Watch: Tim Bonython // Kirra in July
Riding pillion last weekend, Tim caught the mayhem of Kirra from the water, with paddlers fighting the sweep, skis using their advantage, even foil boarders whipping through from the outside. Better yet, he secured extra footage shot from land and drone, plus a number of GoPro shots by Mark Mathews and Clint Kimmins.
In short, every angle is covered.
Boisterous action, plentiful barrels, even a drum and bass track to fit the mood.
Comments
how sh*t are jet skis
Totally agree. Only the wealthy surfers have them. Easy to catch wave and get out the back to get more. Never mind bumps and lumps caused by the jet-skis that wreck waves for paddle surfers. Total unfair advantage and very selfish.
Farkin crap. How was the step off burn of the guy deep in the barrel? Just fark them right off its only 5-6foot FFS just paddle it!
Man I turned it off as soon as Wayne Cleveland stepped off and burnt someone. What a prick act….
That’s enough of Tim and his new best mate Wayne for me.
I haven't watched this one but that guy comes across as the biggest tryhard douche, is he short or something?
Funnily, I switched it off at the exact same time and came here to comment on it. That guy was tearing down absolutely fine; that step-off drop-in was an absolute cvnt act.
Yeah very bad karma. And done deliberately and flagrant disregard for the other guys effort and work getting out there. These guys seem to think it’s their right to hurt others? Who would want aspire to that? What is going on in their head? Oh wow jeeze look at me ruining someone’s day- what a jerk!! These jerks need to learn a bit of basic human decency.
A Fine for that Driver surely ..Rego number is clear enough !
Can the jetski users justify their use on this forum, I'm guessing there will be no response
i use a jetski to tow outer bommys and remote inaccessible waves. would never dream of going within probably double the legal allowable limit of 200m (might be wrong here) of any other non powered user. firstly its illegal and secondly its obnoxious and selfish. in my opinion if you think another water user can hear the ski then you are too close. in the handful of times i have stumbled upon a hellman that has paddled all the way out to where we are then i will have a chat with them first and sound out the situation, offer water safety etc and if they dont want the ski there then go to the next spot which is fucking easy on a ski. no skin off anyones nose. ive probably opened myself up here to criticism but am just having a coffee and saw your question. cheers.
On ya Geoffrey, that’s what they are for.
Good man. This is exactly how it should be.
I've been paddling an out of the way spot, and whenever skis are out there, the driver will come up and say hello, offer me a ride out after a long wave etc. A few times out of town crew have come too close, and they've straight away been given some firm advice by locals.
Works really well.
for sure mate. if only everyone realised this is an easy way to co exist. there is pure *PURE* wave gluttony available on the east coast away from the name spots and crowds for anyone willing to go a bit further afield from the carpark.
Good on ya geoffrey, I have had the amazing opportunity to go on a mates ski at Bombing NSW beachies. We planned to surf the seaway when we saw Deany and NP Jnr suiting up, so we just headed south until we found solitude, soooo easy and the right thing to do. I hope The dickhead towing through the middle of the pack @ 2.20 gets booked.
all you can do is laugh at those heros on the skis. Every other point on the goldy was bigger and better for the skis they choose to be at kirra with 100's of paddle surfers.
Fuck even Snapper would have been better for the ski heros
How embarrassing. Absolute kooks.
Also Tim Bonython the film maker constantly puts these jet ski clowns on a pedestal. Time to find new content Swellnet. He's a joke too and encourages this bullshit.
Burleigh I hear you but Tim B prob makes f-all from his films and has devoted his life to them. I love him for that. But yours and all the comments about skis have merit.
Some were having fun with no paddlers nearby and not that far Nth..
Yep, and the next point south was even better.
Kirra = zoo
Swellnet bloody loves Bonython don’t they?
I’m not a fan of these edits, too much of a ‘turn up and plunder’ vibe.
How’s that gronk who drops in via a step off?
The water angle was very good. Good clip.
I don’t think Tim B has much influence on the number of jetskis at Kirra.
No influence whoever putting their atrocious behaviour on camera at Kirra and Ours should come with consequences.
And it gives others the green light to do it too
Any fines?
that clip just pissed me off, how many jetski heroes in one clip. tim bonython I will scroll past your clips from now on. glamourising noisy lazy machines helping to stroke instaegos, sad
Yep, I'm off his clips
Did it start with him filming himself or his buddy for an insight into their instamazing day( subsribe here)... and then followed by instamazingslowmotion....?
