Viva Lost Vegans!

As a special end to the trip the crew headed to Las Vegas to catch the Cirque du Soleil Beatles Love show, which was mindblowing.  However, it was equally devastasting to uncover that captive dolphins are held in The Mirage hotel in Sigfreid and Roy’s secret garden.

We made it our mission to stage a protest, and the sadness that hit me when leaving the strange city in the desert was nothing compared to what the dolphins must feel on a daily basis, day in day out, going round and round their tiny tank.  As surfers we can feel out of sorts if we don’t get wet for a while, but imagine being a dolphin and never experiencing the ocean, these marine mammals may well be born in captivity but they belong in the wild.

Captivity issues are something Women for Whales will be focussing on once our campaign for the South Atlantic Whale Sanctuary finishes in July 2012.  Thankfully the UK banned dolphinariums in 1993 but almost 300 whales and dolphins are held captive in European dolphinarims and zoos still to this day.  And worldwide there are nearly 200 establishments, of which the US, Mexico and Japan are the biggest culprits with the largest number of captive facilities.  Take a look at the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society for more information.

Wendy and I reunited in the jungle

Out of Vegas I took a one way ticket to Central America, where I would be spending the next 6 months in preparation for the International Whale Celebration #2.  Sincerely grateful to glimpse the ocean again, I was looking for warm water, challenging breaks and environmental projects and knew Costa Rica would be the place to start.  On arrival I was completely spoilt by my friend Nancy of Rica Surf, who took me surfing with her extensive local knowledge, introduced me to the local cuisine (gallo-pinto) and led me to some amazing waterfalls.  From there I headed onto Santa Teresa to be reunited with Wendy, who I used to team up with to run Roxy Girls Weeks in Morocco.  I settled into life here in Mal Pais, and have been teaching yoga, surfing my new Bing board, enjoying the nature overflowing all around and moving forward with the Women for Whales initiative (painting murals, visiting schools and holding events).

Tropico Latino's beautiful yoga shala

Wendy and I are excited to announce that we will be teaching retreats together at Tropico Latino featuring yoga, surfing and adventures in this magical place.  We can’t wait to share the amazing lifestyle, waves, surroundings and food the Nicoya Penninsular has to offer, we believe this to be the perfect setting for healing, relaxing and rejuvenating.  Whether its taking your yoga practice to the next level, giving some time back to your self or taking a leap of faith into something new – this retreat is suitable for both beginners and practicing yogis alike!  The dates are:

• April 8-14 & April 14-20 2012
• May 6-12 & May 12-17 2012

Picture perfect beach on your doorstep

The retreats will focus primarily on Quantum Yoga™ where students will learn about their own individual mind-body type (dosha) according to the ancient Indian healing system of Ayurveda, accompanied by yoga sequences to balance their dosha.

This will be teamed with restorative sunset yoga, incredible organic food, surfing lessons and sessions, and all situated one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

If you have any inquiries, you can drop me an email at natalievfox@hotmail.com or for more info go to Wendys Yoga.  We hope to see lots of SurfGirls there!

Until then I’m packing my bag and heading off into the jungle for a meditation course, then following my heart to where the whales are in the Osa penninsular!  Stay warm ladies, and if you can’t face the surf then check out the flights to Costa Rica where it’s always HOT!  Pura Vida xx

Not only do the ground crew keep the camp fed, watered, moving and stationed…there’s the logistics of coordinating a team of 20+ people, 5 kayaks, 2 RVs plus numerous surfboards around swell, rocks, tides, private harbors, naval bases, fog, wind and rain whilst in the land of RULES; California has a lot of rules!

It’s an understatement to say they’re doing a great job.

The other crucial aspects to TransparentSea are the music and art creations inspired by the voyage.  With talented musicians onboard – Will Connor and Band of Frequencies – the “Song a day” encapsulates all the trials and tribulations, highs and lows, the agony and ecstasy of life on the campaign trail.

Actress Isabel Lucas and her partner Angus Stone really add to this creative vibe and during the few days they join the crew help to create a beautiful Women for Whales/S4C/TransparentSEA dolphin mural on a perfect sea wall (narrowly avoiding getting busted by park rangers)!

