Saul Bernstein - in Sydney

Left on the 26th March for Oz. I went over on holiday and to surf… and ended up staying!! Got some crazy days of surf since I’ve been here - 8 foot solid swells and some really fun beachies.

 

I’ve been shaping a bit. Bought a reject blank from Bennet surfboards for $35 and a litre of resin for $40 and shaped a classic single fin, called the “Scorpion”, 6'4", about 3 inches thick, 23inch wide, as flat as an ironing board and has a beak nose. Goes like an absolute dream- wanna get it on a classic Jbay swell!! I shaped it because I snapped my mal and it’s too pricey to get a new one!

 

Costs about $1200 = R8400 for a good shape here- okes mustn’t complain when ordering a new stick from Dennis!

 

I don’t surf any contests anymore, decided to go back to the real reason I began surfing- getting into single fins. Guys are super friendly out the water, note “out the water”. Been in a couple of altercations in the water in the 6 months I’ve been here. Lighties have it easy back home!!

 

I’m studying a Bachelor of Accounting with a second major in financial services- first year. I head up Scarfini fins here in Sydney and the northern beaches. I’ve made some classic contacts, surfing with 2X ASP world champ Damien Hardman- getting him to test out some sets etc.

 

I keep in touch with Pottie (Ed – Craig Potgieter) in South Australia, but have yet to catch a flight there to see him. I miss the whole PE surf scene and the flexibility of the law, but life is classic here. Plenty of opportunities and Bali is just a 3 hour flight away. 

 

The down side to surfing here: one has to pay $5 (R35) an hour to park at the beach, if you’re not a resident of the area. It’s the equivalent to paying to park at Millers if you live in Walmer!

 

I can’t send you any pic’s of me surfing here as have yet to make connections with the local photag’s – I miss Frikkie!!