Surfers are Birds

[Lucky Al]

Gulls are seabirds in the family Laridae. They are most closely related to the terns (family Sternidae), and more distantly to the waders, auks and skimmers.



They are in general medium to large birds, typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet.



Most gulls are ground-nesting carnivores, which will take live food or scavenge opportunistically. They are typically coastal or inland species, rarely venturing far out to sea.



Gulls are resourceful and highly-intelligent birds, demonstrating complex methods of communication and a highly-developed social structure. Certain species have exhibited tool use behaviour, and many have thrived in human habitats.

[Johnno]

Haven't ever seen any gulls in a surf shop ......................

p.s Al that water looks off but then again surfing in crystal clear water up here does make one spoilt..................

[Greensurf]

Faaark Faaaark FAAAAAAAARRRRRK (sound of crow cawing)

[ric_vidal]

“Gulls are resourceful and highly-intelligent birds, demonstrating complex methods of communication and a highly-developed social structure. Certain species have exhibited tool use behaviour, and many have thrived in human habitats.”

So that’s why they love chips...

[Squidlips]

nice pics, reminds me of home (UK)

[Kunji]

Stay away from the brown Acid.

[scroopulis]

I thought most surfers were bums.

[chrisb]

and your point is ?

[murrum]

I think he is saying with a bit of resourcefulness - surfers can scavenge wave action in unlikely spots...

And, by jingo, those Japanese love a bit of concrete.

[collnarra]

There's a pommy wetsuit brand called "Gul"

http://www.gul.com/

[Mr_momo_32]

what a nutter... why are you talking about birds?

[Beanpole]

Surfers definitely fight over waves like seagulls over a chip at Bondi.

[Lucky Al]

This spot, wow! Every day for five months I rode over the bridge that crosses the river in front of it on my way to town or to the local beachbreaks, but I never saw anything like this until last Saturday, when a huge swell came up from down south and light offshores blew from early morning. The river looked and smelled like a mud puddle in the grounds of a paint factory, and was full of the sorts of things you see in the back corners of building sites. It was tricky getting in (I slipped and cut the palm of my hand and the bottom of my foot on sharp rocks before I'd even got my hair wet) and tricky catching and riding the waves, but there were short, misshapen barrels to be had, and when I arrived just two guys were in the water, and they got out as I got in, so 'Faaark!!!' is right. Kept thinking as I surfed and when I'd got out about... different things. At one point, gulls came to mind.

[Lucky Al]

Also been thinking that the Realsurf.com forum is a great medium in which to do what they do in the mags - that is, use words and pictures to tell stories, develop and communicate ideas, describe or invent places and people, and so on. We're always complaining about the mags and wondering about alternatives, but I reckon we needn't go beyond this forum to create things of real cultural value. (Not to say that the little piece of nonsense with which I started this thread is a thing of real cultural value - far from it, but possibly useful as an exercise in form.) There are good surfers, photographers, writers and thinkers among us. Working on our own or collaborating, we ought to be able to produce pieces of at least equal quality and interest to anything in the mags, including travel stories, interviews, historical articles, social commentaries, photo essays and fiction. Sure there's no money in it, but also no rejection or censorship by editors, publishers or advertisers, and no enormous waste of paper. Finally, the simple pleasures of working on, showing to others, and having others offer feedback on creations of our own for many of us would no doubt be reward enough.

[Beanpole]

That sounds like Realsurf, Al. So your point is?

[Lucky Al]

I've been sleep-posting, Beanpole! And letting words tangle me up like a legrope around my ankles.

[macca202]