Surf's him right

Al Gilbert, Surfer and structural design drafter for MW H Global

My job and my love for surfing fit each other well. Working for MWH Global and living and surfing in Manly, Australia, for many years has allowed me to experience firsthand the effect that continued improvements to our water and sewerage treatment facilities can have on the sustainability of our beaches.

When I was young I played cricket, baseball, golf and tennis. I was also a fairly good athlete. In fact I like a variety of sports, skiing, swimming and bike riding. I started surfing in 1973. I have surfed at many beaches along the east coast of Australia but as I live in Manly, most of my surfing has been at my local beaches.

The answer is no. Being tall is probably more of a disadvantage for competitive surfing. It is better to be shorter and more powerful.

The thing that I like about surfing is that it is a sport that you can do at any time of the year and generally in any weather, as long as there are waves to 'ride'.

Because I live near the beach, it is easy to tuck my surfboard under my arm and walk down for a quick surf and be back home again in a couple of hours. The great thing is you don't need to belong to a surfing club to ride the waves. The ocean is yours to conquer.

It does get cold but never so cold that it holds you back from the water. All you need to do is wear a full wet suit. The best part about surfing in winter is standing under a hot shower after an intensive session of surfing to thaw out.

I have only seen a shark in the sea once, but that was after I got out of the water. There are probably more shark sightings in summer when the water is warmer and when there are schools of smaller fish around for the sharks to feed on.

I didn't surf in Dubai. I didn't know that there were waves to surf on until I stayed here. The waves don't appear to be that big, but it looks like you could certainly have fun in the water with a longboard. Although I didn't surf in the ocean, I skied at Ski Dubai. The experience was amazing. One moment the temperature was 45 degrees (when I was outside the mall) and 15 minutes later, [inside Ski Dubai] the temperature was minus four degrees!

Manly is located close to one of Sydney's largest sewage treatment plants (STP), North Head STP. In 1990, the cliff face outfall was replaced by a deep ocean outfall located two to four kilometres offshore. This resulted in an immediate improvement in the water quality at Manly and surrounding beaches.

For many years, surfing and swimming at the local beaches meant putting up with constant ear and throat infections. The chemicals used in the treatment process could be smelt when in the water. There were 'solids' in the water, particularly after periods of heavy rain when North Head STP was unable to handle the increased flows. Grease on the shoreline was a major risk. Eighteen years on and the scene is entirely different. The water is clear and clean. MWH has been involved with many of the projects to improve operation and reliability of the North Head STP. An odour reduction project reduces dry and wet weather overflows from the sewer network and improves water quality in the waterways and on the beaches.

I went to France two years ago with a friend to bike ride and watch the Tour de France. Eight days of riding through the French Alps and bicycling up and down some of the biggest mountains I have ever seen, was just spectacular! The scenery was breathtaking and the trip was one of my most memorable experiences.

Snapshots

Gilbert gets to grips with some surfing lingo! S.A.S stands for... Surfers against Sewage.

Boardies or boardshorts are...quick drying, rash preventing shorts worn when surfing in warmer weather or anywhere you feel like it, really.

A barrel is... a wave that is hollow when it is breaking. For some surfers it's the be-all and end-all of surfing. Sometimes called a tube.

A longboard is... a surfboard that is over 8ft in length and has a rounded nose to allow walking the board and hanging ten (a term coined for a longboarding manoeuvre where the surfer puts the toes of both his feet over the end of the surfboard.)

A leg rope is... a cord that attaches a surfer's board to his leg.

The most serious crime in surfing is... called a "drop in". Surfing is based on a system of priorities with the surfer closest to the peak, or where the wave is breaking having priority.

A drop in is... where another surfer catches the same wave with complete disregard to the other surfer.

A thruster is... the name for a board with three fins. It was invented by an Australian, Simon Anderson in the 1980s.

Wax is... what you rub on your surfboard to give it grip.