Introduction
Contest coverage from the world tour includes the Waimea 5000 in Brazil  and Grogs Seaside Pro in New Jersey.
The header is a photograph of Rabbit Batholomew, taken during a previous Hawaiian winter, probably at Sunset Beach and possibly riding a Lightning Bolt Stinger.
On the local scene, is a report (under the pseudonym of Crass Craddock) on the annual Newcastle Mattra contest.
The article included radical shots of senior champion Mark Warren and junior champ, Tom Carroll; as well as the junior runner-up, Ant Corrigan, excuting a stretch-five nose-ride, rare for 1978.

Bob McTavish contributes a short article warning of the perils of legal contracts, advising potential customers to purchase his designs from Sky Surfboards.   

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Rabbit, photo Don Blanch. Waimea 5000 - Rio De Janero, Brazil ... RESULTS 1. Cheyne Horan (Aus):  $4,000 2. Peter Townend (Aus): $2,000 3. Cauli Rodriguez (Bra) - Hans Heiderman (Hi): $800 5. Ian Cairns (Aus) - Buzzy Kerbox (Hi) - Michael Ho (Hi) - Critter Byrne (Aus): $400 Cheyne Horan, Photo: Martin Tullemans Grogs Seaside Pro - New Jersey, United States ... RESULTS 1. Wayne Rabbit Bartholomew (Aus): $3,000 2. Pat Mulhurn (USA): $1,500 3. Michael Ho (Hi) - Shaun Tomson (SA): $750 5. Peter Townend (Aus) - Bobby Owens (Hi) - Jeff Crawford (USA) - Buzzy Kerbox (Hi): $400

1.    Wayne Rabbit Bartholomew (Aus)  4518
2.    Cheyne Horan (Aus)  3536
3.    Peter Townend (Aus)  3236
4.    Michael Ho (Hi)  3060
5.    Shaun Tomson (SA)  2866
6.    Bobby Owens (Hi)  2165
7.    Buzzy Kerbox (Hi)   2045
8.    Michael Tomson (SA)  1871
9.    Mark Richards (Aus)  1796
10. Jim Banks (Aus)  1743

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Seniors 1.    Mark Warren    $1000 2.    Derek Hynd     $500 3.    Peter McCabe $250 4.    Steve Butterworth $175 5.    Greg Day $150 6.    Peter Harris $125	Juniors 1.    Tom Carroll   $400 2.    Anthony Corrigan  $200 3.    Steve Campbell   $100 4.    Richard Cramm  $75 5.    Roy Steyne  $50 6.    Steve Wilson $50	Kneeriders 1.    Terry Day   $150 2.    David Parkes  $100 3.    Peter Crawford  $75 4.    Greg Best   $65 5.    John Waterworth  $50 6.    Craig Mattson  $50
Mark Warren defying gravity at Merewether. Photo: Aquaware	Anthony Corrigan stretches five for second place in the juniors. Photo: Simon Chipper	Believe it or not he made it! Tom Carroll was clear cut junior champion.  Photo: Simon Chipper

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A FEW WORDS OF ADVICE TO ALL YOU HOTTIES FROM ONE WHO WAS - AND GOT IT IN THE NECK by Bob McTavish There'll come a time when your name's been splashed round a bit, and people start to talk to you a bit different, even listen when you speak. Strangers say "Hi!" to you on the street, surf businessmen rub shoulders with you and dollars start to make good sense, sliding right in there along with your inflating ego. After all, you think, if you're that good at something, why not get paid for it? The reasoning is shallow however, since in it lies the seeds of destruction of pure surf pleasure. But what the heck - pure surf pleasure went out the window the very day you thought you were better than so-and-so and maybe you were that day; but there are so many days - and so many so-and-sos seem to care . . . but that's another story. This one is about those dollars. And how to keep your sanity. It consists of one, and only one surf tip - How To Sign Contracts. Several years ago I signed a contract thinking it was for three years and assured me of a modest weekly income for my family. It was kind of modest - nearly making a living out of shaping and although there was one lean winter a nice $1000 bonus trip to Hawaii filled in the hollows. It worked out reasonably until a better offer came along from the shop across the street and it became time to quit. Suddenly out of the blue came the mystery clause which says I'm bound for life - Oh, sure, I'd heard the contract read out loud before I'd signed, but then, I'm not a solicitor. After a lot of headaches and afternoons in legal offices, the threat of the contract kind of loses its punch. It wouldn't hold up in any court of law, say a couple of hot-shot legal men

Then comes the next trick.
I'm still not free of the contract.
They've registered my name as a business, they say.
Just try to stop us using it, they say.
The sign on the factory constitutes a trademark, they say.
We'll manufacture boards under your name, they say, without you even touching the blank.
Until you stop us legally, they say.
Very expensive.
Very dirty.
Well, after that little lot here's what I want to say.
First, don't buy a Bob McTavish surfboard unless it's got a SKY sticker on it as well as my name.
 If it hasn't got the SKY logo, it could be one I shaped before I left the original contract holders.
 If in doubt, ring SKY on (066) 85-6433 and check if it's authentic.
Secondly, if you're a hottie and someone pushes a contract under your nose, get a solicitor, your solicitor, to read it through and explain it to you before you sign.
Don't ever sign until you've made this simple step, no matter who you're signing with.
It can save you a lot of hassles in years to come.
All you have to do is keep it fun.
Things like this could make you bitter.
I'm not bitter about the whole thing, not a bit.
But you and I can both learn from my mistake.
"Better is the end of a matter than the beginning."

Bob McTavish probably needs no introduction - he's been one of Australia's most respected shaper/designers for more than a decade and has been making surfboards for the past 17 years.
1978 finds Bob specialising in down-the-liners, guns, and refined Malibus (7'4"- 8'3") for fun and frolics in surf up to head high.
Here Bob outlines some of the pitfalls you might be able to avoid if you ever have to sign a contract . . .

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