MICK WATERS INTERVIEW | LITTLE BLACK WHEELS [12.02.2010]Industry

Mick Waters is a surfer, father of three and loving husband that knows what's good for his soul. Living on the outer skirts of Byron Bay on a little slice of heaven Mick and family decided to pack up the van and do a little re-connecting for a few months on the road. It was this trip that led to the birth of his recent little house product 'Little Black Wheels'. After watching the film, we were inspired to catch up with Mick and have a chat about Little Black Wheels, life on the road, and what's next...


image: seek and ye shall find...

Hi Mick, mate firstly congrats on the film. Loved it. One of the things I liked about your film is that you really captured your home town Byron in the light it deserves. Having lived up near Byron when I was younger I always had a love for the place but never understood why that was. I had my honeymoon up there early 2009 and instantly connected with the spot again. What do you think it is that has people so drawn to Byron?
I actually live twenty minutes away from Byron Bay in a rural setting, so I can only speak for myself and wife. We moved here to have children, we wanted the space to raise kids in a more simple, self-sufficient manner. Our little property is perfect for that and we are still close enough to to everything if needed. But, Byron Bay is many different things to many different people. It is a very special place and has been for many years. Locals, Surfers, creatives and alternatives have been living side by side and are part of it's fabric and make it what it is. There is a great variety of people and the climate is beautiful. Australia's most easterly point, the ocean, the mountains, the rivers and the rain forest. You can be surfing one minute and then half an hour later be swimming in a fresh water stream in the foothills. But, there needs to be some changes to people's attitudes on land and in the water or otherwise Byron Bay might become loved to death. We need to be conscious of just taking and make sure there is something left for future generations.

So you packed up the family after dealing with a family grievance and hit the road. Can you tell us how the journey unraveled over the next few months?
We definitely had a rough plan, with some dates pencilled in to arrive at and leave certain places and for appointments for my pregnant wife Susan. We were moving to a loosely planned schedule but each day was essentially different. It was great, we could decide to do nothing, take a walk, surf, read, eat, sleep, whatever. Life sometimes becomes too hectic and we had felt that feeling and hadn't had the chance to address our Family's grief. This trip was our way of doing that. It definitely had the desired result, and we still think of that trip everyday.

We came back fresh, feeling alive and with experiences you only get from being on the road. When we started the trip my wife was two months pregnant and within a month of us returning we had a new daughter Skye. The trip took our minds of things that were consuming us and made us reconnect as a family and find our way again. Plus, as a surfer I got to surf some of the best waves I have ever seen and all in our own country. What a blast!

image: The Waters family on their journey

I have to say after watching Kristian Spencers' section I wanted to pack it in, head west with a camper and start living off the land by a beach. Can you shed some more light on this guy?
Kristian Spencer is one of those guys every surfer has seen or someone knows of. They operate a little different to the rest of society and as a result find people are envious of their lifetsyle. We could all be living this way if we were committed enough, but not everyone is. I met Kristian at a particular spot we were camping at for 6 weeks. He was one of the first guys up every morning checking the surf. He would arrive in his 4WD with his dog and scope the lineup. He would then get out bare footed, go for a walk eating his grape fruit then would appear back at his car and be in his wetsuit, out the back and in the barrel before others had even turned their engines off. The thing with a guy like Kristian is, they do it regardless of where they are or whether someone is watching or not. Even before I met him or he even knew I was filming our trip, he was out there at low tide, having a go with the minimum of fuss. If there are no waves he is diving and catching fish for dinner or hanging with his dog. He loves barrels, fixing dings, growing his beard, flextails, Esperance, his vegie patch, his dog Fluff and his girlfriend Anna. Pretty simple, and that is the way he likes and lives his life.

You've obviously seen a lot of the coasts of Australia. Do you have a favourite spot?
A favourite spot. I don't like to name locations, just so I am welcome back to some of the spots I have been to. I know that might seem like a bit of a contradiction to some, like "he makes surf films, blah, blah, blah". I try to keep what I do low key and be respective of people and their waves and not just take. But, I will say I like regions. Anywhere relatively untouched and uncrowded. Cold, warm I don't care. Just as long as there aren't too many people, there are good waves and there is some where to have a beer around the campfire, then it is all good. And, the good thing is, Australia has a heap of these.

Got any advice for those that have dreamed about the great road trip but haven't put it into action yet?
The actual road trip is easy. That part is the fun bit where all your dreams, hopes and planning comes together. The hardest part is actually starting the trip. There will be many people who will tell you not to go or try to convince you otherwise. Heck, even your own mind will try to convince you no to. But, if your heart says so, and you have done all your homework, then go for it. You won't regret it for a second.

Is there a secret to all of this?
I don't think there are any secrets, just follow your dreams. If there's something you want to do and you believe in it, have a pure heart and are doing it for the right reasons then it will all work out.
images: Little Black Wheels

Any plans on another release anytime soon mate?
At the moment I am just concentrating on getting 'Little Black Wheels' out to everyone I can. That sometimes is just as much work as making the film. Especially, because I am independent with minimal budget, things take longer and are a little harder. Once I have pushed 'Little Black Wheels' and it is running it's own course, I have every intention of another release. I have just purchased a new camera and housing, so I can't wait to start shooting. As for what the new film may be about, there are no specifics yet. A few of the surfers who are in 'Little Black Wheels' are already interested in working together again, so that is a start. But, I just want to try and make a film that is a little different and a lot more nature based. As long as I keep improving and enjoying what I am doing then that is the motivation to keep going, because then all the other stuff will look after itself.

Thanks for sharing your journey with us and putting together such a well edited and shot film. There are some amazingly talented crew out there in the surfing world and we're stoked to help spread the word.
I hope this is OK? I hope the readers find it interesting. Thanks to mesurf and Ben for the opportunity to push my work. Much appreciated! If you are interested in any of this or more of my work, visit www.littlehouseproductions.com.au


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