On day 2 I’m very lucky to be joining Lauren Lindsey Hill on her Hobie kayak to sail from El Capitan to Hammonds.  From the kayak perspective things are so calm and clear – the Californian coast majestic and powerful, basking in the abundance mother ocean provides.

Why ever would humans want to destroy such natural beauty?

Lauren is such an inspiring woman to be around; she is passionate about issues such as gender roles within the surf industry and being the only female sailor is living up to her role as an ecofeminist.  After studying environmental science and then embarking on TransparentSea, it’s clear she has a true drive to make a difference, when most people are just content to just go to the beach and catch a wave.  I learn about the issues affecting this region – how Surf Rider foundation has been protecting the Gaviota coastline for years so that it is now the last undeveloped stretch in Southern California, a jewel that will only remain that way with constant pressure from SurfRider and locals.  The fact that all of California was once like this will become significantly clear as we travel down into more and more populated areas surrounding Los Angeles.

The Santa Barbara channel is also a migratory path for many large cetaceans including gray whales, humpbacks and the mighty blue whales.  With LA harbour being the 5th largest working harbour in the world, a spate of blue whale fatalities due to cargo ship strikes in 2007 led the Environmental Defence Centre to tackle the huge problem of ship speeds, lobbying for a deduction in ship speed from 22 knots to 10.  I can only hope and dream that we get to meet one of these creatures further along our journey, and that they have safe passage in these waters for the future.

Soon the wind picks up and the rolling swells send us into shore with whoops of joy and a heightened awareness and awe for our oceanic playground.

A certain songwriter by the name of Jack… Jack Johnson… is there to greet us as we land, but tired and exhausted I opt out of the sleepover with beach bonfire instead heading back to the campsite for a shower, Jacuzzi, red wine, tent and deep, deep sleep.

We move onto a fabulous state park called Leo Carrillo, in a canyon overlooking a right-hand pointbreak.  We’re getting closer and closer to the infamous Malibu surf break and the waves have started to pick up.  Leo’s right-hander is a bit of a mission with a tiny take off spot and crazy kelp intent on latching onto you, holding you back from any peelers that make it through the crowd unridden – so the next day we check out Malibu.  It’s longboard heaven!  And with only 30 or so people out it’s a quiet afternoon for the ‘Bu!

It is also the anticipated event at Malibu Inn, so we race to scrub up after our sunset glass session and enjoy music by “the freq’s”, Will Connor and special guest Catherine Clarke, art auction/exhibition and Minds in the Water screening.  A few high profile celebs also add to the Malibu mix in the form of rock legends Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters) and Rob Trujillo (Metallica).  A highlight of the evening is learning of 2 oceanic issues in the local area and being introduced to organisations dealing with these issues;

The Marine mammal care centre is the only hospital in Los Angeles County that cares for sick, injured and orphaned marine mammals, primarily seals and sea lions.  Not only does the Care Center provide treatment for Los Angeles County’s marine mammals, but it also has a multi faceted educational program, teaching the community about local marine life and the ecosystem.
Why they do what they do:

“Rehabilitating these animals is the humane thing to do…however there is also a lot to be learned from treating these animals.  By treating these patients, we are able to learn more about marine life and other endangered species.  Our team is also “oil spill certified” so we are able to handle oil spill treatment should we need to.”

The Malibu Lagoon is an ongoing local issue with opposing sides to the future of this natural habitat, home to many birds and fish including an endangered species – the Goby fish – it also has a build up of stagnant water and renovations have been ongoing for about 30 years.

The Malibu Lagoon is the terminus of the Malibu Creek Watershed, the second largest watershed draining into Santa Monica Bay. Receiving approximately 1.5 million visitors each year, Surfrider Beach and the Malibu Lagoon are iconic both within surfing culture and beach culture at large.  Previously used as a construction dump, then transformed into a baseball field, Malibu Lagoon is finally receiving the attention it deserves as an intrinsically valuable space.

However, controversy surrounds differing approaches of restoring, maintaining and maximizing biological health of the lagoon. Although opinions abound, two dominant management approaches emerge.

After meeting with representatives from Save Malibu Lagoon, Surfrider Foundation and Heal the Bay, it seems as though the management of Malibu Lagoon boils down to a matter of philosophical difference. Both camps are doing the best work they can with the information they have, but are operating from fundamentally differing philosophical positions of environmental science. The Malibu Lagoon Restoration Project, of Heal the Bay and Surfrider Foundation among others, was drafted with the underlying assumption that through scientific understanding, with maps, models and machines, we can renovate and rebuild entire ecosystems to improve their biological health. Groups like Save Malibu Lagoon, on the other hand, advocate a less heavy-handed (and slower) approach.