And you wonder whyI was pissed when you advertised his movie within your Daily report swellnet/Ben.
I thought I paid not for ads.
Jet skis hauling through paddle surfers - not good. Jet ski step off to drop in - worse. Promotion and endorsement by Tim and Swellnet - ugly. Promotion and endorsement is an important step towards making this behaviour culturally acceptable and more common at average waves enjoyed by average punters around the coast. Not good. It would be good to hear swellnet and Tim’s thoughts.
Watch his footage from ours. It’s even worse.
Legit guys getting whipped into a crowd.
Fucking dangerous shit.
And those peanuts at Kirra are just outright kooks. The next point up the road had stand up pits yet they were sitting with all those paddle surfers thinking they are killing it
Yep. More baffling is why that ‘clip’ was even included in the edit. What’s the motive? Shows a good surfer on a great wave, already tubed, getting faded by a zero skill step-off. It’s just weird and to name the offender like it’s a highlight is even weirder.
Videoing yourself with a selfie stick drop in on someone after being driven onto a 4ft wave on a jet ski is almost satirical viewing for me and borderline hilarious. It highlights the narcissism and selfishness within surfing culture but also of the offending individuals.
The most ironic part is that a lot of people within our culture enable and sometimes lionise this behaviour and mindset of plunder and pillage.
It would be funnier if it wasn’t so dangerous though. Honestly it is only a matter of time until someone gets killed or seriously injured by one of our fearless heroic prostituional surfers on a jet ski.
On the other hand, Kirra is a complete write off and a free for all and I’d rather this mentality and jet ski jousting stay confined to already blown out breaks so I don’t really care but it will be a sad day when someone gets killed eventually.
Perhaps swellnet could explain why they feel the need to put this stuff on line
Probably more likely to nuke this whole thread and not explain a thing.
Cos I thought it was a good vid?
Putting all moralising aside, I felt it captured the mania of Kirra.
Plus I like drum and bass.
As a one off explanation fine. But not every single video of his and little of others e.g. Surf Raw Files or Nathan Florence etc. which are infinitely better than Tim's 2 minutes stretched to 18 minute shit shows.
Did you think in the back of your mind when putting it up - yep this is going to get some hate.
Not really. I mean, I've seen perhaps fifty videos of the same swell, all of them showing the skis and whatnot.
Anyone who honestly thinks Tim being out there would make a lick of difference is having a simpleton moment.
As for the step off? Get the rego. Report it. In the past I've posted numbers and emails to contact Transport Queensland, but as is usually the case, most people whinge here and TQ's phone remains silent.
I think vids of the Cooly stretch get hate at the best of times just cause it represents what a lot of people despise in surfing - an awesome wave that gets ruined by being way too crowded. This vid was probably the epiphany of this hence the negativity.
The resounding response from your users over a sustained amount of time has been that we are tired of his content and we find it offends our sensibilities as surfers. The big sticking point for many is the behaviour that is recorded, the drop ins, the dangerous ski usage, the entitled drop ins and obvious spot blow ups. Every once and a while Tim films something that fits nicely and resonates with people such as the Ackerman parking lot interview, but that's a lot of shit to wade through to get the gold.
Just skip over it, mate.
Simple.
Or.... we could take heed of the constructive criticism and elevate editorial standards?
Just a thought.
A media outlet is as reputable as the content they purvey.
Appreciate the sanctimony, mate.
Unfortunately I've got no space for it at the moment.
Sorry, didn't mean to hit a nerve.
I see constructive criticism not welcome here.
Oh don't go all whiny on me, mate.
tim is sponsored by them or has an agreement that swellnet need to promote every one of his videos or something not sure if money exchanges hands, just what im assuming
Fundamentally the JetSki activity is illegal and they know it. The cops need to stop it before there are serious consequences. It just shows you how much respect these people have for the law. In their minds the law is completely disrespected. Real role models!!
Sign of the times, and if memory serves, rules re jetskis and people in the sea are not operable when surf is up. If so, then there's no legal option until, as sure as night follows day, someone is injured or worse by a ski. It looked to me that one ski driver was even filming his rider while driving ahead of the wave, rather than focusing on where he was headed. And all in 4-6' surf FFSake! As you can tell I'm not a fan of skis, having had a run-in with an idiot pulling his teenage son all through the lineup at 6' Granite Bay a long while ago. If paddlers are in the lineup, skis shouldn't be, simple as that.
i dont know about QLD but in NSW there is a section on tow surfing in the boat/PWC license so theres definitely rules when the surf is up unless if memory serves correctly its a bonifide rescue
google the guy who steps off the ski and fades the guy in the barrel
Wayne Cleveland - Jailed for large scale drug traffiking. Not a nice person. Fuck off back to Sydney you cunt.
