2007 OLD MAL RALLY

The Roving Reporter from The Shallows - Geoff Smith

• 6.30AM - meeting spot, Shellharbour Nth Beach at the Surf Club.
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• A quick scout around revealed Warilla with small close-outs the length of the beach
• The Farm 4ft+ but not too old mal friendly.
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• So we stayed at the South end of Shellharbour Beach.
• Small 2ft+ a bit waves, pretty much closing out on the beach, but in the South corner, just off 'Cunji Rock', a little wave developed through the morning as the tide dropped.
• Only 24 competitors, but hey, old mal & retro days are a bit like that, no big crowds, but lots of fun.
• The biggest collection of old mals on the grass came courtesy of Seb Barbarino of Soul Surf Connections www.soulsurf.com.au who had made the trip down from up North with helper Ron Sakovits.
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• However the day was not just about old mals.
• There was also a 70's Single Fin section, and for the first time an 8ft-9ft Retro V Section for the transitional boards of 1968 & 69.
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• The weather was great - fine & sunny, the wind non-existent initially, then light from the NW, then gradually swinging to the NE, but only getting strong in the last final of the day - the Greenough Fin'd Old Mal.
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• Bacon & egg rolls for breaky, snags in bread for lunch, and a cold beer to finish up with at the presso - a wonderful day.
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• The winners of the sections were:
  • 70's Single Fin - Dan Rowlands
  • Transitional 8'-9' V's - Rhys Williams
  • Greenough Fin'd Old Mal - Cameron Gray
  • D Fin'd Old Mal - Troy Keen
  • Show & Shine - an award each for Seb Barbarino for his mega collection, and also to Ray Mahony for his paisley bottomed psychadelic V bottom machine.
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