Longboards are the original and very first variety of board used in standup surfing by ancient Hawaiians. These ancient boards were carved and fashioned out of solid wood, reaching lengths of 10 to 14 feet (3.0 to 4.3 m) long and weighing as much as 150 pounds (68 kg). Both men and women surfed.In the late 1950s and early 1960s surfboard design evolved into a closer version of today's modern longboard. The materials changed from balsa wood to fiberglass and polyurethane foam and the longboard continued to remain popular. During the early 1990s the longboard integrated a number of the design features invented during the shortboard revolution. Surfers rediscovered the grace and poise – the "glide" – of the longboard, and the fun of classic manoeuvres that are not possible on a shortboard.
Today the classic single-fin longboard retains much of its original design including a single fin, weight, and considerable buoyancy. A longboard with a single fin allows the board to pivot turn in order to remain in the curl of the wave – it’s a smooth gliding style where you can catch even small waves and even those who have not stood on a board before will soon find themselves flowing with it.
A few years ago we ran a story on Disabled Surfer Association (DSA) days at Palm Beach, run by the great group of people who comprise Palm Beach Longboarders Club. This is a Pittwater surfing club that is as laid back as the original ethos in surfing and has a lot of community spirit.The Big Tow was another example of looking out for others, underlining how we’re all one family here, and that you can have a great time doing something good.
Family is many ways is a core value of Palm Beach Longboarders – that and catching waves!
On November 7th, with entries closing on November 3rd, the Palmy Old Mal and Log Rally is celebrating its 19th year of classic surf culture, an event that’s growing more popular every year. Longboard surfing has been embraced by a generation of younger surfers riding modern interpretations of vintage ‘old mals’ – 9’ long single fins, weighing a minimum of 6 kilos. Part nostalgia, it’s a style of surfing that embraces art, fashion and music, keeping the 60’s fresh and engaging to a broader audience.
The contest is about the style and boards used pre-1968. The judges look for the classic 60's style of surfing. Manoeuvres such as hang ten, hang five, drop knee turns, soul arch, head dips and standing Island pullouts are the focus of the day.
Palm Beach Longboarders Club will be showcasing surfers from all over the state again for the 2015 rally, including former event winners and stylists Matt Chojnacki, Jye Byrnes, Johnny Gill and Kai Ellice-Flint and old hands Bruce Channon from Palm Beach, Lynden Riley from Manly and Wollongong’s Billy Morris.
Juniors Tom Payne and Keyo Rhodes are the charging up and comers to keep an eye on!
72 competitors will contest Open Old Mal, Over 40 Old Mal, Open Log, Junior Log and a Ladies event.
The first heat will start at 6.30 and the last final is scheduled for 4.30. There will be an all-day BBQ, music, vintage cars, vintage boards and waves all day.
Finalists will receive original artwork on McTavish fins produced by Byron surfer and log-stylist Roisin Carolan, who is returning to defend her 2014 ladies title.
This week we share a small insight on the local proponents of the original cool:
When and how was Palm Beach Longboarders Club formed?
Eighteen years ago there were only two long board clubs on the Peninsula, Manly Malibu Boardriders and Reef Riders Malibu Club, at Long Reef. Two members from Reef Riders, Brett Denholm, Treasurer, and Roger Drury, Secretary and Contest Director, discussed all Reef Rider business and policies on the 190 bus trip to the city. Over many months they talked about the possibility of forming a long board club at the northern end of the Peninsula, and, as North Avalon was their home break, they decided to establish the club at Avalon Beach.
After the contest, a good number attended the BBQ at Brett Denholm's house, where the home brews appeared to be the order of the day. It also gave members the opportunity to congratulate Roger Drury on his 45th birthday. He was relieved to learn he was not the oldest member of the club.
The 18 longboard enthusiasts who fronted up for the historic inaugural contest were: Max Crompton, Peter Christie, Brett Denholm, Kyle Bowden, Greg Harris, Roger Drury, Benjie McNair, Peter Nash, Michael Nolan, Garry Robertson, Ken Robertson, Russell Phillip, Peter Townsend, Adrian Van der Wallen, John Van Der Wallen, Peter Vlug, Ray Scott and Bruce Usher.
