18 Seconds: Future Men – profiling groms of tomorrow

Chris Zaffis

 Chris Zaffis today: white-blonde quiff, piercing blues, academic smarts, and an athletic ability well beyond his 14 years. Tomoz: you decide, but I betcha 100 skins he'll be scratching around the lineup somewhere. Growing up on Angourie Point, New South Wales Chris' surfing oozes style. His foundation comes from rain-to-rail surfing, drawn out turns, easy-on-the-eye flow and plenty of linkage. Throw in a coupla airs and you’ve got some earth shattering sizzle. As you might expect, the highly shredable waves in Augourie have certainly made their mark on his surfing. “It helps a lot I think, y'know, I get to surf a world class point break every day.” And comp surfing: it's Chris' mature understanding of maximising the scoring potential of a wave through linked and committed turns, which has bagging him a gamut of accolade and pegged him as one of Australia's rising stars. Not that he shows it, or knows it. For Chris, surfing just is. Recently Chris was selected, along with a bunch of other grommets and past Young Dudes, to partake in Red Bull's Future Surfing Camp. “[It was] An experience of a life time. I'll never forget it,” says Chris. The camp involved a bunch of handpicked groms. They travelled up the east coast of Australia with specialised coaches and Chris' idol, Mick Fanning. “We were working on future surfing –they were making us go bigger,” says Chris. “I was also working on my carves, getting my body stronger and lerning more about aerials.” “It was really good working with Mick. I probably look up to Mick the most,” says Chris. “I really like his surfing – fast and strong.” And this is reflected in the brine. So much does Chris' surfing resemble Mick's that on camp he was coined 'Little MF'. So what do y'reckon it's like growing up a stone's throw from one of Australia's most prestigious right-hand point breaks? “You froth!” Chris almost shouts. “Y'get out there as quickly as you can and don't come in for school.” His ol' man (Bill) don't mind too much either, as long as the surf's pumping. But Chris ain't no slacker. He tops most of his classes, fitting in a surf before and after school. His goal? “I want to be on the CT and make a living out of surfing,” Chris declares. “At the moment I'm just doing the under 16 events. Eventually I'll go into the Pro Juniors and then break through to the QS.” With surfers entering the tour at 18, it mightn't be long before Chris is toe-to-toe with the pro's. Watch this space.

Time Out: Cold Light by Frank Moorhouse

4 1/2
Frank Moorhouse's 'Edith Berry' trilogy is among the finest of Australian literature – poetic, philosophic and hugely interesting. The books are biographical novels tracing the life of Edith Campbell Berry, first as an ambitious young woman entering the League of Nations with Grand Days (1993), then disillusioned after the collapse and disgrace of both the League and her marriage at the onset of World War II in Dark Palace (2001), which received the Miles Franklin award. Cold Light finds Edith back in Australia rebuilding her life in a sapling Canberra with husband Ambrose Westwood. She continues her unrelenting passion for politics but fails to secure a position at the External Affairs, as she so feverishly desires. The rekindling of a relationship with her long-lost brother Fredrick, and her subsequent friendship with his girlfriend Janice – both active Communists – allows us to witness an exciting period of the Communist Party in Australia. Her marriage of convenience to closet ‘Nancyboy’, British diplomat, and best friend, Ambrose, and her abandonment of him for something more conventional, explores the grounds of sexuality, love and companionship. When Edith finally securers a menial position within the government she encounters plans for the city by Walter Burley Griffin and becomes fixated by them, determined to have them realised. Close to her death Edith secures a meaningful position in the government and becomes involved with a campaign for the safe use of uranium, during the apprehensive period of the Cold War. Moorhouse's use of dialogue is fluid and its relationship with thought creates dynamic and textured characters. Edith is sage and contemplative yet flawed, fumbling through some of her greatest life decisions; but it is this fallibility which has us to relating to and captivated by her. Through Edith, Moorhouse ponders existential questions of purpose, aging and the fulfillment of ones potential. By the end we feel we have accompanied her on this grand journey. And what a pleasure it was. Cold Light is at once whimsical and philosophical, decorous and cheeky, lyrical and profound, scholastic and funny, articulate without affectation. It is a deeply satisfying read.