"Wayne grew up in the housing commissions of Maroubra in the 1970's. He says there were only 2 ways you could go from there, either an elite athlete or an elite criminal."
What a load of shit, and a horrible way to crap on your community. Just because it was rough and Wayno didn't see any way out that wasn't elite (self aggrandize much there buddy?), or that there were social issues that needed addressing, doesn't mean there weren't ways out of that which didn't seem immediately apparent at the time. There was nothing stopping Wayne from getting a legitimate job and working his way out of a crap situation like the rest of us. Instead, in his youthful naivety, he chose to contribute to the very problems which he now scapegoats and uses to pad his life story out. Bet there are some lawyers, cops, postmen and school teachers from Maroubra who know for a fact that that statement is just a coping mechanism for not being able to see clearly at the time.
https://www.swellnet.com/news/swellnet-dispatch/2018/02/20/gold-coasts-t...
I’ve no doubt Bonython has hooked up with Clevo to enable access to some of the places he shoots. Of the thousand outraged at his drop in, not one would flare up in real life. He has certain skills outside of surfing and making number plates which allow this to go on.
Yeah you have got a point. But regardless of who it is, there is not much point on going off at anyone at Kirra for dropping in as its a complete free for all and everyone should know that before paddling out. But the jet ski step off fade is a new level of doggery but as you said i much prefer to complain anonymously online ;)
I'm not hating and jealous of his good fortune and freedom to chase every swell since he got out but Clevo clearly had a pretty serious pension and retirement fund waiting for him. Can't knock the hustle and he did something right.. good on him.
Towing someone in through a crowded lineup and pulling the ski out into open water has risks attached, but towing someone in and proceeding through the broken water zone is more treacherous and certainly needs a more thorough Risk Assessment something that probably isn’t undertaken by many or undertaken without without a proper process.Someone paddling out or in the impact zone will eventually be compromised.
This is exactly where it's at.
Literally full pelt through an area where it's easy to imagine someone just about to surface....all while looking back at your mate.
It's only a matter of time.
This shit has to stop and the only way that'll happen is through the community of surfers taking a clear stance culturally.
The authorities are nonplussed and will continue to wash their hands.
Awesome stuff from Tim Bonython as usual. The Gold Coast is a chaotic environment at the best of times… Add a good swell = Good luck
nob ends
The KON only paddles
I didn't read any comments here but saw a jet ski step off burn on a 6 foot wave. The surfer would not have made it but that's shocking.
Weird from Tim to even include that little snippet and sprawl his mates names across the screen as he undertakes that complete shit effort burn off the ski. Just odd to draw attention to it.
These are the same blokes and their pro associates that will squeal across their Insta about crowds and kooks ruining surf spots, forgetting altogether they are undertaking in the worst behaviour of all for us to watch….not to mention they live their life surfing quality waves funded by people enjoying and buying surf related merch, only to then admonish those who dare try to emulate their efforts in the same spots….
Bellends
Check out how close the ski goes to hitting the kid at 2:15-2:17.
Rego AKY834N.
How in the world do these people get away with this shit.
This is going well Swellnet. More than 3/4 of the comments are very anti. Just because you can does that mean you should?
That we should what..?
Many things. Just because you guys have content doesn't mean it needs to be posted. Just because you can put surf cams anywhere and everywhere, does that mean that you should? I'm not naïve enough to think my post makes a lick of difference. Just observing the general sentiment above.
There's a great many things that we could've done but we haven't.
You don't know what they are because we don't post them.
Meanwhile, you judge us just by what you see.
As for tow surfing: Maybe you've forgotten the great many articles I've done against tow surfing in Queensland, worked with Transport Queensland, even posting phone numbers and emails to call, made myself persona non grata with the SLSQ etc.
So tell me mate, besides pointless whinging here, what have you done?
Another thing, Tim sells out a national tour every other year, often adding dates, such is the popularity of his shows. You're just a silly old walrus who thinks everyone is the same as you. You've complained on every vid and don't even have the self control to skip over something you don't like.
