The Surfing Odyssey

By Mark

As I awaited Rick & Janine’s arrival for the first time at “The Pines” on the last Sunday of 2009, I was somewhat hesitant as to how well they might fit in. Little did I realise how unnecessary my concerns were. As their Toyota came into view, there it was, the piece of fibreglass that was about to change not just this holiday, but possibly even the future for 3 “not so young” men.

With my eyes fixated & slightly wider than usual, I had to pinch myself to make sure I warmly greeted our guests, ... (what are their names?) Rick & Janine. After being as courteous as I could, I could stand it no longer. I had to ask Rick, “What are you doing with a surfboard on the roof of your car?” As Rick, slowly undid the straps that were tenderly holding the board in place, he carefully introduced Dave and I to .... “Ando”, his 9’3” Anderson Malibu. Ando, as he became affectionately known, was a recent acquisition of Rick’s. Although not a surfer in his youth, Rick’s sudden decision to purchase Ando & bring him to The Pines immediately connected with both Dave Smith’s & my repressed dreams of “making it out the back” on a board. Sure we had been out there on body boards as well as body surfing, but when it came to “walking the plank”, Dave & I had been mere onlookers for the last 10 years as our wives applauded the skill & finesse of “the others” who had mastered the art of catching the “left handers” off the point “out the back”. Up until this point, all Dave & I could do was politely applaud & go back to reading our books.

But all that was about to change.

Although Rick didn’t realise it, he was about to catapult the 3 of us into uncharted waters – literally, as we began our journey to “make it out the back” & to have our wives, as well as the other “surfie chicks” that we holidayed with, “ooh & aah” at us as we “ripped” & “cut back” down the “face” of a “gnarlied left-hander”.

What follows is a compilation of stories & photos that depict the unfinished journey of “3 Men – Making it out the Back”. Sit back & enjoy the ride. It may just inspire you to do something “big” in your life.

Mark 'Etched' Young, Dave 'Gnarly' Smith, Rick 'Cut-Back' Allen-Jordan