Time Out: Meet the patissiere - Jonny Pisanelli, From Scratch

The chemistry of a pastry-making couple has resulted in some of Adelaide’s sweetest treats. By Simon Nicholas
From Scratch Patisserie has hit the drool button for the city’s pastry fiends with its attention-seeking seasonal cakes, macarons and croissants. You’ll find the French- and Italian-inspired treats in cafés around town and at the From Scratch stall at the Adelaide Showground Farmer’s Markets every Sunday. But it is From Scratch’s own pop-up store on Leigh Street on Fridays that has Time Out intrigued and frankly a little teary it isn’t open every day.
The love child of Edwina Peoples, 32, and Jonny Pisanelli, 24, From Scratch was a beautiful accident following an international love affair. Eddie, as her friends call her, had worked as a pastry chef at major hotels in Singapore, before moving out of resorts and into the city’s Central Markets. Jonny was a talented barista, competing throughout the world – sixth at the World Cup Tasters competition in 2009 – and studying Pastry at TAFE. They first encountered one another when they were both working stalls at the Adelaide Showground Farmers Markets. Knowing that Jonny harboured a passion to become a pastry chef, a friend suggested he go talk to Eddie. “We went out for coffee and the rest is history.”
When the opportunity arose for Jonny to work in pastry shop near Naples, he quickly accepted. Eddie met him in Italy and together they travelled to Paris for more work experience. “We wanted to open a little shop on the side of the road, like we’d seen in Italy and France, but the Council didn’t want to know about it,” Jonny explains. “Then we discovered that there was a loophole where, as long as you had the right accreditations, you could set up on someone’s private property and not have Council approval.” The owner of Coffee Branch was amenable, so they set up shop next door.
Now, having quit their day jobs, they work through the wee hours crafting flaky morsels for our delight. Jonny describes his cooking philosophy like this: “For us it was always about no compromise: We’re not taking shortcuts; sometimes you have to stay back later or make things ‘from scratch’. We’re not trying to reinvent the wheel here. To have tradition as a foundation is really important to us but we also have our own unique style.”
With their backgrounds and recent success, surely a café of their own is not too far off? “There aren’t a lot of places where you can get a well prepared espresso and a well made pastry, and that’s the direction we want to go.”

You can get your hands on From Scratch's delicious treats at the Adelaide Showground Farmers Markets, Leader St, Adelaide 6000. Sun 9am–1pm, Leigh St Pop-Up Patisserie, 9am every Friday, and from Paddy's Lantern and Coffee Branch cafes in Adelaide.

REVERB: Dum Dum Girls – Only In Dreams

Sophomore albums ain't an easy thing to nail and the Dum Dum Girls can be forgiven for not living up to the altitudes of their debut LP. Released last year, I Will Be was interesting, gritty and cute, and received deserved praise. Follow-up LP, Only In Dream, as a whole, is mundane, droll and tiresome.
But first let's take a look at stand-out track Coming Down, a crushing ode to the heartaches of a love lost. On I Will Be heavy reverberation conceals leading lady, Kirsten Gundred's – stage name Dee Dee Penny – voice, but on this track it soars above a spangling guitar and puncturing snare drum. Coming Down is a change of pace from the rest of the album – slow, melancholic emotive. It's reminiscent of Mazzy Star's Fade Into You. If you ever had a real heart/ I don't think you'd know where to start, Gundred wails with real feeling. And she makes you feel too, deeply.
However, the rest of the album is superficial 60s dream-pop meets DIY garage grunge angst, which is then fed through a formulae of fuzzy guitar, driving bass and a could-be-drum machine drum beats.
Leading single Bedroom Eyes is quintessential of the album; at once catchy and exhausting it follows a rigid structure and doesn't strays from fuzz-pop mould. Like nearly every track on the album it begins with a punchy, infectious beat, jovial guitar riff and indulgent lyrics sung with a, admittedly, Gundred's lovely voice.
But then there is Coming Down. And then, finally, Hold Your Hand, the closing track. Hold Your Hand is a humbling song about death, grief and support, no doubt imbued by the lose of Gundred's mother during the recording of this album. The track is pretty and a little zany, think Bat For Lashes, and ends the album on a contented note.