You don't have to agree with me mate and as such there's little need for defensiveness. I'm sure you guys show restraint in some aspects and that's great. It's a great site and the reason I come back. Another positive is your forums, it allows constructive (often) dialogue within our community, of which you guys are major players.
I've contacted relevant transport authorities / police before. Call out offenders in my own neck of the woods.
If you find out the general sentiment is 'yahooo, this is awesome' I stand corrected................
Don't go down that road, mate.
Ive seen plenty of Kirra videos from the swell and also surfed it twice, i know how the skis were that day and it was crook.
One thing this vid does is show the skis in their true form. Maybe it's a good thing they will get reported to authorities.
The police need to be on the water handing out fines next time we have swell.
As for Tim B putting these ski heros in his vids (kirra & Ours)... its just strange, like he wants them to cop shit. But at least he's capturing what it's really like.
If we all as surfers can come together to create good outcomes like Killalea State Park WHY cant we do something about these jetski phucktards. The spirit of surfing is well and truly dead when promotion of an events awesomeness requires the instroduction of these things to the detriment of the majority of the surfing population who chooses not too. As usual in Australia the minority tail is wagging the majority...of the dogs body!
Do you really need a Jetski in 4-6ft surf? What a zoo.
Far out...I'll join the chorus. How the hell do those skis not get pinged for illegal driving. I thought the rules were pretty bloody clear - about exclusion and proximity to surfers/swimmers?
That guy at 2:20......how the hell do you live with yourself? THAT self entitled and arrogant that you can burn a guy using your petrol fuelled paddle in....far out. Shameful and so far from the spirit of surfing you should take a break from it all and take up motocross so you dont embarrass yourself in teh water. Do that at at any other place and you'd surely paddle in to find a car without wheels....
Good on you Tim for being a water photographer and all - but you could instigate change by not endorsing this shit. But then again - maybe you documentation of that shame at 2:20 might mean that things change?
Shows Kirra being one of the most dangerous waves to surf and doesn’t have much to do with the wave.
I’m not a jet ski fan but, as I understand it, more recently there is a courtesy rule applying on these primo days at Kirra. The top half of the point is paddlers only. The bottom half, where the current tends to be strongest and most pointless to paddle against, that is where the jet skis roam.
Watching the circus for a short period on Saturday, the top half wasn't working and just big fast closey walls.
There was then a big break in the bank and the second section was rifling off but with all the skis doing step-offs, so no chance of getting a bomb. It was enough to make me not go out as if one came to you, there'd likely be a ski flying in from deep catching up and stepping off.
Yeah, burning people at will.
Hang your heads in shame!
So what’s actually going to happen when a paddler, in the aftermath of a wipeout, surfaces, is then cleaned up by a jet ski & subsequently dies? If it’s illegal to be so close surely it’s a manslaughter charge?
It seems like the authorities are simply waiting for a test case. Unfortunately it shouldn’t be too long now with the prevalence of jet skis in such lineups most solid swells these days.
2:17 Old mate getting a sick barrel, then some fucktard gets towed in point blank in front of him.
Then you're stupid enough to post the video of it, with the name attached.
No wonder the Goldy gets so violent.
The current was near impossible to paddle against early that morning and it was about 6/10 Kirra. Had a Brazilian on a ski try and call me off a wave when I was paddling. Made me want to get good at jiu jitsu.
1: Excellent footage, mostly, but I can't stand not knowing who's been ski assisted and who's paddled in. Some of the paddled waves show the start, and I'm stoked for 'em.. unreal waves! But I keep thinking MOST of the waves not showing the initial entry are ski assisted, edited out of course by Timbo, so then I think, (a) who gives a fuck, and (b) feel sorry for everyone else in the water having their session messed up by theses guys.
2: Solution: Every wave shown that's not paddled into has a caption at the start inserted by Tim:
"Ski-assisted fuckwit". Not sure that'll fly but.
3: There's times and places for skis (I like Geoffrey's comments above) but this is neither by the looks of it. The ski peeps seem completely oblivious to the fact as they're heading out... They don't seem to care that they're ruining other surfers' day out. Uncool.
4: The few times I've had skis about while I'm sitting out on my lonesome somewhere is so aggravating its hard to describe. Completely ruins the enjoyment of sitting on a board in the sea. And sometimes I'm talking 4' beach breaks even!
