PETER McCABE …

Newcastle's Peter McCabe was one of the early pioneers of Indonesian surfing. During those uncrowded Indo days, he surfed alongside some of surfing's biggest names and colourful characters. Peter is credited with being the first to surf Padang, and alongside his good friend Jerry Lopez shared many epic, empty lined-ups at Uluwatu and G-Land. Many of these sessions were captured on film. Peter also established his name as one of Newcastle's premier board shapers, learning his trade under Sam Egan. In the 1970's, he established his own Tradewinds label where he is still shaping today. Peter also has an impressive contest record having placed second to Mark Richards in the Aussie Junior titles in 1974 - and followed up the next year with fifth place in the men's division. He has appeared in many surf movies such as Tubular Swells, Storm Riders and All Down the Line.

CORKY CARROLL

... CORKY CARROLL is a name many older surfers will easily recognize. Accepted as one of the first professional surfers rising out of the Californian surf scene in the late 1960's and 70's on the back of his natural talent and contest successes. Winning three USA titles, third in the 1966 World Championships, competing in the 1968, 1970 and the 1972 World Championships, where he made it through to the finals. Being a talented goofy-footy and full of charisma, Corky featured prominently in the major surf magazines and movies of his era. And what movies they were: Endless Summer, Pacific Vibrations, and Five Summer Stories. Corky has lived a big life - a big surfing life (with a few deviations) that has supported him right through the decades. These days, he lives in Mexico, his heart still attuned to surfing, his eye never far from the ocean, and fulfillment found in painting. It was not just a pleasure, but fun for Keith to interview him on this episode of SURF TOWN.

DAVID PARKES ...

Kneeboard maestro (six Australian Titles and one World Masters Title) and renowned kneeboard shaper (forty plus years experience) David Parkes is Keith's special guest on this episode of SURF TOWN. With a life immersed in kneeboarding, David's name is synonymous with Australian kneeboarding surfing - and shaping. After requiring the Friar Tuck brand in the 80's David diversified his shaping profile under his own name of Parkes. Both labels are popular, with demand still high. With a lifetime of experience in the water and shaping bay, David is well placed to speak with considerable depth about kneeboarding in Australia today - and internationally. Suffice to say that kneeboard surfing is alive and well. Its media profile may not be high, yet kneeboarders (affectionately called kneeos in Australia) are passionate surfers who are more than happy to slip under the radar. For some, it's surfing's best-kept secret.

JOHN ODGEN Part 2 ...

Want to know about surfing's dark subculture in the late 60s and early 70's? Then John Odgen's new book STONE FREE is for you.


John joins Keith on SURF TOWN once again to talk about the book's story of Warren 'Abdul' Anderson's extraordinary life. It's a book described as an elegy for a vanished world - untamed, unrepentant and unforgettable. And it certainly is, as STONE FREE is much more than Abdul's story. It's a window into the free-wheeling, hippie/surfer lifestyle of the late 60's and early 70's. During those years some surfers ran a lot freer than others, choosing to supplement their surfing lives on tropical islands with daring, large-scale marijuana scams running into the tons - and worth millions of dollars. Warren was a kingpin of those scammers, but was ultimately betrayed, caught and jailed. As inmate 52260-098 he served twelve years behind bars sharing time with one of surfing's most infamous characters, Miki Dora. The book's arch is big, bold and compelling.

... John's Australian east coast book tour, sharing stories about those early surfing days and selling the book are:

1. Friday 23 January, NRMA Angourie Resort, YAMBA. 6pm

2. Wednesday 28 January, Lennox Hotel, LENNOX HEAD. 7pm

3. Thursday 29 January, Love St, COOLANGATTA. 6pm

4. Friday 30 January, Crawford Gallery, BYRON BAY. 6pm

STONE FREE can be ordered online here: https://www.cyclopsproductions.com.au/shop/p/p77dl7789xdk2y3wqu18cfsp8hcjdf

THE AUDACIOUS SURF TALES OF VLADIMIR BORIS WAXANOV. Story # 9 ...

Vladimir has surfaced! But unfortunately, only very briefly. Keith confirms that while speaking with Vladimir recently, exchanging Christmas greetings, their conversation was abruptly cut off. Vladimir had just landed in London and called Keith while standing in line between immigration and customs. He sounded light-hearted - until. Suddenly, serious voices could be heard asking Mr Waxanov to step out of the line and to come with them. Then beep beep beep, the call went dead. In the short time that they chatted, Vladimir asked Keith to read "THE MISSING SURFBOARD," one of his favourites. As they say in coffee shops and bistros these days ... enjoy.

2025 SURF TOWN WRAP

Whilst the listening base of SURF TOWN has grown this year, reaching 42 countries across 174 cities/locations, the real thrill for Keith has been the guests that he has had the privilege of interviewing over the last twelve months. Our sport has a deep culture and lifestyle that has defined so many people. To chat with some of them and to hear their stories and stoke really does highlight that. Listeners feel it too, tuning in from countries like Bangladesh, Vietnam - indeed from every continent. So a big thank you to all our guests and listeners across 2025. With more guests already lined up for 2026 it promises to be another exciting year. The best of the holiday season to all our SURF TOWN listeners and guests from the SURF TOWN team of Keith and Lee. See you all next year.

MICK BERRIDGE ...

Not many Aussie surfers can say they have surfed in the deep, frigid north of the Atlantic Ocean. We’re mainly warm water creatures who mostly head into the Pacific or Indian Oceans for our tropical surf adventures - certainly not into the icy Norwegian coastline, that's for sure. And definitely not to surf amongst Orcas, floating ice in sub-zero double figures … and most definitely not in the dark of the night under northern lights. But SURF TOWN’S guest Mick Berridge had. And lived to tell his tales.

DAVID BELL -

David is the producer and presenter of the surf-themed CRESCENT SWELLS surf radio. With over 174 shows, David digs deep to produce a weekly radio show featuring traditional surf guitar and drums, reggae, and indie/roots music heavily infused with the feel and sound of the beach lifestyle and music. CRESCENT SWELLS features many new artists that may not have the chance to be heard on mainstream radio. Whilst currently heard on three Australian east coast community radios, CRESCENT SWELLS can also be heard on the mixcloud streaming service found on the World Wide Web https://www.mixcloud.com/david-bell45/. It’s still early days for David’s surf music show, but with so much great music showcased, it’s not unreasonable to envision that surfers across our global surfing landscape will be tuning in en masse for an injection of audio surfing soul. Along with a discussion concerning how CRESCENT SWELLS started, David also shares how he discovered surfing and its impact on his life.