Mele Saili in Australia
Story by: Mele Saili
Photos: @rare____visuals
Although California has a lot to offer I love searching for new places to get my feet wet.
When I started traveling years ago I noticed how my surfing improved. Some people ask me what my favorite wave is in the entire world and I always pause and think for a moment. Although it’s hard to choose an all-time favorite, I always think of my time spent in Australia.
Noosa, in particular, will always have a special place in my heart. That’s why I’d like to share my most recent trip and explain how my travels to Australia have actually played a huge part in the design concepts of my signature model ‘The Pocket Knife’ with Matt Calvani.
The way I like to surf is by navigating the wave with smooth, almost slowed down transitional movements while at the same time moving at a high speed across the face. It’s like going slow motion at a high speed if that makes any sense. That’s why I’m drawn to Noosa because it has the potential to provide that speed with a long open face.
In Australia, the waves break faster than California typically does. So you’ll notice how most longboards there have a more slender nose that allows them to fit in the pocket while keeping their speed on the nose. These concepts are what inspired The Pocket knife design. Personally I like maneuvering a more slender board anyway because rather than feeling my board is too wide and stiff, I prefer it to move with my body. I also think that wider boards are great for learning to walk the nose but if you come to a place in your surfing where you feel comfortable in your nose riding abilities, a wide nose may not be necessary.
This last visit to Oz, we found ourselves in the Sunshine Coast then eventually ended up down in the Gold Coast in search of waves. I was so thankful for such a versatile board this trip since we got all sorts of conditions. Whether it was smaller one day or a bit choppy I can count on my board to perform.
Huge thank you to Bing for providing such great equipment!
For more info about the Pocket Knife Model, click here.
Also in Bing Surfboards Blog
THE DESTINATION IS THE DESTINATION
Travel is all about getting somewhere else. The journey, comically titled “the destination,” by some real masochists, feels more to me like a practical joke then a zen-buddha lesson in being present; a blur of drinking $9 Chardonnay while trying to stream Lego Batman across the isle and entertain a baby with a series of 10 second activities (tray table, crackers, seatbelt, headphones!).
THE BOARDROOM 2023 COMPETITOR INTERVIEWS
Name, hometown, and surfboard brand.
Josh Peterson, hometown Virginia Beach (born) Haleiwa (currently living), and my brand is Peterson Surfcraft.
When and where did you start surfing? Describe your first surfboard.
I started surfing when I was about 15 in Virginia Beach, and my first board was an old funboard from WRV that was about 7’6” and had glass on thrusters and an insane airbrush.
EL CAMPEON
At the beginning, it was just an idea, but at the same time, a challenge I had set for myself some time ago. Honestly, I saw it as complicated since it was my first time traveling alone to Europe, and I was curious and nervous because I was literally going to another country. The only thing that reassured me was being able to speak Spanish over there. But, of course, none of this would have been possible without the support of the entire BAPU beachware team who encouraged me and gave me the motivation not to doubt myself and make this a fulfilled goal, we organized various activities while presenting the short film "El Gordo" to raise funds for this trip.