Professional adventurer, John Morrell, talks to Socrates about how he came to the Japanese wonderland of Hokkaido for a flying visit... and never left! He explains how he and has family made a life leading hardy and adventurous souls on the experience of their lives in this land of snow, mountains, volcanos and bears! Have you ever dreamed of living a life of adventure? Of … [Read more...]
Meaning of Valentine’s Day? A day of commemoration for lovers of surf journalism.
February 14 is most commonly associated with Valentine’s Day… or the day in which lovers declare their devotion to the special person in their life. To most of the population February 14 means red roses, chocolates and the baring of one’s soul to a secret beloved. To true sports lovers, however, February 14 is not a day of celebration, but it is a day of remembrance and … [Read more...]
Still on the wing… (a life of music and rugby)
I reckon you could count the number of blokes that I have loved in my life (other than my brothers and my Dad) on one hand. There are some mates from my school days and one or two from the old neighbourhood where I grew up… and there was Al. Al wasn’t from the neighbourhood or from my high school. He was ten, maybe fifteen, years older than me and he came from New Zealand. I … [Read more...]
Agony for Miki Dora
Many “Waves of Pain” stories are about merciless thrashing handed out by the ocean when it’s in an angry mood. Not all. Some come from a wholly different kind of pain. I remember thinking, oh… what a load of bullshit, the first time I heard the expression “sticks and stones will break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” To me, an emotional beating has always been way worse … [Read more...]
School soccer is serious business
A few years back a tiny North Coast NSW town’s primary school girls’ soccer team surprised their parents, teachers and class-mates when they won their game in the first round of the NSW schools state knockout competition. The team was made up of two highly experienced, top notch players, a few hackers from the town’s club soccer team and a dozen or so kids who didn’t know the … [Read more...]