The first presentation of trophies resulted in Peter Christie on 71 points winning the Modern Malibu, and Roger Drury on 25 points winning the Old Mal points score.
In September 1994, the committee approached Mick Dooley to be "Hole in the Wall's" club patron. Mick was elated by the proposition, and to this day still makes time to attend each club contest. For the next three years "Hole in the Wall Longboard Union" grew from strength to strength.
In 1995, with a new committee, it was decided to put a motion before members at the May 13 points score competition to base the club at Palm Beach, and also change the name and company logo. Ninety-eight percent of members voted to not only relocate but also for the club to change its name to "Palm Beach Longboarders" with the first contest held on the first Sunday in July at mid Palm Beach.
The first points score for the new club was well attended with the waves being very challenging with quite a few five foot close-out sets. Due to treacherous conditions, the Old Mal heats were called off.
Winners of the divisions were:
• Firsts: Gary Burden
• Seconds: Adrian Van Druten
• Thirds: Chad Andrew
• Fourths: Curtis Field
On Saturday March 23, 1996, Palm Beach Longboarders held their inaugural Old Mal Rally. This contest was conceived to promote sportsmanship, competition and traditional surfing.
The day was particularly highlighted by the attendance of Mick Dooley, Garry Birdsall, Barry Kirkham, Dave Wilson, Midget Farrelly and Jack Eden, who represented the era and celebrated the Rally.
The day was well rounded off with the presentation of trophies at Flamingos Restaurant, Palm Beach, with a great view of the days venue.
Results were:
• 1st Bill Morris (DV8s)
• 2nd Glen Arkintsall (DV8s)
• 3rd Brad Whittaker (Cronulla)
• 4th Dane Wilson (Cronulla)
In 2001, our then President, Gary {Cookie} Cook, or Secretary Peter Fodor, and our Contest Director, Grant Salmon, secured Golden Breed as a much-needed sponsor for the club, ensuring that the immediate financial future of Palm Beach Longboarders was secure and healthy.
From its humble beginnings ten years ago, Palm Beach Longboarders Club has grown into the club that you see today with a membership of over 70 surfers.
The club, over the years, has been able to provide financial assistance to various organisations in time of need, such as the Disabled Surfers Association, Papua New Guinea Tsunami relief Fund and more recently the NSW Bush Fire Appeal. In 2005 the Club also donated $500 to the Asian Tsunami Appeal.
Does the club have weekends away?
We do have weekends away they mainly revolve around Mal comps up & down the coast from Noosa, Crescent Head, Newcastle, Wollongong, other local comps like Manly's Snow McAlister & The Five Ways event held between Five longboarding clubs on the Northern Beach, that we take turns in hosting every year and the odd trips to Mentawaii Islands & Papua New Guinea the last two usual organised out side the club.
What other activities, apart from surfing, do members do together?
Barefoot bowls, camping trips, BBQ's, The DSA Day (Disabled Surfer Association held at Palm Beach) and the Big Tow – the next of these will be at the end of year.
Who can be a member and how do you join?
Boys, Girls, Men, Women, Mums, Dads, Grandma, Grandpa. We're particularly keen to get more groms and ladies into the club.
Full Membership is $50pa, Social Membership $25pa, Junior Membership under 16 $20pa, Family Membership (with Children up to 25 years of age) $100pa and on the day it's $10 to surf $10 for BBQ food unlimited (BBQ) is optional Juniors $10 & (the BBQ is free for Juniors) all Water & Soft Drinks are a $1
The upcoming Old Mal and Log Rally on November 7th, 2015 - what's that about, and for those not familiar - what's a 'log' and what's a 'mal'?
The contest is about the style and boards used pre-1968 and the judges' aim was to look for classic 60's style of surfing. Manoeuvres such as hang ten, hang five, drop knee turns, soul arch, Standing Island pull-out, stalls, head dips, and of course tube riding were the focus of the day.
