ALB Editor Bruce Channon posts a video log.

The ALB kombi has been booted from the garage, and production is underway on a hollow timber nine-footer.

In early October we travelled north and filmed the first ALB Online Board Test. We had six boards to assess and I ended up surfing each of them three times each, in six different sessions. Tough work, but it's the extra bit we push ourselves to for our readers (brings a tear to your eye I'm sure)!

The boards were a diverse bunch, and they will be presented as six webisodes on this website: Riley balsa veneer, Surftech Wayne Deane, McTavish Fireball, Mark Rabbidge Designs Hotrod Eight, Bic Nat Young, and Gordo Spitfire.

(Online now, click here.)

The photo here shows Cecil B de Murdoch hard at work at the editing desk.

Photo: Surfinfo.com.au

Hyundai loaned me their i30 Sportswagon for the run to Crescent Head, and what a great car this is!

Flash looks, plenty of room in a four-cylinder wagon, and used only eight.something litres per 100ks the entire journey.

The next ALB, #65, will have a full rundown on this fantastic vehicle. On sale Aug 19.

My Easter project this year turned out to be making my own alaia.

Very stoked, when chasing some info on the Coastalwatch link to the Festival of Surfing site, to come across a photo of myself surfing in the final of my age group. The waves were amazing all this day, as was the camaraderie in the water and on the land.

My good friend Richard Harvey (1969 Australian champion), who I grew up watching surf at Mona Vale won the Over 60s at Noosa, and that was sensational to see as well.

Full results in our Noosa page , with great photos from Scott Wintle in ALB#63, on sale April 15.

After viewing Shaun Tomson's self-funded movie, Bustin Down the Door, in Centennial Park's Moonlight Cinema – a very enjoyable evening – the following day I was invited to hear the man in person at Manly.

After a few beers and pizzas, courtesy of Coastalwatch and SW, Shaun gave a short talk, and answered a few questions.

The film was well worth seeing, giving Shaun's view of the fracas back in the mid-70s when he was pulled into the maelstrom created mostly by Rabbit Bartholmew, Ian Cairns and Peter Townend. The  Cassius Clay/Anthony Mundine-style boasts managed to offend the Hawaiian surfers (while the Bronzed Aussies – primarily Cairns and Townend – put many fellow Australian surfers offside, with their attempts to promote themselves to the mass media outlets).

As a result of all the chest-beating, on their return to "da Islands", they received beatings and very real death threats.

The film and its major identities, listed above, take credit for launching the pro era of surfing. A claim that made me consider whether the lessons of humility had been learnt 30 years back?

Certainly, along with Mark Richards, they were the standout, competitive surfers of the era, and the first "World Champions" of the pro series events launched by Fred Hemmings and Randy Rarick's IPS Tour. But were they the reason pro surfing exists today? It seems like drawing a long bow to me.

But, I recommend any surfer to see Bustin Down the Door for yourself and make up your own mind.

Photo of Shaun Tomson and Andrew Blakey addressing the gathering at Manly, by Surfinfo.com.au  

While shooting the photos for ALB#60 Lifestyle's Yoga story, Gwynne Jones told ALB she had planned a six-week program designed especially for surfers. It was held at Avalon surf club October-November 2008. Gwynne also has seasonal tune-ups going on all year round, so contact her on 0414 579 446 if you are interested in getting your body surf fit.

Took a lightning one-day trip to the Gold Coast offices this week to help Conor Quinlan put the finishing touches to the first ALB DVD.

Project X will come packaged with every copy of ALB#60, the issue that celebrates our 10-year anniversary.

We were kindly allowed to use footage taken by Greg McCarthy, Jim Brabant, Geoff Fanning and Katrina Ward, which Conor finessed into a tight, exciting DVD.

The original music is from two new artists, Mark Campbell and Kym Campbell, and its cruisey feel blends perfectly with the surfing.

Lots of action, with lots of surfers featuring, like Dave Simons, Beau Young, Grant Thomas, Jye Byrnes, Dane Wilson, Harley Ingleby, Josh Constable ...

Look for it with ALB Issue #60, on sale October 15.

Picked up a new Hyundai iLoad to use in Port Macquarie for the duration of the 2008 Oxbow Australian Longboard Titles.

Sure makes a nice change from the ALB kombi.

Full report on this iLoad in ALB#60.