Anyone else seen that photo that Drag posted on insta of a "pied piper" style guy with a lod of ducks following him? Tim Bonython is absolutely the worst thing to happen to surfing, in particular Cronulla.. the guy is a pest who just brings a whole host of clowns with him wherever he goes.. every single swell, he posts the best spots on insta for likes and 2 seconds later, 100 people with 5000 water photogs are there... the quicker he goes away, the better
I've said it thousands of times before. I hate jetskis.
It seems Tim B likes putting his criminal mates on a pedestal.
Same guy dropping in on people in this video. first one i saw at 10:16 and another bad one at 10:56
Why the fuck would you put these clips on ya videos? Does the film maker feel like he has some kind of hero status because he's friends with a tough guy?
&t=727sIt’s not all hugs and kisses out their burlz, I don’t think there is anything wrong with showing the drop ins when the peeps are paddling it.
The jet ski stuff is just bullshit.
It would be good to see him come on and comment. I’ve seen him on here before I’m pretty sure.
All in all pretty average kirra & footage.
Those are Some very well trained geese walking the streets
Don't be a goose on the loose
Easy as
Real easy to slam Tim Bonython for posting great clips of sessions all over the world while you haters sit on the couch. How about some respect for a guy who has devoted his life to giving YOU the best surf content available that is always well shot, good music and something you'd never see elsewhere. I know Tim and he works harder than any surf shooter in the world and if ya don't like his work, feel free to not watch it.
Why should we sit silent as we witness absolute shit like that jet ski drop in. It's in the public domain and it's open to criticism, as it should be because it was fcccckn disgraceful.
It showed horrific surfing behaviour, deserves to be critiqued as it has been. No one should be above criticism when it’s 100% warranted.
And whilst a lot of his other content is good quality, when I think of a Tim B edit, I think absolute shite tunes laid over the top. Not stretching it to say some of the worst music to surf combo’s of any content I watch, so your comment is a bit of a laugh.
Bit more kirra
I've been waiting for a good edit of Kirra from that day, this isn't it, jetski's suck.
To those who are still interested in this thread, or could be bothered reading this far down:
I just had a long chat with Wayne Cleveland who, quite calmly and affably, explained his version of events from that day. Said he paddled most of the day, did five or six runarounds, and the majority of his waves were paddled into.
Reckons that a great many paddlers were asking, and receiving, ski assistance when they were down the end of Kirra. Paddlers were raising their hands and hopping on the skis of strangers to get a lift back up. Accordingly, that was just what was happening; skis and paddlers co-existing.
Admitted the step off looked bad but swears the guy was deeper than it appears. Tim said the same; he was shooting with a long lens so distance is foreshortened to give a false sense of proximity.
If you've ever met Tim in person you'd understand that he's a habitual frother who just loves surfing. If he fucks up here or there, gets on the wrong side of surfing politics, it ain't deliberate. Unlike the Swellnet staff he's not a cynical bastard, and the criticism stings.
I don't know Wayne but he told me he's a completely different person since he went away for "his holiday", and the talk about him being a standover man for Tim is way off the mark. Also suggested that if he's out of line, then he's happy to listen to other people.
As is usual, it's best delivered in person. And that wasn't stated as a threat, just as a means to circumvent confusion and cross-talk when communicating online.
Hmmm. I’ve had a bit of experience surfing around skis of late and I find the “we help out the paddlers” theme to be a common thread. It’s all true, most ski drivers will give you a tow out the back. But it’s also true that they do this because they know they’re taking the piss the entire rest of the session by driving around you into position and doing step offs onto waves which should be yours.
This is bad enough but when it’s done by crew who’ve driven hundreds of kilometres to surf the wave out the front of where you live it’s extreme shit fuckery of the kind they’d (hopefully) not entertain if they were paddling the wave beside you.
If you’re doing g step offs in waves you can easily paddle, particularly whilst others are paddling, you’re a selfish and disrespectful cunt. If you’re dropping your partner around the paddle surfers -which is correctly known as snaking under every other circumstance- then you’re a selfish and disrespectful cunt. If you’re doing both these things in someone else’s town after travelling hours to get there you are a selfish and disrespectful cunt squared.
These are the inalterable facts of the matter. Maybe Mr Cleveland is a genuinely contrite fella who wasn’t aware of these facts? Well….he knows now.
Spread the word….driving a ski in paddle-able waves is an act performed by low dogs who hold other surfers in contempt.
