Surf Report 6/1/2009

Swell 2ftNE - Rating 4 - Winds 10Kts - High Tide 05:12 am & 05:29 pm - Low Tide 11:37 am & 11:30 pm - A weak Sth change has kicked in early, blowing around 10-12 knots. The swell is from the NE averaging around 2ft. Sth corners of Nth facing beaches are the pick early, but winds are expected to shift NE later and freshen, so northern ends will be best later. Try Maroubra or Bronte both now and later,. Check Ben Macartney’s swell forecast - SYDNEY FORECAST Issued at 4:35 am EDT on Tuesday 6 January 2009 Forecast for Tuesday Fine and sunny. Very hot in the west. Light winds and moderate to fresh afternoon northeast seabreezes. Precis: Fine. Very hot in the west.

Weather Info

Bondi Longboard Club

The club founders were Garry Parkinson, Tony O'Brien and David Byron. The first contest was Sunday 14 March 1995. Other original members that helped organise and develop the club were John Campbell, Karl Kristie, Hymie Munitz, Russell Fox and Steve Leslie. Also Russell and Teri Mares, who had moved to the Central Coast, came down to impart their surf club running skills. And, of course, Joanne East and Karen Largey have been the administrative backbone of the club.

In those early days nine-foot, eight-foot and a unique seven-foot division were keenly contested. Then the "eights" and "nines" were combined about a year later with the demise of the seven footers not occurring till early 1999. It was felt the these shorter boards had served their purpose as a bridge or entry point into the club and into true longboarding as many new members started out on mini mals and then got turned on to the joys of nine footers and quickly bought one for themselves.

The original contest format was a straight elimination with heats in the respective divisions followed by semis and finals. Eventually this system gave way to a two round point score format. The biggest plus of this system is that it maintains everyone's interest and attendance all day thus making the BBQs and drinks bigger and better. Currently a "final" is surfed at the completion of the second round with the highest placed competitors over the two rounds qualifying to battle it out for the coveted monthly trophy. Monthly trophies are also awarded to the grommets and over 45s.

Going back to the foundation year the other big event was the "Endless Reunion" which was held over three days with Bondi Boys from the 1950s to the early seventies coming from Europe, California, Hawaii and all over Australia to relive those glory days. Bondi Longboard Club members were on the organising committee and the "Reunion" in turn generated more interest in the club which resulted in a further swelling of membership numbers.

Today membership is eclectic and by no means an insular Bondi affair. New members come from far and wide and are always welcome. The club came of age in March 2000 when it hosted the Inaugural Bondi Longboard Classic which attracted nearly 90 competitors from all over Sydney and up and down the NSW coast. Find out more