KEITH CURTAIN /

Keith Curtain is Publisher of ASB magazine and has worked in the surf industry all of his professional life. Prior to launching ASB in August 2004, Keith worked as national marketing manager of Reef Australia (1998-2004) and previous to that as national development officer for Surfing Australia (1992-1998). There he worked alongside Robert ‘Bushy’ Mitchell, Alan Atkins, Rabbit Bartholomew and Peter Whittaker during the formative years of ASP Australasia, and acted as team manager for multiple Australian representative surfing teams, including the 1998 ISA World Surfing Games in Portugal. He also worked at Surfworld and ran the Australian Surfing Hall of Fame Awards from 1992-1997. Keith holds a BA in Management Communications, majoring in journalism, market research and communications. Keith has worked in the surf industry for almost twenty years and in 2008 ASB received the Pioneer Award at the Australian Surfing Awards incorporating the Hall of Fame, acknowledging his hard work and commitment to surfing in all facets of the industry, ranging from retail to wholesale and publishing.

URCHIN ASSOCIATES /

Never underestimate young people in denim. Driven by the generation of ideas, Urchin Associates work in synergy to deliver high value direction and creative that is relevant to the clients’ strategy, authentic to the audience and professional in its delivery.

A creative agency with multi disciplinary skills ranging from strategic branding and analysis through to fully integrated advertising, design and products solutions. Urchin Associates clients span lifestyle, consumer, retail, architecture, arts and culture, music, entertainment, fashion, publishing and media industries. Notably, all the team at Urchin live and breathe these influences and are responsible for the creative direction of ASB.

JOCK SERONG /

Jock writes for ASB and Surfing World, raises happy children in southwest Victoria, and enjoys self-diagnosing on the internet in his spare time. He is very particular about fonts and thinks Century Gothic will make a comeback. Jock is especially fond of writing about himself in the third person.

BRENDAN MCALOON /

Brendan McAloon is an award-winning newspaper journalist cum television producer. He has written for Surfing World, The Surfer’s Path and Good Weekend magazines, has produced television programming from surfing’s ASP World Tour, snowboarding’s TTR World Tour and Australian soccer’s A-League, and produced and edited surf films, including Mick, Myself & Eugene. Brendan recently released his first book titled 'Deep Water', a surf/travel memoir presented by Surfing World magazine. Deep Water is an evocative reflection on McAloons years as a globe-trotting reporter on the ASP world tour and aboard 'The Search' to such far flung places Iceland, Ireland, Indonesia. California and Chile. Brendan lives near Bells Beach with wife Karen and son Felix on Victoria’s west coast.

CAZ RIDINGS /

Caz Ridings Emge is one of Australia’s most prolific surf journalists. She has spent the past decade spreading the love from Chick to Waves Surfgirl, Tracks to Surfing Life, and countless surf rags in-between, oblivious to the term “rival publications”. Caz runs Soul Arch Media & Marketing with her surf videographer husband, Dave Emge, and lives in Tugun on Queensland’s Gold Coast.

MICK LOWE /

ASB has joined forces with the former World Tour surfer, Michael Lowe, and the DRB Group to bring you Finance News. The DRB Group is a leading accounting and financial services group in Wollongong. Visit them at www.drbgroup.com.au.

TIM BAKER /

Tim Baker is a former editor of Tracks and Surfing Life magazines, and author of four books, including Bustin' Down The Door, High Surf and The Rise and Fall and Rise of Mark Occhilupo. He has twice received the Surfing Hall of Fame Media/Culture Award and been nominated for the CUB Australian Sports Writing Award. Tim lives in Currumbin on Queensland’s Gold Coast.

JOHN BLAKE /

John Blake is a sales expert and co-owner of award-winning sales training provider Blue Rocket Sales Solutions. He has 19 years experience in sales, selling apparel, sunglasses, accessories and footwear for companies such as Electric, Rip Curl, Volcom, Rusty and Oakley. Through Blue Rocket’s training programs he has helped manufacturers and retailers increase sales and profits, improve service, strategic planning and business development. John lives in Margaret River.

HEATHER BENSEN /

Heather Bensen is a freelance writer based in San Diego, California. She has written for USA’s Transworld Business magazine and various Wheelhouse Publications titles. She has over nine years experience in the surf industry, with a background in marketing and public relations, and enjoys surfing in a spring suit with booties.

JASON CHILDS /

Jason Childs is one of the world’s leading surf photographers. A renowned photojournalist with more than 20 years experience, he has worked for everyone from The Age newspaper to Surfer magazine, documenting news, natural disasters, surf action and advertising. Jason has been based in Bali, Indonesia, for the past 14 years.