Stu, The ski that dropped him off went between paddle surfers. Watch the vid at 2:15 there is paddlers either side of the ski as it tears down the wave.
from the hundreds that paddled that day, how many put their hand up and got a lift? Im going to guess 20 - 25 people, and those people would most likely had stickers on the nose of their board.
I surfed twice that day and the only person i saw getting dropped back to the top of the line up (which is bad enough) was Jack Robbo and a couple of his mates.
There’s zero excuse for anyone to have a ski out at 6ft Gold Coast or any other paddle wave whilst others are paddling The only reasons are : Laziness, incompetence , desire to cheat other surfers or you’re a shit cunt.
A lot of overlap on the last two.
If you’re looking at the lineup and see heaps of paddle surfers and you still elect to put the ski in the water you don’t deserve to get a single wave.
"If you've ever met Tim in person you'd understand that he's a habitual frother who just loves surfing. If he fucks up here or there, gets on the wrong side of surfing politics, it ain't deliberate. Unlike the Swellnet staff he's not a cynical bastard, and the criticism stings."
Hopefully the criticism is a lesson.
I'm no filmaker, but if you don't like the criticism, might be best to take some action next time around.
Don't show ski step offs, pretty simple.
"Admitted the step off looked bad but swears the guy was deeper than it appears. Tim said the same; he was shooting with a long lens so distance is foreshortened to give a false sense of proximity."
Stu this is a genuine question regarding his version of events and although it is probably a bit more technical than it seems I would question them as follows:
1) At some point the ski and rider decide to speed up for the unbroken wave (swell) in question.
2) At the point they make this decision they are a fair few metres behind the crest of the wave one would assume and really have no clear visual line of what the status of the paddle in surfer is - or if they even are aware that there is someone on this wave.
3) If the above is correct how do they make the judgement call that the paddle in guy was too deep and they were good to go in what would be a split second decision.
4) They didn't. The only judgement call they made was they were going for that wave like it or not and were probably surprised that someone was on the wave and it was too late to abort.
Whingeing aside that was one monumental fucked up decision these two guys made and their version of events smells about as bad as their jet ski fumes. But hopefully they learn from this and even more hopefully apologised to the paddle in surfer and the young bloke they almost drove over.
“ Reckons that a great many paddlers were asking, and receiving, ski assistance when they were down the end of Kirra. Paddlers were raising their hands and hopping on the skis of strangers to get a lift back up. Accordingly, that was just what was happening; skis and paddlers co-existing.”
What a load of BS.
What is the point of asking that blokes version of events and general feel between the two forms coexisting? By the sounds of it he’s up to his neck in it.
Come on Stu.
I didn't ask for it. He rang.
Why can't they co-exist? As a paddler, I've stuck my hand up to get assistance from skis at various times, so I know it happens. I also spent ten plus years surfing Cape Solander as guys switched between paddle and tow and back again during the same session, quite happily co-existing.
Until, of course, video gets played online when people who weren't there, nor had ever surfed it, chimed in with what they believed to be happening.
Same goes with down at Shippies too.
Not saying it's the same everywhere, and I'm the first to wish jet skis were never invented, however how people present it here and what is happening out there are often two different things.
You jumped to conclusions once - that I approached him - could you possibly be doing it again?
I’m relating it exactly as it happens to me.
The other side of it is that skis are a safety blanket for many. I reckon 80% of the ski riders I’m referring to wouldn’t be out there in the same circumstances. Not saying I’m the apex of bravery but at least I’m having a go despite the reservations, others don’t even look at it without their safety net. Yet they think they are entitled to pole position or to pollute the lineup with their wake ?
Weak
It’s nothing less than an arms race. I’m being forced to consider getting a ski just so I can compete with the knob jockeys who bring them to ride in 6 ft waves and save themselves a paddle. Ooohhh….scary!
Relating what?
I'm not even replying to you.
...unless you're also Alana_A
You better not get between myself and a whinge about wanker ski riders right now Stu.
It’s a crush zone.
Co-existing at Cape Solander and shippies or you don’t have a choice?
Whipping people into waves that could be paddled (while a pack of surfers are sitting there) seems to be from a select few privileged surfers and I’m guessing that a few of there mates are also in the paddle crew waiting their turn to be whipped into that same crowd.
My bad, substitute ‘asking’ for ‘posting’. My point stands. - The opinion of his and anyone else who hops on a wave train is immensely conflicted
Im sure deep down you’ll acknowledge it.
