The Big Wave: Manly

Showing posts with label Manly. Show all posts

Monday, February 13, 2012

Australian Open of Surfing - Day 1

Everyone has been complaining about Sydney weather...I was fortunate enough to duck out of the nasty downpour for some much needed sun and relaxation to the beautiful island of O’ahu for 9 days. Coming back, I brought the sunshine with me, with those beautiful hot summer days coming back with a vengeance.

How lucky it is that we had these days this weekend to kick of the Australian Open of Surfing in Manly Beach?! The event, marking Manly’s foray into the worldwide sporting arena, will take place from February 11-19. Just to top that, they have also built an amazing Beach Bowl for those budding skaters who will showcase their prowess and power! Two events in one plus lots of great giveaways and music events on!

If you’re a budding surfer who wants to experience some real competitive action, or a veteran proud to see some surf comps this side of town, you need to get down there!

More information and event schedules are available on: http://australianopenofsurfing.com/manly12/

Below are some of my photos from Day 1 of the competition – Mens Juniors. Enjoy!

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

DO WHAT YOU LOVE

It seems the eye of the storm is the perfect place to ponder life. And Sunday afternoon in Manly proved to be the perfect place to be awed by Mother Nature’s beauty and splendour.

Picture this: about two dozen surfers scattered across the choppy and grey-hued sea, desperately competing against each other to catch the remnants of a decent days’ surf. It was about 5.30pm, when Mark and I stopped in our tracks and looked above. What happened over the course of the next 15 minutes was breathtaking.

The surfers continued to paddle towards the kamikaze waves, but our focus had shifted to the sky above. These pictures are simply beautiful. A grey sky melting into yellow across the skyline, finally being lit up with a magnificent red glow from the west. In one place rain began to fall and develop, but on the sunny side the sun struggled back into the spotlight to reveal a beautiful, full-arched, luminuous rainbow, which then cast its Technicolour shadow on the droopy and heavy clouds. The effect was a rainbow glow of light scattered across the clouds.

The photos below.

So Mark and I stopped on one conclusion: focus on doing what you love, and aim to improve yourself in what you love everyday. You only have one life, and the skills, passions and talents you have received in this life to enjoy and experience are unique to YOU only. Aim to be better than yourself everyday. Spend more time giving time to your passions and hobbies. Like Kelly Slater, aim for perfection in your craft over accolades and recognition. Be the best you can be in what you love.

Life opens up doorways to those who are truly in sync with their life’s purpose. When you dedicate yourself to your passion, your cup is full and overflows; you learn to give to others willingly and selflessly. You cannot give if you are not self-full first.

The first step lies in giving into your passion. Life is really what you make of it, and if you are in line with your purpose, JUST THINK of what lies ahead for you!

If you are not in line with your purpose, you are not contributing conscientiously to this world. And if you are not contributing conscientiously to this world, you are wasting your time here.

Let us go, and DO WHAT WE LOVE!

Sunday, June 12, 2011

24th Annual Snowy McAlister Longboard Surf Festival 11-13 June

The Queen’s birthday long weekend was kicked off with the annual Snowy McAlister Longboard festival, now in it’s 24^th year. The event is championed by the Manly Malibu Boardriders club which was founded in 1985 by five dedicated surfers.

The weather was quite ugly and overcast, but in the water it couldn’t have been more ideal! The waves were forceful, long and the swell was just right for the longboarders to show off their surfing prowess.

Here are some photos from the first day heats: