I will not pass comment on this video, as it needs to be watched and felt. The only words I’ll leave you with are these from good friend and filmmaker Nathan Oldfield;
“Mark Twain said that there aren’t enough words in all the languages in the world to express the sorrow of losing a child. This is a short film I produced while grieving for my daughter, Willow, who was stillborn.
This short actually forms the centrepiece of a feature length surf film I made, called Seaworthy. Since the film’s release, I have received many heartfelt words of sympathy & encouragement. There have been scores of letters & emails from surfers from all over the world that have been sensitive & authentic & moving. I have been especially touched by the messages from those who have travelled their own grief journeys. I am awed & humbled that my work somehow resonated with others’ broken hearts.
A common theme echoed among the beautiful feedback I’ve received is that the story deserves a wider audience. Surf films, by definition, appeal to only a limited demographic, & the kind of surf films I make are left-of-centre even within surfing circles. So I decided to post this online, in the hope that it may reach a few others, especially those who may be living with loss & longing.
All of us experience & express grief in varied ways, which is a good thing since we’re all different. Because I’m a surfer, this is how I gave expression to my experience of bereavement.
Chad Kolcze is a busy, passionate man. Some might say a big kid. A big kid that writes Action Sports based kids books. I recently made a video with Chad about his passion. He is a single father of two, with a background in Snowboarding, writing, and works with the Uncle Project locally… I thought a few questions were in order, to find out more about Maiso the Action Mouse, Active Kids Books, and his new book, Surf Safari.
Chad, tell us a bit about your personal journey living in Byron Bay, and being a creative kids book writer?
A) Rad dad Chad found a hip pad in the land of Byron in 2004. A great place to write, where no one’s uptight, and creativity is your primitive right. I gained a degree or two, snowboarded less than I did do, and raised a boy who does Kung-Fu. The ocean clears my head, I teach to feed my kids the bread, but id rather create full time instead!
B) I used to spend Spring & Autumn in Byron whilst chasing a snowboard career, before finally making the move full-time with the upcoming birth of Maiso my son. I love the creative vibe and natural wonderland that this place offers, and i couldn’t be happier calling Byron Bay home. Its a great place to write and I feel privileged living here.
Have you taken a lot of the books inspiration from your own life?
Let me conclude the talks that go on at most book writing workshops/ festivals, ‘write about what you know’. And thats exactly what I did. Once my son came of age, and i could read him quality children’s stories, I noticed a lack of sport inclusive titles available. So I created Active Kids Books, which aims to fill this void. With the praise I am getting, Active Kids Books is doing just this plus more.
What do you think of Byron Bay as a “creative hub”?
Its a wonderful thing and should be encouraged. Only it hurts me to see so many creatives struggle financially. There is nothing wrong with a little healthy competition to keep us on our toes, but when I see people fold i don’t like it. When I make my billions, I will buy local land and initiate a creative community.
The books are Action Sports themed, where did this idea originate?
I wanted to give back and inspire kids. I’ve undertaken an athletics career, studied Sports Science and got a crash course in parenting. All whilst working with kids, running Boot Camp at University, and having a passionate tie towards surfing, snowboarding, skating and the arts. I used to write for snowboarding magazines, and my mate Jeremy Austin drew radical illustrations (whom is the illustrator for the AKB series), so I thought that was worth investing in, and here i am six years later.
What can the public expect next from Mr Chad Kolcze?
Its been ‘poetry on surfboards’ of late, trying to put together a collection of work for a local art show. I’m continually striving to chase down the aqua tunnel, whilst escaping the aqua luggie and lock in to the barrel (surf lingo). But in the pipeline, when I stop for breath after the launch of Surf Safari, you can expect to see AKB next title come out Shredding Snow, and the interpreted kids action-adventure TV show SCAMPER.
I wish Chad the very best in his creative pursuits. If you want to pick up your own copy of Surf Safari, or for the skate grommets, Skate Session, you can do so by visiting the AKB website; www.activekidsbooks.com, or pick one up locally at Book City and Retrospect Gallery in Byron Bay.
