Watch: Cape Solander // The view from the end of the rope
At the risk of setting off another fiery thread...
Here's Cape Solander this time last week when the period and size jumped making it, not exactly tow only, but with sets that definitely hit the threshhold.
Funny old place, the Cape, where paddlers tow and vice versa, and to a large degree everyone gets along. It's been that way for twenty years. I might be wrong, but it seems most (all?) of the outrage happens online.
Comments
Everyone's got along for 20 years?
https://jake-dean.com/lifting-the-lid-on-australias-most-controversial-s...
"to a large degree"
What you are saying Stu is just what I had suspected all along.
But what do I know, coming from quieter parts of the country.
I haven't surfed it for a long time but I used to get out there a bit and it was always an eye opener when the tow crews rocked up. Place would stink, you'd be unnerved by how close they'd come before veering away, and the skis would distract at a wave that really needs focus, yet no-one else seemed perturbed by it.
Perhaps because many of them also owned skis, or took the opportunity when thrown the rope? Can only assume. Anyway, it's a tight-knit crew and they seem to sort things out themselves.
Guess some of the BBers get uppity, and not without cause.
Looks like Tim can add destroying local flora to his resume, that track he blazed in a national park will end up a meter wide and there will be another bunch of guys doing the same thing next time (same happens all over north point bush too, photogs walking all over plants to get that "unique" perspective) - clueless city folk or just selfish cunts? You decide, but jeeze nothing like some stupid plants can get in the way of filming your mates towing through paddling surfers for social media fame.
It didnt look like the paddlers were struggling to catch waves so calling bullshit on that excuse too (go Kirk!).
Tim has a long history of bringing people to film and surf at other peoples breaks, his thick skin and the fact he sucks up to the tough cunts or the local sponno brigade so he can do this doesnt mean he is any less hated by the rest of the surfers he is fucking over with his actions.
As for the selfie stick selfie talk while hiding in the bush .....
Agree. Its a national park for a reason - to preserve the native flaura and fauna. Your just stuffing it up to earn some cash. Just like every other greedy environmental vandal.
dudes runs his own race and that's cool but he has no respect and is tight as a fishes ass hole.
Guys, c'mon. It's not like he used a chainsaw or anything
Skis around paddle surfers is like a red flag to a bull round here. I accept the idea that perhaps some of the locals at Cape Solander don't mind jetskis but I'm guessing that the people that do mind have gone somewhere else.
I'm generally a pretty mild mannered fellow, but jetskis are one thing that really make me lose my shit. I farken' hate them. I hate the noise, the smell and the general fucktard nature of some of the people that drive them. On planet Spud they'd be all chucked into a giant purpose built machine and shredded. Their owners would be sent to re-education camps where they'd undergo intensive psychological realignment using techniques banned by various UN conventions. Upon release they'd spend two years under intense supervision by mentally unhinged ex-Stasi operatives.
So yeah, it's the subject I love to hate. On a positive note though it does add some interest to my otherwise crushingly mundane existence. A bizarre variant of The Stockholm syndrome if you will.
Ha ha...from furious anger to curious love in two sentences.
Epic post, Spud.
Slow day here aye.
I wanna hear more about planet spud.
Well said (or ranted rather?). Love it.
yes we (secret custodians of the place for 15 years before they found it) were moved on. they tried towing at island and I voiced my opinion.
many of the original riders that kept these places secret have moved elsewhere
they made a rule we could only surf it at night or before 8am, i surfed it at night. he watched me surf it at night, helmet with torches bolted to it.
the magasine asked him where he got the idea for day makers to surf it at night and do a photospread, he said i dunno.
kooks
never once in 15 years did we ever take a photographer there and claim wonky towed in barrels.
never once did we tell a soul.
and we are the kooks?
You don't come across as a kook to me.
Off piste in a national park means more fences and less access for the the general public that do follow the rules, shame on you!!! Its happening up and down the coast! And a 250kg jet ski tow rope near taking a free surfers head off needs to be addressed!!! As a high profile surf videographer you need to be at the fore front!!!!!
