Almost like the online side of bodyboarding in South Africa has come on a near end.Bodyboarding 8,014 views
jbs wrote:
Hi Ronald,
I think "dying"is a bit too strong a term, but yes I agree things have definitely quietened down considerably over the last few months.
Also remember as the new Super Tour kicks off there will, hopefully, be an increase in activity as we follow our local riders who are killing it overseas.
In general though, I do think a lot of people who were in the water consistently, whilst they were studying or just out of school, are now having to place emphasis on the real world and allocate a smaller amount of time to coastal trips, and posts with pics/video from their latest sessions. There were a core group of guys whom I know personally from the Durban bodyboard scene who have also split time between other hobbies, jobs, spending time with girlfriends/wives and perhaps only surfing when it's cracking, rather then at every available opportunity. There's also been a gap between the "older" mid-20's crowd and the next gen of groms who arent really aware of the state of our sport and what it takes to get involved with the back-end of bodyboarding. The kids are just stoked to be out in the water!
My goal is to make more of an effort to submit pics and video this year, stir up some conversation on the boards and get guys amped for the mag and general bodyboarding scene. But first and foremost I want to snake those little shits in the water for the set waves!
.
Elementree wrote:
Hey guys...it's nice to know you care about the site.
Not going to say much because most of it has already been said...
I will say that there will be a few sick updates to the photos section of the website to make the uploading more userfriendly and we're going to need YOU to help us with kicking this off and promoting it...but I will leave the details to sixty40 guru, Kelly, who IS the man and will fill everyone in once he's done tweaking the new vibes!
Dopeboy wrote:
I think another problem is that people don't really just come across the site, you kind of have to go looking for it if you know what i mean. Perhaps just getting the word out to more people just by giving away stickers at surf shops or something. I realise that costs money but I'm sure there's someone on this site that can hook us up
SmT wrote:
Yes please, time to get back into the one and only sport i've ever loved.
Took it easy last year and now it's time to start missioning and hassling guys to go surf, Trials and contests and training!
Too keen for this year!
Not cool.. But hopefully it creates some sick banks.....Jared Houston wrote:
Im in Hawaii with the Saffa crew!
I only arrived a few days ago, but everyone seems to be talking about the South Africans and from what I can gather Ian Campbell has been the standout. I saw a photo of Mark Watts on the biggest wave I have ever seen at Pipe, but you'll have to wait to see that, the boys also surfed 10ft waimea the other day.
Since I have arrived its been good, surfing OTW everyday, just loving the good powerful waves and trying to surf them how Id want to watch someone surfing them!
For you guys bumming on no news, most of us have personal sites, iain campbell http://iamiaincampbell.wordpress.com
Jarret Johnson http://www.jarretj.blogspot.com
Jared Houston http://www.jaredhouston.tumblr.com
Check em out, if you guys see something crazy or cool on one of them?Why not discuss that on here?If you think Im a wanker, write me off on here, if you think Jarret Johnson might be gay, discuss it here. You know, get togther!Woo
like me have sites.ronald911 wrote:
Fun waves on the south coast!
Going down in a few moments, hoping to get barreled!!
Keep it up! Think thats all i have on here... hahahaSuper_Dude wrote:
What does sixty40 mean? Does it have something to do with the sizes of the board?
Kelly wrote:
Super_Dude wrote:
What does sixty40 mean? Does it have something to do with the sizes of the board?
Been following this topic a bit but my spare time is limited and as some may have noticed, have been putting in some time into a few changes around the site.
To answer the above question specifically --- 60/40 is the standard rail angle of a bodyboard. At the time when I started the site there wasn't much out there --- Zigzag Bodyboarding Magazine had closed and there was nothing on the web. I had spent the previous 5 years travelling and bodyboarding around the world and to me many others who had done the same, the sport has given a lot us (I couldn't imagine just travelling around doing the tourist thing) ... so I wanted to put something back. I also saw very few people putting back into the sport ... there is no money so you can't blame anyone and for many bodyboarding is your release from the grind. But what I had seen over the years was a few guys putting everything in and then burning out and disappearing ... so in a bit of an idealistic way, I wanted Sixty40 to be a vehicle to help guys who want to contribute to put something back into the sport and wanted to see a few more people getting involved and taking out some satisfaction from being involved. To me, the only way to sustain that was to make sure that you were taking out of the sport more than you are putting in .... hence 60/40 meant a whole lot more to me at the time when I chose the name ---- 60% out and 40% back.
Anyway, that's a bit of a camp fire story ...