You can also follow Active Kids Books on Twitter and Facebook. Thanks for the good times Chad.
The video and photos were taken on a Nikon D7000, with the 35mm/1.8 lens and 18-200mm lens.
Late last year I did an incredible trip with Neal Purchase Jnr, Mick Waters and Dane Peterson to NZ. It sure has taken a while to post this as I was trying to get it published by a magazine. Thanks to the boys at the online surf magazine Drift, it’s now come to life.
“You looked me dead in the eyes at the food court and bailed to the gate!”. A man’s mind works one beat at a time. My pocket vibrated. Oblivious to the fact that my soon to be travel partner Dane Peterson, the photographer/wave-riding gentleman from California , was digesting chicken salad right in front of me. I so happened to be consuming the path ahead; depart for Auckland 9:15am, got my passport, whilst stroking my facial hair. The left handers where also wrapping down my coffee cup. The curse of “Peterson Threebeard”.
Flannel jackets hugged the crisp cool air as we exited Auckland Airport. The oxygen dry and crisp, a far cry from the airless underarms I brought from hometown Byron Bay. The fingers twitched. Our stomachs anticipated. The thought of left-hand water mountains, while we awaited the arrival of two more beards; independent filmmaker Mick “Muddy” Waters from The Pocket in Northern NSW, and the Gold Coast’s friendly surfer/shaping giant Neal Purchase Jnr. “Shweeet! Only had to pay $80 between us in excess”, Neal bellowed with childlike enthusiasm, “All aboard, goin’ left, yowzaaa!”. Dane knew it right there and then, this was a goofy-footers road-trip. No room to execute his forehand. The three-bearded compatriots honed in on iphone maps and digital swell charts. “One thumb equals 100 kms”, Purcho deciphered. “Off to be Shipwrecked Ye Peterson Threebeard”.
A slice of advice. Don’t measure distance with you thumb, especially on New Zealand’s roads, as we zig-zagged through cliche Hobbit lairs and Frodo Shires. Our Camper van was the Ring, a mothership that slept four, two adults/ and two children (it was tight). We mountaineered through the diversely beautiful terrain, Mick’s twinkling virgin eyes marvelled at the magic of New Zealand, whilst in flight with his concords…
To read more of the story, please visit Drift Surfing… hope you enjoy it.
The weekend in Byron Bay saw the waxing and waning of the Gibbous Full Moon, with the moon being it’s fullest at 4:58am on Sunday. I sure wasn’t getting up at 4am to see it.
But… something incredible does happen on the foreshore at Main Beach, on the edge of the sea, where the cars park, and people congregate. As the sun begins to fall, the rhythm can be felt through the ground, people from all walks of life are part of a beautiful movement, towards the rhythm, to celebration a day of life and the “Gibbous” as this day turns to night.
At first, I feel a little daunted in the large crowd of people. A bit of anxiety always creeps in, especially when you’ve got a camera in your hand. But as I sat down, taking a moment to let my own body loosen and the muscles dance, subtly letting the camera capture the beauty before my eyes, I was already part of a bigger family. Smiles and body a-move, fire-twirling, kids and their elders, bongo’s and percussionists, chants and laughter. Friends on the edge of the sea.
I’ve lived in Byron bay for 16 years now, and this experience always re-connects me with that Byron Bay spirit. The free spirit within.
Enjoy the photos and video. If your in next weekend, you might be so lucky to experience this for yourself. Johnny
Photos and Video captured on the Nikon D7000 with an 18-200mm lens.
INNERSECTION is an online video platform of visual submissions, by some of the best surfers and surf-filmmakers in the world.
The initiative is that of Taylor Steele and Nathan Myers and the winners of each round are decided by… YOU!
Good friend Dave Rastovich has put together a concept piece (which is very cool I will add), and decided to try his luck in competition. My other bearded mate Mick Waters (who made the clip) summed it up like this, ” We definitely threw ourselves into the frying pan with this one”.
Check it out HERE. If you want to vote for it, go ahead! They need all the help they can get. Enjoy the screen-grabs from the edit too.
johnny... abegg 