REVERB: The Vines – Future Primitive

2/5
Future Primitive is unimpressive and uninspiring – The Vines' worst album to date. It seems the Sydney boys have lost their youthful gusto and irreverence. The album opens well, with the explosive 'Gimme Love', featuring frontman Craig Nicholls' trademark scream-croon, hooking the listener in. The gently melodic 'Leave Me In The Dark' is one of the highlights of the album which, with the exception of Riverview Avenue' and 'Black Dragon' consists, almost wholly, of unimaginative platitudes. Many of the tracks, such as 'Candy Flippin' Girl', 'Weird Animals' and 'Cry' are enjoyable enough but formulaic and lacking flare. 'Outro' – an attempt at psychedelia via the mash-up of intergalactic sound effects, and 'Goodbye' – a heavily clichéd and dull acoustic track, are the low points. Fortunately Future Primitive is saved by the final track, 'S.T.W.', which is classic Vines – energetic, thrashing pop, finishing just before you'd like it to (somehow!) and making you want to listen to the album all over again.
-Simon Nicholas

STAB: Ozzy Wrong's Ukulele Songs

Earlier in the year Australian Ozzie Wright, one of surfing's friendliest and most creative goofy-footers, spent a coupla months in Bali. By the end of his stay, Ozzie had a tan, a smile and a new album: Ozzy Wrong’s Ukulele Songs, which, as the name implies, is his newest musical endeavour, played entirely on ukulele.

Ozzie and girl Miley had originally headed to Bali for a pal’s wedding. Length of stay turned from a few weeks into a couple of months. Oz'd been plucking strings on the Hawaiian mini-guitar for some time, eventually accumulating enough songs for an album. He stumbled upon the chance to make just that happen in Indo, which he took. Stab rang Ozzie to find out a little more about the finished product.

Where'd the album idea come from?
I’d been playing a lot of ukulele and making up songs, so I decided to record ‘em all. I had a couple of friends over in Bali that were good drummers, and there was a really cheap studio, so we just did it. It was fun.

Tell us about the recording.
Tai Graham, who lives over there, took me to the studio. It was above this Muslim family’s tiny little house. It was really funny, they didn’t speak much English. They looked at me and were like, “No, no, it’s not punk-rock music is it?” And I was like, “Nah, it’s just ukulele songs.” Most of the things that they’d record would be super-polished Indonesian cover bands, sounding really professional. I don’t think they’d done much original music.

Were they into it?
It grew on ‘em and by the end they kinda liked it. At first they thought I was a joke… well, I am a joke, but by the end I could tell that they liked me. They were sad to see me go. We had fun recording.

What are the themes of the album?
There are a few songs about my girlfriend, one about a unicorn (which appeared in Oz’s Innersection entry) and one about bikes. There are a few different themes. It’s a bit lovey. The fun-ness of being in Bali was a definite influence.

How long have you been playing the ukulele?
Last Christmas I bought a uke for my girlfriend, but I ended up playin’ it and got really addicted. It has a real sweet sound and I can do more chords on it. I haven’t got a left-handed guitar so I can’t make many different chords; I play upside down. With the uke I can get way more sounds, so it’s more versatile for me. I can play it on a plane, in the car, everywhere. It’s a lot easier to take around.

