LIVE THE DREAM

Former Australian surfing champion Richard Harvey is back doing what he loves, creating great boards and works of art, with his latest venture Harvey Surf Gallery at Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast. Harvey Surf is a fusion of surf shop and art gallery which showcases Richard's love of the ocean...

As a teenager growing up on the northern beaches of Sydney in the 60s, Richard once told a truant officer that he didn't have to go to school because he was a professional surfer. The reaction from the officer summed up the mood of the day when he said "what's a professional surfer." But even back then Richard knew he was drawn to the ocean, the lifestyle and the surf industry - of which he has been a part ever since.

Richard has lived through the heart of the evolution of surfing in Australia. He started learning about the ocean and its power as a boy on holidays at Manly in the 50s and 60s and later when his family moved to Mona Vale on Sydney's northern beaches. In his late teens Richard joined the local surfriders club and began his competitive surfing career. He competed in events across the country and in 1973 went on to win the Australian title. This of course led to surfing competitions in Hawaii like the Pipe Masters and The Duke Kahanamoku Hawaiian Surfing Classic.

His desire to surf the best waves in the world has taken him all around the globe. But Richard is probably best known for uncovering some of the classic breaks at Bali before it became popular. He once paddled and walked his way back from Uluwatu to Kuta along the coastline discovering the magical surfing playground that is now known as Padang Padang.

The Road from Uluwatu to Mt. Agung

Richard has more than 40 years of shaping experience which he uses to create his hand-crafted boards. His shaping career started as a teenager in Sydney in the 60s when he used a saw to take the front two feet off a nine-foot board which he then used in the New South Wales Championships. His 'Ugly' board, as it became known, drew plenty of laughs but the turns kept coming and he went on to take third in the event. His idea spawned his enthusiasm for shaping and he has since gone on to shape thousands of boards in Australia and around the world. Nowadays his focus is on designing and making handcrafted boards that stand out from the mass-produced machine-shaped boards of the modern era.

Richard's paintings and artworks reflect his love of surfing and the ocean. They range from modern contemporary style paintings on canvas to classic seascapes and timeless images of surfers on waves. He is also a keen photographer with an eye for a great shot.

Still an accomplished surfer, Richard enjoys getting out amongst the beach breaks of the Gold Coast when time permits. His busy agenda of painting, photography, writing and shaping keeps him enthused and inspired. So the Harvey Surf Gallery should be just the place for him to show case all his latest creations and enable him to continue to live the dream.

A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY

A picture is worth a thousand words, but if you want a little reading then SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE Volume One is a limited edition book with a collection of story's that capture most of what was going on in my early days of surfing. Volume Two is under way and will cover more adventures. Stay tuned...

Whenever the waves were up there would always be a few of us watching and discussing the pros and cons of the conditions. What time the tide would be the best, which direction the wind and swell were coming from and what was going to happen tomorrow. Of course, in true surfing style, someone would always bring up how good it was yesterday. Which in turn would invariably lead to surf tales, some true and some coloured to enhance the details.

The stories over the years became wide and varied and no matter which group there was gathered, whether on the beach at Pipeline, Hawaii, or standing under the tall Norfolk Pines in the park overlooking the point at Burleigh in Queensland, tales would arise of great adventures, some terrifying and others so inspirational that they made you want to go on a discovery of your own.

Every surfer I have ever met had a story or two that was worthy of telling, so I thought I should do my part in capturing the stories that have contributed to creating a wealth of history and culture of our life and times.

These are some of the adventures I've had over the past 40 years, of late venturing away from the awesome power of distant surf breaks to the dry powder snow mountains of Hokkido. Whenever an opportunity would arise, I would pack boards bags and camera and head off to wherever the Spirit of Adventure would lead. Always open to be bombarded with the experiences, sights and friendships that make us who we are.

Over the years I have been privileged to have many photographers who have captured my surfing journeys. In particular, two lifelong friends have made major contributions to the collection. Bruce Usher and Dick Hoole are both extremely talented photographers. Dedicated to standing for hours behind the camera waiting for that once in a lifetime shot, while myself and others have enjoyed some of the best waves the world had to offer. Here are some pics.