Byron Bay Surf Festival 2014

Namaste hipsters. This was my first year at the Byron Bay Surf Festival (BBSF) so I guess that makes me a BBSF virgin.. I wasn't disappointed. The festival was a 3 day fusion of surf culture, food, art, film, literature and music. It was great to see a solid representation of wooden surf craft builders exhibiting everything from hand planes to dugout canoes. There were fin shaping workshops, hand plane making workshops and an awesome paipo shaping demonstration using traditional axes and adzes. Here's a few snaps for your viewing pleasure. If you get a chance to make it next year, you won't be disappointed.

This dugout canoe was the brainchild of Tom Wegener and Dave Rastavich. It was carved from a single paulownia tree that blew down in a storm a couple of years ago somewhere near Cooroy/Noosa. The tree was salvaged by Tom after Bill Wallace, the famous toothpick builder gave him a call about it. The project was completed by Andy from Wooden Anchor. I was fortunate enough to have a go at paddling a canoe like this a few years ago on a surf trip to Tupira in Papua New Guinea.

The Surf Lit Lounge.

A selection of cosmic hand planes from Sting Glide.

This is one of Nobuhito (Nobby) Ohkawa's creations. Beautifully book matched timbers and immaculate crafsmanship.

Another Nobby creation. Nobby has his timber cut from a single log and each piece is marked so that the grain can be matched.

Some of Tom Wegener's "Surfie" belly boards.

Wooden fin shaping workshops run under the guidance of Nobby.

Tom Wegener discussing the finer points of belly board design.

A hand plane shaping workshop run by the guys at Grown Surfboards.

A Grown timber surfboard creation.

Andy from Wooden Anchor giving a demonstration on how to shape a hand plane using an axe.

A nice selection of paulownia timber boards, hand plane and paipo blanks from the folks at Wooden Anchor.

What a cool car. From the guys at Grown Surfboards.

Grant Newby was flat out with a ton of inquiries about his boards.

Hmmm, curry cones from Pocket Curries. These puppies rock.

The entertainment was going for the whole day. Great music.

The crowds were enjoying the food, the sounds and the sunshine.

Plenty of surf art out on display.

Andy from Wooden Anchor giving a demonstration on splitting a timber slab from a solid paulownia log and shaping it into a paipo.

Dave Rastavich and Tom Wegener offering a bit of encouragement.

Andy uses a selection of steel and wooden wedges and a sledge hammer.

The timber slab is then cut smooth with a range of traditional adzes and axes. Andy has an amazing selection of tools handed down from his father and grandfather.