Having spent the last week on my coffee table, i must say Harvie Allison's new book is a must have for any paddler who enjoys great photography and terrific action shots. The pictures tell the story of the Vaka Eiva races, the people, the canoes and the cultural ties that bind it all together
Some times i find it hard trying to explain to non paddling people, that outrigger paddling is more than just a sport, well now i can just hand them this book and say, this is what i do. It's all there, the heart and soul of Outrigger Canoeing .. Cook Island style.
You can order them from Harv's website http://www.harvpix.com
The book is getting rave reviews in Rarotonga ... and why not they luv him.
I'm drifting back to Paradise via the coffee table, can't put that damn book down.
Cheers Rambo
Submitted by Rambo on Wed, 04/02/2008 - 12:39pm
Its so cool to see paddling as an over all lifestyle,I also viewed his book on lifesavers and the way the Queensland coast has made the lifesaver as a total lifestyle as well...its huge in Australia.I was a lifesaver on the biggest fresh water beach in the world which funny thing has it is in Canada "Wasaga Beach" for over four years.Canada nor the U.S has anything like what Australia has in the way of lifesaving as a lifestyle, wish it had since I loved my job as a lifeguard .Its great being a waterman and Australia has many of the best due to lifesavers ...aloha
#1 Thu, 04/03/2008 - 3:35pm
check out this link enough said ...
http://www.slsa.com.au/default.aspx?s=mediacentre
#2 Thu, 04/03/2008 - 3:48pm
eddie, you'd be really interested in this video on rambo's blog.. crazy aussies
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2889175106050464474&hl=en-AU
#3 Thu, 04/03/2008 - 7:13pm
i eat stuff like this up thanks dacho...only thing close to that here in Hawaii is the Buffalo outrigger surfing competition.next year i would like to buy a 4 man outrigger just to do the race...can you tell me when they have these races so i can travel 9hrs. by air just to watch it for real.we have a Canadian in our club who lived in Australia and is a good friend of Rambo's both of us had a good laugh tonight at practice over just this type of craziness..he already misses Oz.you know being a lifesaver myself i can embrace the courage and fitness it takes to do crazy stuff like this...cheers
#4 Thu, 04/03/2008 - 9:02pm
Eddie .. Have a look at the Ocean Thunder pics on my site, some gnarly pics ... I've been Surf Life Saving official photog for 20 years & supply everything they use .... www.harvpix.com
Harv
#5 Thu, 04/03/2008 - 10:22pm
That video is truely crazy. Only in Australia!!! Who rescues the rescuers?
#6 Fri, 04/04/2008 - 5:50am
harv, the pics are nuts... can't figure what's more nuts, the paddling into the waves or the guys wearing the tooth floss
#7 Fri, 04/04/2008 - 7:10am
Why use the rowboats?
#8 Fri, 04/04/2008 - 12:59pm
harv the pictures look great, i need to buy these two books .how can i get my hands on a few copies. bad you did not come over here to Hawaii to take some pics of us local kine paddlers since we are just as crazy .are the boats called dories ? what do they call the boats they use, and i wonder if i could jump on board and hull some ass with some fellow lifesavers from down under ? god it would be crazy to have Rambo in the boat, i can see him jumping for his life now crazy man he is.
#9 Fri, 04/04/2008 - 1:45pm
Jim, the rowboats were what they used to save people swept out in the surf rips before jet-skis and rubber duckies were invented. Now it's just a sport to carry on the tradition and attracts huge sponsorship, mostly from Breweries. (Surf boat rowers are BIG drinkers)
Harv is the Top Dog Photographer for the SLSA, and in his spare time he makes Tiger Canoes under licence. (Pahoa, Mahoe OC2 etc) and shoots riggers for the love of it.
Eddie, i have never intentionally deserted ship. I go down with the boat, safer that way, like a cocoon.
Eddie i think Harv has an Agent for the books in Hawaii, will check with him and post back.
So was Al Gartner in your crew Eddie?
Cheers Rambo
#10 Fri, 04/04/2008 - 5:52pm
yes Al is in the old goats boat with me this weekend...we have a strong masters crew as well as open so Al has his shot since one of our guys has to work,he is a very good mate.we keep you up with the result to our efforts...aloha
#11 Fri, 04/04/2008 - 7:40pm
i could see myself as a surf boat rower...being Canadian I love to drink beer ...
#12 Fri, 04/04/2008 - 7:42pm
This is a great book and the calendar is cool too!
Way worth the money...Thanks Harvie!
#13 Thu, 04/10/2008 - 6:26am