Over the last few months my time has been extremely limited and this post reflects that. I'm going to put a bit more time in to try make sure the site aids sharing of information and try get some guys keen on contributing more.
Sean (SmT) & Jared (jbs) .... good to see you guys around again!
back in the forums. Hows the UK treating you? I think we should all go camping so we can here the full story!! 
ryan wrote:good way at looking at it. shot for sharing your story as well kelly
Quieten down- definitely!
I joined the community in '94 back in the days when the strong hold was Durban, Cockwells and Thiel Dre starting to strut his stuff. Durban was the centre; Zigzag, bodyboard suppliers etc and there didn't seem to be a stronger following any where else in the country. Then it faded away only to be taken up by the few who saw potential and the Western Cape and Factory 7 (Derek F) and Sixty40 was born. And now recently Keiki.
The Western cape has definitely taken over and it seems like so much is happen down there, more shops, secret waves being found, more shark bites...
But it is the new year and like the Mag Sixty40 changed it's face (for the better at a reasonable price) I think the website should try that. The site is hugely interactive and there is so much one can do, post pics, search surf spots, raise questions, but it does have to have a driving force and not a just a following force. Some people wait for the perfect wave to come their way, others paddle out and line themselves up for the barrel of the day.
I have many surfing friends from my many years of surf lifesaving, and we got into some discussions about bodyboard shapes and design, something that does not seem to feature in the community, whereas surfers often are trying to come up with the perfect combination to allow for the best performance according to the rider. I suppose that's because they have a direct involvement in their board shape. In south africa our input into board shapes are very limited (Rossi) and if one orders a board from an overseas manufacturer direct then you can refine the shape you want; wide-point tail shapes. Otherwise we are limited to the supply in the stores.
My point is that if we want to take to the next level we have to start getting into the nitty gritty of our community, like board shapes, and secret spots that fire (like when the East is howling on the east coast there is a wave in Richard's Bay harbour that is pure offshore...) and campfire stories. It brings us together and we carry on steering it where we want it to go. It would seem that was the answer that was used to get it to where it is today.
I recently read about the new IBA format and structure and the website layout. WOW! I thought that it was on the border of extinction! And there is definitely some inspiration there.
So no Sixty40 is not dying it's just waiting for the right wind and swell.
Anyway I'll just keep supporting local and acting global
ryan wrote:
Quieten down- definitely!
I joined the community in '94 back in the days when the strong hold was Durban, Cockwells and Thiel Dre starting to strut his stuff. Durban was the centre; Zigzag, bodyboard suppliers etc and there didn't seem to be a stronger following any where else in the country. Then it faded away only to be taken up by the few who saw potential and the Western Cape and Factory 7 (Derek F) and Sixty40 was born. And now recently Keiki.
The Western cape has definitely taken over and it seems like so much is happen down there, more shops, secret waves being found, more shark bites...
But it is the new year and like the Mag Sixty40 changed it's face (for the better at a reasonable price) I think the website should try that. The site is hugely interactive and there is so much one can do, post pics, search surf spots, raise questions, but it does have to have a driving force and not a just a following force. Some people wait for the perfect wave to come their way, others paddle out and line themselves up for the barrel of the day.
I have many surfing friends from my many years of surf lifesaving, and we got into some discussions about bodyboard shapes and design, something that does not seem to feature in the community, whereas surfers often are trying to come up with the perfect combination to allow for the best performance according to the rider. I suppose that's because they have a direct involvement in their board shape. In south africa our input into board shapes are very limited (Rossi) and if one orders a board from an overseas manufacturer direct then you can refine the shape you want; wide-point tail shapes. Otherwise we are limited to the supply in the stores.
My point is that if we want to take to the next level we have to start getting into the nitty gritty of our community, like board shapes, and secret spots that fire (like when the East is howling on the east coast there is a wave in Richard's Bay harbour that is pure offshore...) and campfire stories. It brings us together and we carry on steering it where we want it to go. It would seem that was the answer that was used to get it to where it is today.
I recently read about the new IBA format and structure and the website layout. WOW! I thought that it was on the border of extinction! And there is definitely some inspiration there.
So no Sixty40 is not dying it's just waiting for the right wind and swell.
Anyway I'll just keep supporting local and acting global
Super_Dude wrote:
aaannd it is quiet again...
Thought it got better... Ppl should not work so hard. Should have fun!
Anyways, I got a bodyboard bag for Valentines day
Work just far too hectic! Def gonna make time and hit it up this week if there's anything happening down south.