Ying and Yang

Vince and Wayne Barnes. Father and son. Competitive vs soul surfer. Gunslinger vs one-time booger. The same, but different.

During the course of my Locals interviews with the older baalies Vince's name cropped up quite often, then a few months ago I got some great shots of his son Wayne getting barreled off his pip at Hummies - and so the father/son interview concept was born. Blood may be thicker than water, but luckily for surfing families, the water's pretty thick too. And so it was off to the Wimpy to get the low - down on the Barnes'....

Vince

Wayne

So Vince, how'd the Barnes' surfing journey start?

It all started on a plywood bellyboard at Humewood back in '67. My dad owned a caravan that he used to park at the Brooke's Hill caravan park (right above Humewood) every holiday. I got my first board from Dexter's Sports in North End, a Sun Surf 9ft4. I can't remember what it cost, but I can tell you I used to use R16 of petrol to get from PE to JHB when I got older!

Was it a mission to get to the surf as a lightie back then?

We used to live in a flat above my dad's service station (petrol station in Rink Street opp. the cinema's). I rode my bicycle to school in Newton Park, got back to Central, then rode down to the Fence for a surf! Luckily Mario Targ's dad owned Humewood Mansions, so I could leave my board down there. If I wanted to surf Pipe I had to carry my board on my head all the way there - maybe that's why I'm bald now!

Did the older guys keep you in line?

Groms didn't hassle. Period. You listened to the older guys, or you got klapped or chased. I always used to get kakked on by Gavin Rudolph!
(Ed - Wayne pulled the images below are off Vince's old Super 8 movies taken back in the day. We're gonna try get it converted to DVD then we can load it up on the site - watch this space!)

Vince charging big Supers back in the day

Vince cutting back at Seals

You were really into competitive surfing.

I surfed EP from '82 to '91, and I was also chairman of EP Surfing from '83 to '89. We used to have great surfari trips down the coast on the way to interprov's. One year we went down to SA's in CT in a coupla combi's. We stopped at Seals, Vic Bay, Mossel Bay and Jongens along the way. No tents, just a sheet we rigged up on the side of the combi's. Justin Erasmus managed to reverse my company combi into a signpost! On that same trip I also got up to some dodgy driving, riding up right behind Carl Van Vuurens combi whilst we were driving along the N2 and nudging it!

I was really committed to my competition surfing. One year my boss at Autohaus (Ed - who happened to be my dad - welcome to small world PE!) went overseas, so I was left in charge of the business - meaning I couldn't go to EL for the SA's at Nahoon. So what I did was just drive to East London and back every day that I had a heat on! They guys would call and let me know when next I was surfing, then I'd mission down in the car - best drive time was about 2.5 hours PE to EL! (Vince is still in the car sales game - if you're in the market for some new wheels check out his stock at Market Square VW on William Moffet or give Vince a call on 041 368 3434)

Vince on a big Supers wall

Vince barreled at Supers

What's the story about trying to kill the groms at Beachview?

(Ed - Both Bryan Moulang and Hagen Engler - recently featured locals - fingered Vince for sending them out in a Boys heat at 8ft Beachview and kakking themselves!) Yah, I remember that - it wasn't THAT big, only about 6ft! Anyway, I paddled out with them to keep an eye on them, and there was a decent channel to get out in, not like it was just bombing close-outs! Hagen actually wrote one of his newspaper columns about that heat years later! (Ed - see the article at the end of the feature - it's yet another Hagen classic!)

Enter Wayne, when did dad get you onto a board?

I must have been about 6 or 7, had this blue Curved Air and started off at King's Beach. (Ed - when I asked the question as to whether dad was a patient teacher it resulted in quite a debate - with Vince insisting he wasn't a pushy dad at all, and Wayne pointing out that his impression of being a patient teacher wasn't quite experienced as such! "How many times do I have to tell you!?" apparently being a common refrain if something wasn't executed correctly!)

I got frustrated with surfing as I didn't progress as quickly as I expected to, so because of that (and to piss off my dad!) at about 13 I started bodyboarding instead - being mainly into dropknee! Most of my mates at that stage were bodyboarders anyway, so it seemed a good move at the time. Then about 5 years ago, after years of dad's constant ragging about the fact that I have "2 feet to stand on!" I decided to give surfing another try. Got one of Wok Wrights high performance boards and it all clicked. Been surfing ever since...

Wayne trunking it in Durbs

Wayne hiding in a Gonubie barrel

Do you guys surf together much?

WAYNE: Yah, we like hitting the Wildside. Uncrowded surf with a bit of power is what we're after.
VINCE: My 12 year old daughter is just starting out now as well, so be great to have both my kids surfing.

Any similarity in board types between father and son?

VINCE: I ride a 6ft6 and 6ft8, both shaped by Greg Smith.
WAYNE: I've got a 6ft1 hotdogger, and then a 6ft0 high performance board.
Ed - Wayne then goes on to mention his dad always rides a yellow board, almost every board he's had for as long as he can remember has been yellow! Vince can't comment on why - he just digs the colour! Funny enough, Wayne must also have the "same-colour board" thing going as dad, as earlier in the interview he mentioned his first ever board was royal blue - and guess what - I got shots of him recently at Hummies on you got it, a royal blue board!