We have a special chance to visit the lagoon; learning more about its controversial restoration plans and later on, participating in a SurfRider beach clean leads us even closer to the realities of the lagoon – discovering a dead peli and pollution in the area first hand.   Once the beach is thoroughly swept and karma points are in the bag it’s such joy to spend the rest of the day surfing, hanging out at Malibu and enjoying the iconic surroundings!

We have a day or so left at Leo Carrillo and the team are feeling strong energies within the canyon with deer herds running through the campsite, talk of mountain lions and strange dreams infiltrating many people’s sleep.  We are invited to visit the local Chumash village, feeling it is an integral part of any journey to honour the ancesters of the land we are visiting.

After calling in the whales atop the canyon ridge overlooking the vast ocean, the time has come to move on…  with the full moon and the Chumash blessing, the kayak convoy decides to attempt the next leg in the night!  Setting off at midnight is a risk indeed, but the sailors have clear skies and mother nature on their side…  or do they?

TransparentSea: Part 3

TransparentSea: Part 4

TransparentSea: Part 5

Want to find out more? Check out these links for all the latest from S4C and Women for Whales.

www.transparentseavoyage.com
www.s4cglobal.org
www.womenforwhales.org

Santa Barbara & Malibu links;
www.surfrider.org
www.environmentaldefencecentre.org
www.marinemammalcare.org
www.healthebay.org
www.savemalibulagoon.com

Surfline Aawarticle

http://www.surfline.com/surf-news/surf-and-the-malibu-lagoon-restoration-project_54876/

Despite late lasting “June gloom” (when the warm Californian air meets the cool coastal waters to produce a constant fog) spirits were high as we left San Diego to join the whole crew at an incredible house in the Hollywood hills.  “The mansion” was the setting for (and the home of)  one of the worlds most renowned photographers who was keen to work his magic for Surfers for Cetaceans – simply offering his skills, services and support after watching S4C’s documentary Minds in the Water at a benefit screening in Malibu.

And so here gathered a collection of hugely talented artists, musicians, filmmakers, photographers and pro surfers, all united for the cause of dolphin and whale protection and ocean conservation, marking the beginning of the epic voyage that is TransparentSea.

As Roxy ambassador and co founder of Women for Whales, I am representing our small and relatively new organisation; a global collective of passionate females dedicated to making a peaceful for whales, dolphins and the oceans – whilst attuning into our exquisite connection with cetaceans, utilising our creative skills and embracing our femininity.  We have worked with Surfers for Cetaceans through the first International Whale Celebration in Jersey, UK which coincided with 63^rd annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission, a great partnering which opened up this very special opportunity for me.

It is an honour to be here, to be surrounded by such inspiring people, to be immersed in the Californian surf culture and to have the chance to meet the creatures of its coastline and enjoy its wonders.  We have already encountered dolphins, seals and heard that the blue whales have recently been spotted just 5 miles off the coast.  It is also crucial to be able to learn first hand about the plight of local marine life, and the issues facing coastal communities and areas. Creating events in order to highlight these issues and interact with local organisations and surfers is one of the many elements that makes this campaign unique.

After our Hollywood photoshoot we head straight to the beach to catch some peelers at the infamous Ventura surf spot, before following on to our abode for the next few days.  Our wonderful hosts Dan and Linda have opened their handbuilt wooden home, right on the ocean front to our crew which must be 20 strong.  Such generosity seems to be synonymous with Dave Rastovich and his merry band of vegan activists.

S4C urge the surfers and communities of Southern California to join us on our journey, including participating at events down the coast in Malibu, Dana Point and San Diego – and to keep track via the TransparentSea website.  The launch event was a huge success; held at Santa Barbara Maritime Museum it included a silent art auction curated by Andy Davis, live music by Band of Frequencies and Will Connor, whale tipi exhibition, screenings of Minds in the Water, talks from local SurfRider Foundation chapter and Environmental Defence Centre plus a special chance to interact with the team.  The sail assisted Hobie Kayaks set sail from Gaviota Pier on Saturday, celebrating the last undeveloped 20 miles of the Southern Californian coast.. the mist cleared, the sun came out and of course, the dolphins guided the sailors into the water and along their journey.