Putting your hand up and being Aided at ours or shipsterns is understandable and big respect for surfing those locations but you can’t compare those to 4-6 Kirra because that is what we’re all angry at here. . Yeah you probably have stuck your hand up down the bottom end and received a lift back up, that’s the perks of the job but for jo blow no mad Huey’s picking us up.
Can you imagine how Fkn ropable jack Robbo would be if after getting dropped back off beyond the top line up- missing the wave of the day because jo blow was kindly escorted up there too 5 mins later and 50m deeper then jacks now sitting by jacks mate on jacks ski.
Yeah, nah.
Sure, they coexist at Kirra but the arguments/ wishes for them to not hold more merit then for them to. Imho.
I surfed it on the Saturday arvo/ night. It wasn’t all bad, watching the sun set with a huge rainbow in the other direction was spectacular no matter the jet ski’s
However I saw no evidence of these alleged Good Samaritans on ski’s giving random people lifts back up the point.
It seemed to just be heroes with stickers on their boards or their hanger-on mates who are in on the industry circle jerk.
The reason this jet ski behaviour is tolerated and accepted is because it’s coming from the top down. We have our fearless heroes and some of the biggest names in surfing leading by example committing these aquatic hate crimes and setting the standard of what’s acceptable behaviour.
I vowed to never bother surfing Kirra again a few years back but was coincidentally up on the goldy visiting a family member when this last swell hit and after watching it for a while I figured I’ll just head out and watch some beautiful drainers unload down the point and some good surfing go down. I went out with no expectations except to hopefully not get run over by a jet ski. My expectations were at an all time low but to my surprise I ended up snagging a pretty good one once the crowd thinned out.
It’s easy to be cynical and complain about jet skis ruining our universe as we know it but have faith that the average joe can still get out there and occasionally snag one off the Empire.
Not all hope is lost swellnetians.
Paddlers must continue to paddle out where they can it's the core experience of surfing when you have left solid ground, and all part of the surfing experience. Sometimes you can get a few and some times you may not. Roll the dice and as they say you got to be in it to win it. I am glad you enjoyed it. Had some very bad experiences with some pro's and some very good with others over many years. If I feel I can do it I'm always going to paddle out and so should anyone else. Pro's used to exploit and harass me when I was young because they always had the numbers,, even though I looked up to them charging. Cheers to the pro's who I had a positive experience with, It left a mark knowing not all the hero's are cunts.
We pay full price for the surf gear, Travel etc and often have limited opportunity. Take it on and ride the right equipment to enhance it. Get in the zone and you never know you might just get the one you have been chasing your whole life. Stand up for you rights and go you under dogs. It makes the successes all the more sweeter when you tame one.
I know they have pro's and skis and average joes in Toonalook.
This is the reality out at Kirra for most of us.
You paddle out somewhere up Snapper way and if its proper solid you're lucky to get out by Greenmount. You may get one or two along the way but they are merely entrees for what you've paddled out for. You get to the top of the groin, heart's usually thumping from both the anxiety of the wave itself and the fact that if a set doesn't come soon you will have missed your skerrick of opportunity at one of the waves of your life.
If it's your day and you get that wave, you pull off (or straighten out) down the line extremely stoked. If it's not your day, you paddle like Trever Hendy in his heyday for 30 mins only to succumb to the current or lack of opportunity due to the new flotilla that have joined the cue on your inside. In either scenario you're sitting somewhere down near the old Pizza Hut as you watch a bloke with a Mad Huey sticker on ski and his hanger-on hoon straight past you like you're a floating piece of kelp. There are no lifts.
Just like that piece of kelp you gradually float to shore, climb the stairs to marvel at the waves roping down the point. You see the absolute shit show happening, the pro's (and their mates) being gifted wave after wave and have to make the decision; go for round two or hit the showers. As the say, doing the same thing and expecting different results is insanity.
This is Kirra yes. It's a very tough lineup but made so much tougher with the presence of skis and everything/one that comes with them.
Best comment here, Solitude.
Very well put!
Extra points for the use of 'flotilla', and the floating kelp and Trevor Hendy similes.
Some very good point being made for and against. Kirra's a draw card, every pro wants it as every joe. Crew could do it better but as other's state it's a very tough line up. If it's on it's on, people are capitalising because cause they can. I enjoy seeing the crew paddle and tear it. Its a beautiful wave. Seeing someone get a mental one they have worked for, or managed to snag is what most hope for.
