Byron Bay Australia

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Byron Bay Community Issues & News Wednesday, June 28, 2006 Socceroos stopped. Go Australia! So, they're out. Taken out in a cruel manner; taken to the gallows in the final moments. No retaliation, no reprise. Lots of calls of cheating, diving, and amatuer dramatics... but it was a foul. The italian striker was completely obstructed by a defender who never contacted the ball. That, is a foul. Furthermore, 5m to the right of the Italian striker stood another striker; unmarked and infront of an open goal. A simple pinball-flick pass with the outside of his right foot - and it would have been unmissable. Australia played a water tight game, but were never on the offensive. Italy never seemed in any real trouble, and it was never noticible that Italy played with one man less for all that time. As for the dubious referee decisioning (throughout the tournament and the sport), I personally love it. I relish that so much depends on an immediate opinion of one man. I thoroughly enjoy the 'human' touch this give the game. It what helps give the passion; the pains, the frustrations, the disbeliefs. It makes the game more of a game. FIFA did trial electronic refereeing and replay-judging, but eventually decided against it. Their reason was that football is all about flow. A shot on goal can be a culmination of several plays, of strategies, of players all moving to be in certain places at a certain time - and FIFA think that this would be jeopardised. I personally believe that electronic refereeing is inevitable but, for the time being, I enjoy the pros & cons of not having it. The flatulating redneck Alan Jones made me laugh 'the morning after' when once again releasing his mustard-gas of opinions: Feeling justified to say anything on the subject of football, despite obviously having no prior experience or knowledge - he stated that 'football has a long way to go to convince the international market to invest in it' (or words to that effect). Sorry Alan. It has long since been the biggest sport on the planet, the most participated sport on the planet, the richest sport on the planet, and the World Cup is easily the largest single sporting event on the planet. Anyway, my distain for the man distracts me. The real winner from the 2006 World Cup is Australia. Blossoming with the lack of pressure and expectation (which so often disables other countries), the Socceroos played world class football. They tuned in & turned on the country to a new passion, and they did this from very humble beginnings. The generations rising through now? Things are on the up & up, and judging how Australia fairs at any sport it dedicates itself too, I say it now has a permanent home at the FIFA World Cup. posted by Glider @ 10:25 AM   Friday, June 16, 2006 Byron Bay Surf Diary - The Pass makes me sick 14/06/06 Early morning symptoms of a flu-like stomach bug had me wishing I was wrapped up under a doona at home, but I was a work: my mind vacant, my head hot, and my stomach simmering like 5 day-old stew. I couldn't face eating, and could barely swallow water. But, when an 'old bull' stated that The Pass was working wonderfully, I just had to give it a go. Working? It certainly was: 4ft off the take off, and a few of the rides working their full length. However, it was busy alright: groms-a-plenty. Personally, I like having groms in the line-up. I appreciated the fun they have, the messing about, holloring "SICK!" at each other - it's a great way to spend your childhood, and a good relief to the stuck-up attitude of a lot of their elders. The first paddle-out taught me the value of admitting your ill. A cough, a wretch, a cough, and vomit. Too ashamed to see who noticed, I quickly splashed around my bile & chunks until the whitewater managed to hide it. The idea of others duck-diving through my regurgitated food & stomach acid gave me small comfort as I waited..... and waited... and waited for an empty wave. I managed to get a couple before my time ran out; the inside section seemingly working much better than the take-off. As I left, cameras were being set up on the shore line: a movie camera & a stills (with the largest telephoto I've seen). Up on the hill, a huge Billabong bus had pulled up, and was emptying out board bag after board bag. I had got out in time before it got really busy: groms, bulls, and pros.... all surfing in my.... Now THAT'S sick. posted by Glider @ 10:43 AM   Thursday, June 08, 2006 Byron Bay Surf Diary - Small waves & big egos; want to Pass? 07/06/06 Surfing The Pass each lunchtime this week is certainly providing all the voyuerism of a cafe window seat. With set waves few and struggling to reach shoulder high, there was plently of time to soak up the unbroken sun and observe personalities with Attenborough-like enthusiasm. Yesterday, a young teenage lad stole the show with his adapted 40 inch-long polystyrene 'belly-board'. He managed to ride stand up, composed and grinning, on what must have been the most fun anyone I saw have during my brief time out there. Top-turns and a few slashes; I salute you! Balancing out the child-like abandoment in which this kid was immersed, it was only 15 minutes later that the line-up turned ugly. Catching the struggling shoulder from the outer rocks, a mini-mal rider's exhaustive attempts to catch a set-wave forced a fish rider off the shoulder. The mini-mal rider has been sat way out of position too far out in, what can only be, a vulgar strategy to take priority. The fish had been positioned more keenly on the inside and was up on his feet prior to the mini-mal rider, who was still power-paddling back from Julian Rocks. None the less, the fish rider kicked off and let the wave go. 15 metres in, a new surfer looked over his left shoulder to the minimal rider and began to stroke into the rising wave. I was sat close by and, as the wave looked likely to section, I considered it a valid action. However, the minimal rider continued and so did the shoulder; and so did this new claimant. Without shame, the new rider dropped in. As the minimal rider fell , the new rider looked back with surpise and a big smile, and hastely made off with his stolen prize. The rest of us settled back into the 'wait'. From behind, the audible barks of confrontation began to eminate. I turned to see the minimal rider with eyes glaring and teeth grit fronting up to the criminal surfer. I didn't take it too seriously, and I'm sure that niether did he - until the minimal was aggressively shoved towards his face. What was this? A two-foot sunny day, and The Sopranos? I could hardly hear the soft spoken defense, but that accusations, demands, and threats were clearly heard by all. Too much? Absolutely. But respecting the rider and not 'dropping in' is the first rule of the sport - and it occurs at The Pass with disgusting regularity. 08/06/06 A lucky window saw my first paddle out to be in line for the wave of the day. A mal rider fell, leaving me in the sweet spot for a shoulder high wall which ran for 40 metres. Nice to get a full sweeping roundhouse in on the fish! Lucked-out again on the second wave. With almost no waiting, took it off the rocks for a quick barrell - but the backwash bucked against the shoulder ending the ride shortly after. A dolphin! My heart jumped as the dark shape sped towards me from 6 metres away, its wake brushing my leg as it 'flew' off behind and into the shallows; all heads in the line up twitching to mark it's progress. Two dolphins mingled in and around the line up for remainder of the session, which was a relief as the wait for waves continued without reward. I finally gave in; the clock was ticking and work was calling - but it was The Pass snake who confirmed the end to a pleasant session in eden. Having queued up to be served next, I waited alongside the outer-rocks from my last wave. When it came, someone appeared from their hiding place on the Wategos side and paddled over my back with forked-tongue flicking. A low act, and a bitter aftertaste to an otherwise uncomplainable lunchbreak. posted by Glider @ 3:55 PM