Who knows what else natures greatest resource has in store for us; I guess that’s where the adventure lies.

Photos: Dawe/Billabong

Sarah Beardmore stamped her authority over the three other finalists right from the outset of the ladies open final.  Her first high scoring wave came just as the sound of the starting horn was fading away.  Each time Sarah paddled back into the line up she dropped into yet another solid left hander which made it virtually impossible for the other finalists to overtake her high scores.  Sarah who is the current British champion was clearly elated to win the European ladies title.

In the longboard final were Ben Howarth from North Devon and Ben Skinner who was representing the Channel Islands.  The two British surfers dominated the heat with Ben Skinner taking full control with two stylish hang ten rides which rewarded him with very well deserved high scores.  Ben Howarth also put on an impressive performance which kept the two French finalists at bay meaning Skinner took first place and Howarth taking second place.  This was Ben Howarth’s first attempt at a European title and his noteworthy performances throughout the competition have put him firmly amongst the European elite.

Alan Stokes took to the water in the mens open final at low tide where the surf conditions were now less than favourable.  Alan stuck to his game plan and thanks to his exceptional arial manoeuvre came away with 3rd place with Spain and Portugal taking first and second place respectively.

The Irish as expected put on a tremendous week of events culminating in the team prize giving ceremony.  The English team were rewarded for their gritty performances throughout all divisions over the eight day event by picking up a fourth place trophy.  A jubilant Portugal took first place with Spain in second place and France in third place.

The Acorn English Surf Team consisted of, Mens Open; Alan Stokes, Tom Butler, Ollie Adams and Johnny Fryer.  Ladies Open; Sarah Beardmore and Gabi Rowe.  Longboard; Ben Howarth and Adam Griffiths.  Senior; Tyson Greenaway.  Masters; Mike Raven.  Mens Bodyboard; Rob Barber and Remi Geffroy.  Ladies Bodyboard; Tabi Fox.

The English Surfing Federation Chairman Andy Sturt personally thanked the team along with team manager Paulie Jeffrys and team judges Norman Wright and Arron Evans for their diligent efforts and outstanding team spirit.  Thanks were also given to the team sponsors for making it all possible: Acorn Blu, MOJO, Rowes Honda, Protest, Sanuk, Newquay Activity Centre, Adams Surfboards, Adventure Cornwall, Alder, Carve Surf Magazine, Carnmarth Hotel, Cornwall College, Down the Line, Kahuna Restaurant, O’Neill, Patagonia, Prosport Sunscreen, Seabase, Snugg Wetsuits, Sunset Surf Shop, Surf Check Live.

TransparentSea is an awareness campaign aimed at highlighting coastal environmental issues, with particular attention given to cetaceans (whales and dolphins) and the waters they inhabit.

The first journey (Byron Bay to Bondi, Australia, 2009) was conceptualised by world renowned freesurfer, Dave Rastovich and fellow Surfers For Cetaceans (S4C) co-founder and activist, Howie Cooke and successfully highlighted the plight of humpback whales and the threat faced by Japanese whaling fleets.

The second (California, October, 2011) traces the southern migration of the California Grey Whale from Santa Barbara to Baja, Mexico with an emphasis on engaging key coastal community groups and drawing awareness to the causes they support.

On the way the crew will come to port for four major regional events.  Each night hosting Minds in The Water movie screening, followed by live in concert Band of Frequencies, art show & auction all in support of Surfer’s for Cetaceans (S4C) and other ocean minded charities.

I’m extremely excitied to be heading out to the sunshine state this week to be reunited with Surfers for Cetaceans,  lending a Women for Whales hand to the incredible and inspiring journey that is TransparentSea.

Stay tuned on all things TransparentSea via the website and find out how you can do “your bit”!

Nat x

The view from South Fistral

Amazing swell has been hitting Cornwall from the tail end of the hurricanes. With bad weather expected we haven’t been treated too badly.

There’s been some sunshine which has been a novelty for September! Checking out the surf after work today was amazing.

I went for a run at sunset to find heaps of people out and about walking and checking out the stormy surf.