Some slabs aren't that rideable at a certain size or that just move too quick are where ski's are a massive advantage and also they eliminate surf fatigue. Seen a few rescues where without a ski being present the out come could have been heavier. I think it's a good safety aspect crew have utilised. It's the issue of prevalence and use that concerns most people. But I think that with open discussion and crew throwing up ideas, General consensus will present it's self. Crew will work it out. Ski's are not going away and neither are the paddlers. Might have to ask mike nolan (nolzy) on this one.
A whole generation of riders made a name for themselves towing evil slabs previously thought unridable. Then what is towed is then paddled, What comes after ski's? Ski's with jousting sticks or a return to Athletic appreciation? Crew will work it out.
Geezus its got some legs this vid comments wise, I do get where the anti Ski sentiment is coming from ( who doesn't?) but TBH unless Tim films and Swellnet shows I wouldn't know (sitting here is WA.)
As for Kirra surfed it in 75 /76 it was smoking and pretty much still a circus then coming from WA.
a KOOK is a disrespectful and often dangerous person who either doesn't know the rules of the waves or ignores them.
A Kook is an ignorant, careless or arrogant surfer who inhibits other surfers' enjoyment of the waves.
A Kook is a surfer who makes a session dangerous for themselves and the people around them.
A Kook is a surfer who thinks they are entitled to any wave that comes through because they have an elitist motorised watercraft.
A Kook is a surfer who knows the rules but will break them all because the session is being filmed and he/she needs to further fluff their inflated opinion of themselves and will burn anyone to get their 'look at me' moment in the latest hot clip.
It,s been Tim,s modus operandi for years to bring some muscle or big enough entourage to keep him "safe" from being called out for filming (or ruining depending where you are sitting ) surf sessions at spots all over Australia in the name of a good edit. Be it some tough Hawaiians, brah boys, big groups of 'underground' pros from ulladulla and now old mate doing his step offs. If someone is filming all kinds of eyes roll back in their heads and chaos reigns , getting worse and worse with the social media instagram generation, just ask the guys that surf Depot Bombie.
On the plus side his film quality is amazing, so clear you can even read the rego numbers on the skis and see the faces of the perpetrators.
Good to hear some interesting drum n bass with jazz/blues kinda under/overtones..Different from his usual music.Also good to see Mark Mathews surfing again, i didnt know whether that would ever happen but good to see. Even though he hates bodyboarders and was part of the anti lid movement at Cape Solander i reckon hes a good bloke and charges like a lunatic.
Tims camera skills are gold here but hopefully they dont get carried away with the skis, most people on skis on the east coast are knobs.
Around here skis are only used on waves if there's no paddlers and that's even on a wave considered a mostly closeout or another wave full of bullsharks near the rivermouth..both mostly crap waves no paddlers would bother with..Clay used to but no one else was quick enough to their feet or patient enough to try and he waits 1-2 hours for the right one.
Skis have occasionally been used deep at jakes when there's no paddlers and its devil winds but the surfers are plain crazy.Going too deep.
15 years ago i heard Kirra was gone and buried, good to see so many clips coming out of it.
If you don’t like Tims productions, simply, don’t watch them. Surely you can work that out for yourselves, or maybe you cant. A lot of people making comment here are really pushing the limits of what you ‘can & can’t’ personally say or describe about a person or persons. Just because you comment here, doesn’t mean that its not being looked at more intensively by others and those who have their eyes on all things legal. If any of the named people in these videos feel aggrieved by some of the atrocious personal attacks, the casting of aspersions on individuals and gross misinformation about someones past, you may regret your original comments. That goes for both genders commenting on this thread.
Be careful watch you wish for.
Great point Alf!
Imagine the shit storm of litigation if Alfred Wallace was to discover his name had been appropriated by a sanctimonious wanker to comment on a surf forum! I'm sure he'd draw a line at that..
Rubicon. Good stuff. Like your style.AW
Ha! Apologies about the "sanctimonious" comment, just couldn't pass up the opportunity to try a Wallace line pun
Rubicon. Nice to hear you know about the Wallace Line, one of the worlds great biogeographic demarcation lines. We could expand this conversation but i would need 100 pages. Prod me if you like, i could talk things Wallace and evolutionary biology all day, every day.
I liked the ducks more than vid
Seaweed. The birds, for what its worth, which is nothing, are Toulouse Geese. Honk Honk!!
Seaweed. The birds, for what its worth, which is nothing, are Toulouse Geese. Honk Honk!!