What’s the next dream surf destination on your bucket list? Once all the current Coronavirus / Covid-19 / zombie apocalypse craziness is over, where will you go? Well, you can listen up to the Smorgasboarder podcast for plenty of inspiration. We talk with none other than Shaun Levings, the former founder and owner of World Surfaris, along with his son Jai who have just launched a bespoke surf charter - Island Hop Maldives Experience - cruising through the Maldivian Atolls. Details and links at smorgasboarder.com.au

Smorgasboarder

Shaun and Jai Levings - Dream boat trips for surf holidays in the Maldives

Wooden surfboard enthusiast, board builder and Alley Fish Fry founder - we talk with Grant about his passions and what motivates him to lead rather than follow. Links and details on smorgasboarder.com.au

Grant Newby - leader of a unique splinter group

They say 'variety is the spice of life" and we wholeheartedly agree. That’s the reason why, years ago, we were immediately drawn to the work of a bloke called Dave Verrall - the man behind Diverse Surfboards. We chat to Dave about diversity amongst other things. 

Dave Verrall - Variety is the spice of life

He shapes all manner of custom surfboards but all with a performance orientation in mind. Recently Steve Del Rosso cut the power to his planer for just a little while to shed some light on the focus of his designs. Not too long ago, Steve opened a Clearwater Surfboards retail shop at 46 Currumbin Creek Road. Part of the reason was to have some stock boards on display so crew could view and get a feel for his boards. The main reason however was to enable him to dial into his designs even more. Steve picks up the conversation.

Clearwater Surfboards' Steve Del Rosso

Ash Keillah just oozes positivity. It’s infectious and inspiring, because positivity is fundamental when life throws a spanner in the works. More commonly known as ‘The Friendly Pirate’, Ash is a surfer who rips, was a contestant on My Kitchen Rules (MKR), is a soon-to-be father, and someone that has overcome an incredible ordeal that risked to ruin his competitive surfing career. We recently sat down with the Friendly Pirate to find out more about his story and how we can be as happy as him. Interview by Alex Benaud

Ash, the Friendly Pirate

 BIG GHOST FANSTalking to Shane Atkins, we find out what Mark Richards, Gary Elkerton, Rob Machado and Hawaiian big wave charger Jamie O’Brien have in common. More on smorgasboarder.com.au/podcastAlso, new Smorgasboarder t-shirts and hoodies are available! Check them out at smorgasboarder.com.au/shop/

Ghost Racks with Shane Atkins

Nick Muntz from Pistol Surf Co talks about what its like to be a part of today's surf industry and gives us an insight into their latest range of deck grips, traction pads and gear. We also discuss the Pistol Surf Crew’s recent epic trip to the North West Coast of Australia which resulted in a ripping film called Desert Blue. Links and show notes: smorgasboarder.com.au/podcastPhoto: Jack O'Grady

Nick Muntz - WA young gun from Pistol Surf

GUT FEELINGYou’ve heard the saying, well now gain a little more understanding of what it means. Alex Benaud talks with Jess Gardner, a qualified naturopath who is furthering her studies into human nutrition about how our diet - and certain foods we eat - can not only affect us physically but also emotionally. Jess also discusses how our environmental footprint can be linked all the way back to how we think and feel. Links and show notes on smorgasboarder.com.au/podcast

Jessica Gardner - health for your body means health for your mind

Dave talks with legendary surfboard shaper Mark Rabbidge and fibreglass maestro Neal Cameron about all manner of stuff from the evolution of surfboard industry through to the emergence of the modern day longboard, the merits of surfer shapers, the guise of protech finishes and what’s maintaining their surf stoke nowadays. 

Neal Cameron and Mark Rabbidge - Hipsters, hard-edge rail hangups and the stagnation of modern-day surfboard design

Internationally acclaimed and award-winning photographer and former editor of New Zealand Surfing Magazine, Craig Levers, gives us his perspective how the surf media landscape has irreversibly changed over the past decade. In turn we talk about Craig’s favourite Kiwi surf breaks, what freaks him out, the white shark named KZ7, his photography and his equipment along with his series of coffee table books, which are simply out of this world.Links at https://smorgasboarder.com.au

Craig Levers - NZ surf photography and surf publishing legend

Peter Sheely Custom FitNewcastle’s master shaper has been making surfboards for close to 50 years. Today he specialises in nothing but custom designs, all made in house by himself, by hand, from start to finish. Pete also makes some pretty sweet looking acoustic and electric guitars. We talk with him about his beloved crafts and what rocks his world.  

Peter Sheely - surfboards and guitars in Newcastle

THERE IN A JIFFYSmorgasboarder's New Zealand correspondent Jeff “Jiff” Morris talks about growing up on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, delivering t-shirts in a Rolls Royce, his love for Boomerang Beach and what prompted his move to semi-retire in the Land of the Long White Cloud.

Jeff "Jiff" Morris - semi-retirement in the Land of the Long White Cloud.

Sit back and enjoy our chat with resident Smorgasboarder artist and creator of the Aloha Barry cartoon, Darren Marks, aka Curl, about the inspiration behind his work and why to this day he remains such a crap surfer. Please be warned this podcast has a fair dose of swearing along with references to alcohol consumption, drugs, vegans and a questionable dolphin named Kevin.

Curl, aka Darren Marks - on life as a cartoonist and living with Aloha Barry

Today we talk surf business and entrepreneurship with Mark Ranucci... About what it means to be a part of a collective, the Surf Collective specifically.  In the space of two short years this united front for independent surf businesses has been able to attract the likes of some 70-80 grassroots exponents of Aussie surf culture spanning some 38 different categories from surf apparel to accessories, photography, art and even surf workshops.Links on the Smorgasboarder website.

Mark Ranucci - Swimming against the mainstream

Jye Gudenswager is the fourth generation of his family to be a pioneer in surfboard design - hence the business name Gen4 Surfboards. The tradition  began with Jye’s great grandfather Frank Adler who built some of the first plywood surfboards know as ‘toothpicks’ during the 1940s. Frank was followed into the surfing world by his son-in-law Ken, who owned a string of well-known surf stores throughout the East Coast of Australia such as Adler Surf Centre and Ken Custom Surfboards, before owning San Juan Surfboards in Byron Bay. Jye’s father is a four-time Queensland surfing representative who competed for Snapper Rocks board riders club throughout the 1980s and '90s.Alex Benaud sits down with Jye for a chat about boards, surfing, the Gold Coast and more. Enjoy!Links and notes at smorgasboarder.com.au/ep16-jye-gudenswager-of-gen4-surfboards/

Generations - Jye Gudenswager of Gen4 Surfboards

The Smorgasboarder podcast with Dave Swan is for people who love surfing, surfboards - everyday surfers and surf lovers! This is all about extending the experience of the interviews from our print magazine from just your eyes, to bringing them in full unedited glory to your ears as well. Listen in on our conversations with the most interesting people and personalities – from surfboard shapers, to surfers, surfing-related entrepeneurs, artists and musicians to simply people who just love surfing – as we discuss, question, unearth and try to solve all the world’s problems on the way.

hubhopper

Smorgasboarder

hubhopper