Wayno - Shacked at Hummies

Wayne smacking an unsuspecting Hummies lip

Not only do you both surf, you both skate as well!

VINCE: Obviously not anymore, but as a lightie we basically has a plank with rollerskate wheels attached and we used to bomb down sections of Brikkies. We also used to skate the sluice drains on the side of William Moffet - cordorouy bell bottoms, long hair - we were it!
WAYNE: I skated pretty seriously at one stage - street, bowls, ramps - whatever. Nothing beats gliding along on your Sector 9.

Tail sliding at 6th Ave

Surfs, skates....and plays guitar!

Any heavy surf stories?

VINCE: We were surfing at Port Alfred, and these guys were fishing off the long pier. Next thing this one guy was pulling in a huge shark, pulling it into the river - it must have been at least 4m long. We're watching this going down, and next thing his line snaps and the shark comes loose! We just sat there huddled together hoping like hang it didn't come check us out in it's pissed off state!
WAYNE: A while back at Virgin Bay, was out there with 2 mates. They both caught last waves in so I was sitting out there waiting for mine. All of a sudden this long grey shadow cruises past me, and a few seconds later another one on the other side. I reckon at one stage there were 3 of them all eyeing me out. I just sat there with my feet up on my board! Thankfully a kiff wave rolled through that I jumped onto - turned into an awesome barrel as well - came out of that and straightened out to the beach. Hate to think what would've happened if I'd blown the tube!

Surfing injuries?

VINCE: Got a fin stuck through my leg back in 2008. Wayne had nagged me to go for a surf. Conditions weren't great - it'd been onshore and just swung round to west but not cleaned up yet. I took off on a wave at Clubhouse and this thing doubled up on the inside & I landed on my upside down board with the fin slicing straight through my suit and into my thigh. Wayne had to drive me to casualty - we both drove in our wetsuits! Another time I also got pinged by my board right in front of my ear - that also needed stitches.
WAYNE: I 've been pretty lucky so far. Worst has been a whack on the head by my board whilst trying to carve on a choppy Tubes face and hit a bump!

Ulu's racetrack

Indo lip slam

You just did a cool father/son surf trip to Indo, take us through that...

WAYNE: It was the first time over there for both of us. I was like "Dad, you're not getting any younger...so isn't it about time we went over?" We went for a whole month back in 2009, staying at a house on the Bhuket peninsula. Some of the spots were crazy crowded, but you still got your waves. We got around on scooters with board racks - my dad's got a cool story about that....

VINCE: Yah - wasn't that funny at the time! We were buzzing along and I was following Wayne, and next thing the robot ahead goes orange - Wayne gets through but cos I'm a bit behind I'm thinking should I go or should I stop. Anyhow, I end up deciding to stop, but stop a bit beyond the white line at the intersection. Next thing I see some policeman sauntering over to me. They wanted to bust me cos I'd stopped over the line! Guess they just saw a good income opportunity with this tourist! I told them I only had 50 000 ruppes, which they weren't interested in. I did have a bit more on me, but obviously didn't want to tell them that! We haggled away until eventually settling on 150 000 ruppees. I said I'd have to go draw it at the ATM - so left my bike with them and made as if I drew some money. Came back and paid them their cash, got my bike back, and off we went! Welcome to Indo - much the same as SA!! Although I must say the people over there do seem so much happier and friendlier than here (other than the cops!)

Vince putting it up there in Indo

Sharp lil cuttie

Wayne, you were actually thinking of staying in Indo permanently?

Yah, I was actually going to stay on in Indo after our trip - that had been the plan. Just take a year off doing something totally different. I'd been working pretty hard up til then, as a marketing manager in FMCG. I just wanted to do something for myself, something different. However, I also then realised that I wanted to marry the special person in my life - so ended up coming back and getting engaged!

Wayn'es cool clothing company (click image to go to website)

One of the cool Tshirt designs - Lady luck

What's R-evolve all about?

I started designing clothes last year when I came back from Indo. It stemmed out of getting frustrated trying to find unique items of clothing in PE, so I just decided to start making stuff myself! Obviously my exposure to the surf scene, plus the fact that I've skated a lot as well, helps me understand what sort of clothing and designs would work well. We've started production - I have a range of TShirts and caps that are produced by a local manufacturer. It took a while to find someone who could produce to the standard and quality that I wanted. At the moment sales are through my website and by word of mouth.

I've just started stocking an urban store in Parliament street called Black Concept's, and hope to get into a few other local surf stores soon. We'll be doing a launch party sometime in December. (Ed - Wayne showed me some of his designs - they're uber-cool. You definitely want to get your hands on one of his shirts - he'll even bring em round to your spot so that you can try em on & decide if you wanna buy it!)

Wayne heading up n over an Avo's section

Vince heading left in Indo

Thanks Mr and Mr Barnes!

Got to be the best gift you could give your kid is to teach them to surf, and then surf with them. Life's best lessons can be learnt in the ocean....
Check out Hagen's funny article about the eventful Boy's heat at macking Beachview! All thanks to Vince!
PS the gunslinger reference to Vince earlier refers to his love of big waves - hence guns as boards - we ain't talking firerams here!