at times like to get a rise out of people when given half a chance, hence my answer (which was in fact the truth, just not the answer i knew they were expecting).

And so i was asked again “what was it that i did”? So my next answer was that i’m a “lifestyle commando”(i penned this term when reflecting on Mick Mackie), and that my purpose was to give happiness. I was questioned as to weather i was some sort of guru? A yoga teacher? a life coach? A cult leader perhaps? No you mother fuckers i work in a surf shop, everyday i pass on happiness for a small fee.

In essence that’s what i believe i do, it’s my chosen path, i have a 4 year environmental science degree majoring in coastal management that i sort gainful employment of for 1 day, before heading back to fixing dings and shaping the odd surfboard, just to be around the hallowed materials, foam and fibreglass. I love these things it verges on obsession that has ruled every facet of my life since i first rode a wave, first picked up a surfing magazine and first walked into Storm and Jay Carters famous Bronte Surf Shop. My fate was sealed and every part of my life has been virtually ruled by it, the way i speak, how much i sleep, where i live but most importantly how i get by.

It ain’t going away either so as my insatiable appetite for spreading happiness (for a small fee) refuses to subside i will continue to bring you the finest pieces i can find, some times i’m slow at returning emails or don’t pick up the phone for a few days, but by fuck my heart is in it.

ben

By the way i’m still getting the hang of this new site so i stuffed up the pics on the last post, hopefully now i got it sussed.

Below are some photo’s of fine pieces shaped by Mani of Mandala Surfboards in San Diego heading towards Six Ounce as we speak, first batch is only a handful of weeks away , more photo’s to come.

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