We introduced Logs into The Palmy Old Mal Rally more recently as it has become very popular in recent years amongst surfs Young and Old. The Logs are based on the pre 1968 boards with similar rails 50/50 or 60/40, single fin boxed or fixed and have to be of a weight of 6kgs. The best way to learn more about it is to come down on the day and check out the boards.
How often does the club meet?
The First Sunday of the Month excluding January . We hold our regular longboard surfing competition on the first Sunday of every month, from 6.30am, somewhere along Palm Beach. The Contest Director chooses the best break at Palmy on the day. The contest area can be as far south as Kiddies Corner and as far north as Barrenjoey. Visitors (non-members) are welcome to compete on a casual basis, numbers permitting. Competitors surf two heats and points are totaled for their two best waves of each heat. All members must judge a heat, miss a heat, then surf a heat.
What is Palm Beach Longboarders favourite place in Pittwater and why?
It has to be Palm Beach, for the Waves and the Wildlife.
What is the club's 'motto' ?
We don’t really have one it's just about having a catch up with New & Old friends and having a fun time - nothing too serious.
Palm Beach Longboarding Club Inc Old Mal – Old Log Rally 2015
IT'S ON – THE PALMY OLD MAL LOG RALLY: if your nine foot plus and single we want you there on the 7th November 2015 so get your entry form for the 2015 Palmy Old Mal Log Rally in. Go to thePalm Beach Longboarders Inc for more details.
The Palmy Old Mal/Log Rally kicks off at 6.30am on Saturday 7th November 2015 somewhere along the Palm Beach stretch (look for the tents).
Entries close 3rd November 2015 - first in, best dressed.
Old Mal Rally History
The inaugural Palm Beach Old Mal Rally was held on Saturday March 23, 1996 at Palm Beach, Sydney in conjunction with the council-run Pittwater Festival.
The contest was conceived by the Palm Beach Longboarders Club to promote sportsmanship, competition and traditional surfing. It also aimed to raise funds for The Disabled Surfers Association (DSA) and the club to be actively involved in The Pittwater Festival of 1996.
The contest is about the style and boards used pre-1968 and the judges' aim was to look for classic 60's style of surfing. Manoeuvers such as hang ten, hang five, drop knee turns, soul arch, Standing Island pull-out, stalls, head dips, and of course tube riding were the focus of the day.
ENTRY FORM BELOW Simply click on and 'save as' on your own PC
 | PBLB 2015 OMLR Entry Form.pdf Size : 119.493 Kb Type : pdf |
Left to right. Miss Sue Russell, John (Jack) Ralston PBSLSC withAlrema Samuels (nee Becke) on right circa 1934-36 with 9 foot surfboard. Image No.: hood_02985, and below: hood_02978h. Titled 'Man and woman with 9 foot wooden surfboard' - Jack and Norah again. Both courtesy State Library of NSW
Women experts of the surf- board at Palm Beach.
From Left.-Mrs. Alrema Samuels and Miss Norah Mc Auliffe. SYDNEY TOPICS – photos by S J Hood. (1930, January 11). The Australasian(Melbourne, Vic. : 1864 - 1946), p. 61 Edition: METROPOLITAN EDITION. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article141425116
Palm Beach Pioneer
JACK RALSTON and his bride Nora McAuliffe, after the wedding will go to Honolulu, and doubtless Jack will revel in the long, rolling breakers there. When Jack was only a lad he used to be often seen speeding over the breakers on his surfboard at Palm Beach. The late Mr. J. T. Ralston, his father, was one of the pioneers of Palm Beach, and in the garden around the shack he planted every sort of tropical fruit. He called the place by the longest of Kipling's words, Warragaborrogarooma.
When holidays came, young Jack Ralston travelled to Palm Beach by road and river, and then walked over the hill from Pittwater to the Bay, as that was the only way to go then. The present owner of the garden which Jack's father planted is very proud of the large custard apples that grow so well in that sheltered corner of Palm Beach. Intimate Jottings. (1934, August 25). The Australian Women's Weekly(1933 - 1982), p. 30. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article47495610