Analog Clothing sign up big wave surfer Koby Abberton.

It is reported that the Burton subsiduary , Analog Clothing only want two high profile athletes in surf, so they have done pretty well. First up Hawaiin based (Hollywood Style) Benji Weatherly to keep the troops entertained and endlessly laughing,not to mention his backhand hack. And now enter cutting edge, new frontier, big wave exponent, Koby Abberton.

A huge opening was left for the picking with Koby having his contract terminated by Oakley Inc. just over a year ago.
The Australian majors were not interested in picking him up, fortunately Kobes` was warranted on a more international level. Anolog strongly emerging as one of the Western Power brands in Asia , privately owned, and a little more substance on its agenda than the board meetings echoing shareholders demands of maximize revenue , cut where you can. This is a company that has been athlete driven from the beginning so perhaps we can look forward to an interesting development. Indeed the worlds largest snow board empire and now the best surf team (Al Merrrick), one can`t help but wonder they seized an opportunity when they picked up Koby who has featured on more front page covers of magazines than any other Australian surfing athlete.

The home camp are stoked with the news enabling Koby to join his protoge Mark Mathews in the pursuit of the biggest caverns on the planet. As this is being written is Koby is chasing a 6 hour swell window off South Australia.

"That seems to be all that Koby wants to do more than anything, just to devote his life to his surfing. Reading mother nature , the logistics to piece it together, (which in itself is a mission) and then to be at your physical peak to deal with the conditions. You are going to see some insane surfing in ridiculous places in the next 3 years." quoted Brett Warner, Koby`s surfboard shaper of 13 years.


With the recent release of a television documentary narrated by Russel Crowe, the signing of the rights for a Hollywood movie directed by Ron Howard within 3 years, a current top selling unauthorised biography, and finally a clothing sponsor reportedly above the 100K level, it must seem like a lifetime away from his situation 1 year ago. "Go get `em boys" isn`t that the quote?

Brett Warner recently completed his annual pilgrimage to Japan.This year marks 21 years since Warner first started traveling to Japan.
In his early years an an athlete for Aloha and later as a surfboard shaper during the famous Japan Surf Boom times.
With well over 3000 boards made for this market under his belt he is still rated as a small player in a very large somewhat different market compared with other overseas consumer expectations.

Article From Surfin Life Japan. Barton, Dooma and Brett Warner - Team Aloha.

This year they completed a 3000 km journey 25 odd shops, 7 prefectures camping style in a bus with his with his 8 year old son "Kai".
Kai attracted his fair share of attention exploding from sidewalks towards us with rail grabs,south Ollies, grinds and a whole new vocab I havn`t quite got my head around yet.

Photo:Brett Warner 2006 Retail Tour

On the manufacturing front he showcased a world first in blank technology and a new fin system.

A high density closed cell foam structure that enables same flex ratio as standard blanks yet stronger, lighter,and slightly more flotation enabling the thickness of board to go thinner.These things are strong ideal for that notorious break that has culled a significant amount of your earnings via board carnage.

Photo;Kai Warner Enjoying Urban Topography.

On the small wave performance side the strength of the blank enables glassing to be as fine as 2 oz top and bottom.
Jim Lucas not shy to inventions developed one of the worlds first shaping machines about 22 years ago.
The man behind this development he believes the blanks will cost more than standard issue blanks. Currently in developmental stages and will be ready to go in the not too distant future.The beauty of this new blank is that it has the strength many have been waiting for without all of the side effects involved with introducing epoxy into traditional fiberglass shaping bays.



Raptor Fins have hit the market using a material for their fins that is buoyant and strong and comes in variable flex qualities.
They have also released a new fin system that can be compatible to all FCS stable mates with existing FCS fins.
Opposing existing axis of structure these guys have developed an XYZ axis of strength to take it one dimension stronger.
Warner who has until now never switched from glass on fins gives the Raptor System the thumbs up.
He commented that finally they seem to have developed something he can see merits in. He believes the metal to metal end point in the screw system contributes to that direct transfer or torque with minimal buffering or absorption.

Some of the treats of visiting during typhoon season.

Whilst the red bull project was psyched up on jet skis and the biggest waves ever it was same `ol at me `ol faithful spot South East of Norwestern Central.Pat O Connel and Mikala Jones were pretty lucky to be coming through town although these boys look like they always did their homework.

Pat O Connel Photo:HYL Productions

Nobu Sento Local Charger.






Nobu ,Kaz and Jules- Manzoku All Photos:HYL Productions