VIC
734 posts
Preface this by saying that I am sponsored by no one and this is just my opinion, and we all know the old one about opinions and assholes. Everyones got one.
The term "Waterman" does us no favours. It only serves to set us apart from the rest of the pack and God alone knows we already seem to be the obvious targets for the insecurities and angst of the general surfing public. Dont get me wrong, its a free country and if you want to call yourself a "Waterman" feel free. Just dont get upset when you suffer the slings and arrows of those who dont subscribe to your particular brand of self promotion. Make no mistake, the term "Waterman" is nothing but a marketing tool. Laird, Brian, Todd, Dave et al are undoubtedly outstanding athletes and as such are to be admired, but they are also savvy marketers and if you doubt that just trawl the web for a while and get an idea of the number of average punters who are falling all over themselves to jump on board, literally. Better still try and sell the next board you make under the label of "Jo Blo Watermen" and see how long it takes for the suits to come knocking.
There arent to many "Waterman " living near were I call home and those who I would be happy to call "Watermen" are rapidly aproaching their late eighties. These blokes are the sons of the sons of fisherman and while they are a dying breed you can find them in most fishing ports from Ballina to Broom and all points of the coastal compass. The gentlemen in question put to sea in boats, if not of their own making, certainly containing their own design input and collective experience. The Couta Boat fisherman of Port Phillip were known to sail their craft through some of the most treacherous waters in Australia, under full sail, single handed, in boats measuring somewhere in the order of 26 by 10 by 3 ft draught. They would sail their craft through the Heads into Bass Straight using feet on the tiller while two hands operated the multiple lines used to dispatch the toothsome Barracouta. They did this not for ratings points or magazine covers, they did it to put food on the table and shoes on the feet of their kids. When war broke out they were rapidly absorbed into the ranks of the Royal Australian or Merchant Navies, some were even given the job of clearing mines from Bass Straigt because boats with wooden hulls were the business when you were fishing for magnetic mines. They faced, swift violent death or a long and painfull demise on the open ocean on a daily basis with little concern for anything but family and country. Kinda makes what we do fairly trivial by comparison!
When they returned they by large picked up where they left off and continued to fish for Couta the old school way well into the 1970,s. I remember as a kid going down to the warf with my old man to watch the fleet return from a days fishing. It was always a race, first in got the best price at the co op, so every day was not just a battle with nature it was a full on competition with your mates just to put bread on the table. They used to come flying up the cut into the Queenscliff Harbour under full sail, feat in itself for those who know that particularly nasty bit of water, standing bolt upright in the stern with the tiller between their legs and their hands clasped behind their backs. More often than not a durry hanging off the bottom lip. It was like watching the best surfer at your local come fanging into the bowl section on the best wave of the day and then casully throw out a soul arch.
If you asked these "Watermen" what they called themselves they would respond with "bloody fisho" or the wags amongst might say "call me what you bloody want just dont call me late for dinner"
So lets go easy on the W word cos as far as I'm concerned we havent really earned it, as has been said before, we are merely children playing in the ocean. However, if you choose to, feel free, the afore mentioned old blokes fought for the rights of all of us to call ourselves whatever we bloody well like.
As for me, call me a sweeper, a crawler, a stand up goat boater, a surfer a paddle surfer an oaron ad infinitum. I dont give a rats ass. Just dont call me late for dinner
CHEERS
Sparx
VIC
734 posts
Ahhhh!
The Bourbon soaked rambleings of the early morning inebriate. Sorry about the lecture and essay boys. It seemed important at the time and it came from the heart. Anyway enough time spent on that other w word. Wank! Its a beautiful day and I reckon I'll surf the shorty on the incoming and the stand up when the tide fills in. YEEEEEHAH!
Cheers
Sparx
885 posts
Haha, this forum would be a pale shadow of itself if everyone posted sober.
VIC
734 posts
Nah
Nowhere near enough beam!!!
Cheers
Sparx
VIC
734 posts
Geez I think I might have to do a complete 180 on my earlier post. Spent two hours getting shacked off my melon on the shorty then had two hours of the funnest stand up in months. I'm feeling so much the "Waterman" that I am seriously contemplating jogging down to the reef, tearing some abalone off with my teeth, chucking them down my budgie smugglers, swimming the heads sans shark cage, jogging down to Portsea and spread some aloha to the East Coast brethren.
Cheers
Sparx
3952 posts
Thanks for the entertainment Sparx, and for having a laugh at yourself. I'd like to see more people to spill their guts out on the forum when they are tanked up.
I never gave those bloody fishos, who stink eye you when you cruise over their lines, a second look until your post - now when I look back at them, I'll have a bit more respect, knowing they are in fact the descendants of the true watermen.
QLD
622 posts
Billboard.........Plenty of rocker and tail lift, should ride good!!!!
SA
2060 posts
I am a waterman, usually after a big night. Baroccas help too but always plenty of water......
