AN upcoming exhibition of the social and cultural history of surfing on the Mid North Coast is generating considerable interest.
The Yarrila Arts and Museum initiative, “Swell Chasers: Surf Stories from the Mid North Coast”, will run from 23 November to 2 February.
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Stories, images and artefacts in circulation ahead of the exhibition are providing a creative dialogue and appreciation of the region’s surfing history.
Coffs Harbour veteran photographer Heath Werner provided a stunning shot of Lee Winkler taking on Coffs Reef in the swell from Cyclone Uma in 2019.
“Wink” told the News Of The Area: “Scotty Mason suggested giving it a crack at towing, as it had never been done out there before.
“So I organised good mate Andrew Lindsay to throw me onto a few.
“I got thumped on my fair share but made a few memorable ones.”
Scotty Mason summed up the camaraderie and derring-do of the surf community.
“The reef has always been a proving ground for young bodyboarders and surfers, a place where a core group of locals get together in close quarters, tell stories, have endless banter and push each other,” he told NOTA.
“Everyone is welcome but there is always a pecking order and you move up by throwing yourself over the edge on the biggest scariest waves you can – or it’s to the back of the line.”
The excursion along the break wall to Muttonbird Island is a lively experience on any given day.
An ordinary wander when the seas are running provides added drama, as the right conditions offer a close-up of this sort of surfing courage and mayhem.
By Kim SATCHELL