Probably 12ft+ at the Cribbar there was people enjoying the warm but windy evening and the giant waves. I love how the energy seems to make everyone come alive. There was definitely an electric atmosphere around the beach.

Really looking forward the the swell settling down so can get some good surfing in on the evenings.

The Cribbar

Base camp...

This weekend saw the return of the Red Bull Break 5′s team event. A personal contest favourite of mine and one of the best received events on the calendar.

Hitting it up with my partner in crime Miss Evans, we drove down the tiny track to Sandymouth, opening out onto an amazing contest site. SSSI rated National Trust land for location of this event meant not only was it set in stunning scenery, but we were about to witness something special.

For those of you unfamiliar with the idea behind it, it’s about getting back to your roots, about what surf contests used to be like back in the hey day, about kicking back and hanging with friends and cheering for your comrades.

The view from the bedroom/office/event control...

The team are made up of 5 surfers from differing age categories and disciplines i.e longboard, over 50′s, women’s, groms. The idea is that each team can have one pro surfer, and the other members get a ‘handicap’ points system to enable them to better, or come within good striking distance of the elite. The heats are mixed on the first day so girls surf against longboarders, against groms etc and the points system works out the rankings.

With one of the sickest set ups I have ever seen at a contest, and I thought last year was amazing, I knew a great weekend was going to ensue – laughter at my twitter frothage from Friday night was soon understood, as stragglers came in on Saturday morning.

With the usual contest luck it pissed it down. Not so bad if you are donning a wetsuit and off to smash some of the lumpy peaks rolling in. Definitely bad if you are trying to judge from deck chairs on the headland for high tide, and then having to stand behind the pop up tent to try and shield some of the vertical water from blinding you!!! Still, love a bit of extreme judging, it’s good for the soul!!!

To warm us up Red Bull provided food and water… obviously by water I mean fire water and when the bar opened at 5pm with free drinks tokens there was already a queue forming. Ensue lots of bad dancing, partial and full nakedness, dancing on tables and a bit too much Bromance going on (Cotty now infamously dry humping the Carve editors leg!).

Barter's caught stealing free Red Bull... or frightened the beaming light was Cotty setting his sights on his Bum (-blebart!) ?

The second day of event saw everyone surf in their own division. With some more partial nakedness taking place in the heats, and a noticeable lack of free surfers (more taken to sitting hungover on the bean bags then surfing in the howling onshores) it was down to crunch time for the teams. Every judges contest nightmare resulted in a tie for first place…. A surf off ensued between the A*S Bandits from Woolacombe, and Rip Shred from Newquay – with Richie Mullins already celebrating victory, or having hair of the dog, having to bow out of the surf off.

Queue howling onshore gales, the worst rain all weekend and the teepee nearly blowing away. Judging with clipboard in front of me to see through the water dripping down my face it was definitely an exciting final. We were right among the crowd with cheers for both teams from all around. The first exchange was amazing – Oli Adams getting probably one of the best waves I have seen in 2011. It literally came down to the final minute waiting for the last man standing, Stu Campbell, to catch and claim his ride. The sums were done and the whistle blown…. at the final wire the handicap scoring system worked it’s magic and A*S Bandits took home first place.

What a brilliant weekend… cannot wait for next year.

The winning team...

Following on a week later from the Boardmasters 6 star WQS, Fistral hosted the Quiksilver King of the Groms European final, followed by the 4 star ASP Pro Junior. Crowning a new European Junior Champion and Pro Junior champ with the last event of the calendar.

I got so carried away I forgot to take any photos – I know I know, CAN YOU IMAGINE ME WITHOUT MY CAMERA!!! Well that’s a little white lie, I was so busy trodding my well worn path from Boardmasters with score sheets, that I didn’t have time. I’d love to know how many miles I have walked around North Fistral over the last few weeks, have had to invest in a new pair of Celts!!! (Great excuse- right?) I’ve borrowed these photos from my good friend Ester Spears who also writes a blog so check out his musings at http://esterspears.wordpress.com/

Fistral did actually do it’s thing and we had waves for most of the week. The final unfortunately suffered from the curse of the contest and saw tiny onshore mush for the guys battling it out.