Caaaarn BonyThong, give us your argument
Here's my argument. I have camera, will travel, love the beauty of mostly large waves that break in a way that's unique too any other spot. And as I have always said, 'waves are the star, surfers are there to enhance it'. All I am doing is what I always did is and that's put a lot of effort into what i do in capturing those moments. The politics of what happens in the water is nothing to do with what i like to document.
I just point, focus & push that red button.
Fair enough Tim. You were an observer, so no harm done really. Sorry you had to get dragged into this whole anti tow-in thing. It's a favourite topic amongst us grumpy old men on this forum. The whole thing really kicked off with some rather unscrupulous towing at Kirra and Snapper a few years back. Since then it's got a life of its own.
As for the exposing of spots thing, well I have no skin in the game, so I don't get involved. I do really enjoy watching your clips though. It's obvious that you are passionate about what you do and it shows in the high quality of what you produce.
G'day Tim, I appreciate your response, authenticity and often, your videos.
However; I don't agree with your response.
I believe you are complicit in the game. It is clear that you often meet surfers to share a jetski and grab the footage. That to me is a lot more than "just point, focus & push that red button". I believe it actively encourages the towing and the thoughtless behaviour to get footage for the internet and social media.
I also think it's pretty bad form to trample through beautiful bush. I am a keen bushwalker and I find it sad when I see track after track trampled through gorgeous coastal heath so that fisherman or surf photographers can shave a few minutes off a walk.
Plaudits to Tim for fronting up, but I agree wholeheartedly with Billie.
What Billie said. Really surprised you thought trashing the bush and documenting it was somehow going to enhance the clip. I usually support and enjoy your clips/films but that was totally unnecessary, arrogant and disrespectful. May a large tick be currently enjoying your ball sack...
Yeah, I'm also glad that Tim is engaging on here. I judge that this wouldn't be easy for him but I'm grateful for his presence. There is some discomfort in this and the other related thread. Discomfort for Tim and the Jet skiers, discomfort for the viewers, discomfort for myself and other writers for being assertive, discomfort for the viewers that may enjoy it. I'm just really glad that their is a discussion and it is civil and mature and honest.
Well I appreciate the footage, cheers Tim.
With the ski thing. Some sketchy instances for sure that need thinking over but let's be honest, the paddlers aren't going to move aside even if there are heaps of tow-only waves. Yeah the law says , from memory, skis need to be 50 or 100m from surfers, but wouldn't you prefer to come to an agreement to share the line up on days like this where numbers are low anyways?
Just a thought.
There are no rules against "bush bashing" through national park (obviously leave your machete at home) - they are open to the public - in fact most NPs allow "back country" camping where you create your own adventure provided you follow the rules and regulations. Ffs they're not museum exhibitions; it's the wild and to prohibit exploration removes the most basic of freedoms. If you like paths go to the botanic gardens or a zoo.
+1
Sure, NPs are open to the public and the public are encouraged to use them in a way that maintains the natural values. As a ranger for NPWS in Sydney Harbour NP a long time ago, I think it's pretty clear that bush-bashing is actively discouraged in national parks, particularly in proximity to popular places. If everyone enjoyed "the most basic of freedoms" and bush bashed there'd be trampling all over the shop and b-grade tracks everywhere.
I wouldn't have classed anywhere near Kurnell as "the wild" but after reading the antics in the first post link, I'm not so sure.
Experienced the Jet Skis a few years ago @ "Bin Alley" where sets were 6ft & paddling in wasn't an issue but the rip was. After four or five tow ins behind where I was taking waiting to takeoff I decided enough was enough & faded the tow in on the nxt wave after waiting(& paddling to keep in position) for 15mins. No respect shown to me by the tow-ins who ignored the 50m rule & wanted everything that came through! They have there place in surfing & that in my opinion is when you can't paddle in anymore & can only surf by being towed in! As far as T.B. goes well enough said by Billie who I agree with, the word 'complicit' tells the story here!