LOCAL BLOKE… PAT CAHILL FROM BONDI BEACH

By James Hutton on October 5, 2017 in People

When local surfer Pat Cahill isn’t running the show out at Tama Reef, you’ll find him play- ing with the immense quiver of surfboards at his Bondi surf shop, Sunburnt Mess. Pat shares his local faves with The Beast…

How long have you lived here?
I’ve lived in the Eastern Suburbs my whole life, but I’ve lived next to the beach in Bondi for the past ten years.

What’s your favourite beach?
Tamarama and Mackenzies Bay. It’s home, and although most
of the time the waves are pretty average, it does get fun from time to time, and there’s a good crew to surf with so that makes up for it.

Where do you like to have a drink?
North Bondi RSL is always good for a sunset beer.

What’s your favourite eatery?
There are so many options. Post surf, the bacon and egg roll at Deluxe is dangerous. Porch and Parlour or Drake for dinner are pretty epic too, and Mojo’s for tapas and sangria.

Best thing about the Eastern Suburbs?
We’re lucky to have the beaches and coastline right on our doorstep.

Worst thing about the Eastern Suburbs?
The traffic on Bondi Road does my head in.

Do you have a favourite sporting team?
A few of my crew are into fantasy surfing, so whoever is on my team for that. I like the NRL, but I don’t follow any specific team.

What music are you into at the moment?
Dinosaur Jr., The Cure, Ariel Pink, Nothing, Brand New, White Fence, Warpaint, The Go- Betweens, and Joe Strummer, to name a few.

Who is your favourite person?
That would be my girlfriend, Tina.

What do you get up to on the weekends?
I work over the weekend but I’ll usually try and sneak a late surf in, and then catch up with friends for dinner and drinks afterwards.

What do you do for work?
I own and run a surf shop down in Bondi called Sunburnt Mess. 
We specialise in custom and alternative-shape surfboards, plus all the extras you need to keep you surfing. I also work a couple of days up at Surf Culture, Bondi Junction.

What’s your favourite thing about work?
I wanted to create a space where surfers can come and check out different surfboard designs and share knowledge and ideas with each other. Surfers are an eclectic bunch, and getting to meet so many interesting people who you become friends with and learn from is great. I love it when a customer comes back from a trip and says their new board is “the best ever.”

Any other words of wisdom for readers of The Beast?
Be excellent to each other, and if you see any trash on the beach, pick it up!