Was a superb atmosphere around the event and really great to see some top level surfing from the juniors, the Brit team was out in force showing that their time in France has been paying off. Hats off to Quiksilver for a brilliant contest (the party on the Sunday as the official launch for the Quiky Store at Fistral was amazing – DJ’s, Teahupo’o on the big screen, a BBQ and beers – an awesome way to round the week off!!!)

It’s back to the UK contest circuit for us all for now, with the summer break over. I’m off to practice my Fr-english, and dream of Nutella and cold beers, don’t think there will be any opportunity for me to squeeze a Eurotrip in amongst the last few contests of the year but you never know!!!

“ASP International is thrilled to bring the sport of surfing to China for the first time in history,” Brodie Carr, ASP International CEO, said. “China has already served as the gracious host for several successful sporting events including the NBA, the MLB, FIFA, the Olympics, and several others, and we’re thankful for the opportunity to bring the sport of kings to the Far East. We’re also ex-tremely pleased to be entering into this endeavour with Swatch and furthering their commitment to women’s surfing around the world.”

The inaugural ASP event in China, the SWATCH GIRLS PRO China will take place in the idyllic city of Wanning on the Island of Hainan.

“The City of Wanning is delighted and proud to host the SWATCH GIRLS PRO,” Ding shijiang Mayor of Wanning said. “It’s the first ever international surfing event in China, and the city will do its best to make it a success.”

This will mark the second partnership between women’s surfing and Swatch as they already sponsor the Swatch Girls Pro France, an ASP 6-Star women’s event.

“The Swatch Art Peace Hotel in Shanghai shows the importance of China and Art for the Swatch Group and for the Swatch brand,” Arlette-Elsa Emch, President of Swatch said. “Art is one of the three pillars of Swatch, along with Fashion and Sport. Emotions are a big part of all three pillars. Swatch is de-lighted to return to the island of Hainan. After being present with the Swatch Beach Volleyball World Tour events, we’re very excited to see the best Long-board female surfers competing in Wanning.”

The SWATCH GIRLS PRO China hosted by Wanning will take place on the Isl-and of Hainan from October 26 – 30, 2011.

For more information, visit www.swatchgirlspro.com

Armed with surfboards and beer we followed the Pacific Highway North and peeled off at Myall Lakes National Park to spend the night. A quick surf was in order to wash away the day’s driving and we found perfect peeling waves on Boomerang Beach, Pacific Palms. Once we’d tired ourselves out enough to sleep, we parked up on a quiet road and hoped that we’d make it through the night without being moved on. Thankfully the night passed with only the occasional possum to disturb us and we made a small detour to have breakfast on the beach. Eating bread and Nutella whilst watching whales cannot be beaten and we had to force ourselves to drive away.

We continued our trip North to a place called Yamba which is known for it’s prawns and surfing, close to the World famous Angourie headland. Having lived there last year for 6 months I was eager to return to perfect breaks and seafood! We wasted no time in hitting the water and paddled out at Turner’s Beach, where the Clarence River meets the sea. The waves were only a couple of feet high but the water was glassy, and we had the whole beach to ourselves with only a dolphin for company! We caught wave after wave, with both lefts and rights consistently coming through.

We spent the night at the Yamba YHA Backpackers, owned and run by a local family who are more than happy to tell you where the best waves are for your level. The evening was spent drinking beers and sharing surfing stories with other backpackers.

The next day we went out early for a surf at a beach called Pippi’s. The sandbanks couldn’t have been better and again we got perfect clean waves, great fun for longboards and mals! The afternoon was spent sailing on a yacht in the sunshine which is owned by a local who is always happy to take backpackers out for a spin.

Next stop was Byron Bay, a lively little town full of shall we say ‘interesting’ folk! The local population is made up of hippies and the smell of incense follows you around. We parked up in a camp site and went for a surf at Belongil Beach. Unfortunately our spell of good waves had come to an end and the beach was pretty much flat. We went out for a paddle but it was in vain as we decided to head back after half an hour of nothing. Drowning our sorrows in pasta, beans and yet more beers we called it a night.

As morning came we were up and ready to check the surf, hoping there would be more than the day before. Having checked Tallow’s, Main Beach and The Pass in Byron Bay and found nothing, we bought pies and headed for the Gold Coast. We took a detour into Coollangatta but again the waves were messy and not worth pulling on a wet wetsuit for.

Tweed Heads and Surfer’s Paradise offered us no more than Byron and so we continue North….