Back from the mythical North Shore of Oahu and what an almost life changing (not to mention life endangering) trip was had. Great, great waves, great people, great place....just great really! Way too much stuff was going on there to throw it all in here so I'll get something on the 'Tales from the Tube' page soon. But a couple of highlights included watching Pancho win the Backdoor Shootout (pictured right. More superb pics can be seen at www.surfphotos.com), surviving Rocky Point, The Bodysurfing Champs at Pipeline, surviving Haleiwa, the Bodyboarding Champs at Pipeline, surviving Ehukai, meeting up with Jeff Bushman (and getting some boards off him!) and generally surviving each session. The turtles in the lineup, the whales breaching out back, watching the tow-ins at Phantoms, the rainbows, the moonbow, getting drilled on the reefs, aah all just great. Dave (Ortiz) and Ben (Ruben) were getting into it on their bodyboards along with Jeff. All of them getting into some meaty barrels. Safa transplant Mark (Johnson) and Gary were standing up to Sunset and leftovers, Duncan was happy getting it on at Freddie's, I enjoyed a couple of good thrashings at Rocky's and just loved the reefs the other side of Haleiwa, while we all seemed to enjoy the (relatively) more tranquil Pussy Point (aka Pua'ena Point). Funny how everyone just gets settled in their favourite little spots. Good too to hook up with Ollie Howe out there on his round-the-worlder as well. And he was charging. What is it with British bodyboarders? Generally you can spot a Brit standup abroad as, lets face it, with only a few exceptions our standard isn't quite as high as elsewhere. But the spongers are right up there internationally. And the longboarders. Oh, and here's the view from the balcony.