How far removed is this from the Goons of Doom sound?
It’s different, but you can still hear the Goons influence in there. There’re no guitars, just the uke and drums, so it’s mellower. There’s saxophone and a bit of kazoo as well. It’s so hard doing a recording with the Goons ‘cause there are five of us, we’ve gotta go to a studio and it costs lots of money, whereas when I was in Bali I’d make up a song in the morning and record it in the afternoon. Super easy and spontaneous. You could just record stupid songs and there was no pressure for ‘em to be good, you know. It cost 80 bones to record the whole thing.

How's the response been so far?
So far my album hasn’t impressed anyone. I like it and a few of my friends like it, but generally most of my friends haven’t mentioned it. Even my mum doesn’t seem to like it, haha. But I’m not going to lose heart. I’ve got a lot of new songs, so I might have to do part two, haha. I’ll probably wait till I go back to Bali before I record it though.

How do we get Ozzy Wrong’s Ukulele Songs?
Um, I’m not sure, haha. I’m hoping to set up a little website for Vampirate Surfboards (shaper Mark Gnech's new brand, which Ozzie'll be doing the board art for), and have a little shop where people can buy products and hopefully they can buy the record there. I haven’t set it up yet though.
– Simon Nicholas
http://www.stabmag.com/elliot/ozzy-wrongs-ukulele-songs

STAB: Zoltan Torkos plants first kickflip but Volcom says it don't count if it ain't above the lip

Late last week Zoltan Torkos pulled the first ever kickflip on a surfboard to be captured on film. The above clip quickly went viral, clocking over 140,000 views in four days. The clip was submitted to Volcom for the Kick-Flip Off competition but denied the $10k because it wasn't above the lip. When Stab called Jack Morrissey, Volcom's surf team manager, gave us the rundown:

"Basically, since the the kickflip was a mid-face one where he didn't come off the lip, he's not eligible for the grand prize of 10 thousand dollars. Even though it was the first kickflip pulled in surfing, it wasn't off the lip like a proper air, y'know? We've had a lot of guys send in over the years and we feel it wouldn't be fair to them because they've been trying to do it off the lip. We obviously want to help him out, hype him up for what he's done. It's just the fact of the rules."

"Rule #3. The kickflip must be a real air “above the lip” – No backwash, No chop hops, or anything in the flats or below the lip of the wave."

Stab called the friendly Santa Cruz local to ask him how he feels about the failed attempt:

Stab: How do you feel after missing out on 10 Gees due to a technicality?
Zoltan Torkos: I'm really happy, 'cause this has brought the focus I intended it to, to the fact that this was pulled for my best friend, Carl Reimer, who was shot to death on my mother-in-law's door step. It was, more or less, the wrong place at the wrong time. The shooter didn't even know it was Carl. He was just leaving a low-income housing flat. The shooter jumped out of a bush and shot Carl. It was just a random act that I'm still trying to make sense of. The last day, before he died, I surfed Steamer Lane, did a kickflip and fell. He said, "You can do this!" So that was the last thing he told me before he left my house and was murdered. It has stuck in my heart and in my soul to get this done, do it for him and make it the Reimer flip. Turn kids onto 'Pull tricks not triggers, shoot 'em with a camera.'

For how long did you try to plant it?
Oh my god! I'd even tried them before the contest. We have these wedgy beach breaks and I'd play around, but with no seriousness. It took my friend inspiring me to push surfing to a new level and inspire kids to prove you're a man through surfing. Or go on a super ramp with your skateboard and see how scared you are. Or perform a magic trick on stage. The adrenaline's out there and there are positive ways to get it. Society has shown people to take the coward's way out a lot of the time.

Has the clip boosted your surfing career?
Man! It's been a crazy emotional road. It's hard to say how big the avalanche will get, but, you know, the snowflake has hit the top of the mountain.
–Simon Nicholas
http://www.stabmag.com/elliot/zoltan-torkos-plants-first-kickflip-but-volcom-says-it-dont-count-if-it-aint-above-the-lip