Watch: Soli Bailey // Conehead
It took Soli Bailey seven swings on the QS before he made the CT, and then he was off again after one year. Hasn't been back.
There's all manner of ways to look at Soli's comp career: learning the art of discipline, doing an apprenticeship, harbouring ambition. Undoubtedly, the more exciting chapter of his career began after the CT, when sponsor O'Neill stuck with him as he pivoted toward cone-seeking core-lord.
That tale isn't told in stats and news stubs, but in keeper clips, which when rolled together add up to fourteen-minutes of chicken skin-inducing footage.
Comments
unreal but gosh that shaky greenbush footage hurt my head to watch haha
i never really paid too much attention to him on the ct but that is a great clip with some unreal surfing....is he cooked as far as ct goes???
Yep, not interested.
He did six events on the QS the year before last - even won an event - and qualified for the Changa, but then only traveled to one event. Doesn't look too interested.
As good as anyone getting barreled I reckon. Love these clips.
Needs an air reverse .
simply unreal.
Very impressive at supers. And very lucky by the look of the numbers in the water. Maybe even could have made the last barrel (from camera angle - but he's the one looking at the shoulder, and I'm sure he would have tried if he thought he had a chance).
Time well spent, young Soli. Infinitely better than stormy 2ft Peniche. Will watch this a few times more.
Had very good HT's back in '19, with Soli and Jordy Smith out. Hard to appreciate how much power Jordy dishes out until you see him live. Unreal. Soli the barrel standout, though; so silky smooth. Gentleman too.
I surfed a few times with Jordy Smith last year and everything from the positioning, to the paddle strength, to the speed, to the airs he would get was almost hard to fathom that we were doing the same thing.
i can't believe he didn't make a go of it on the CT .
Absolutely world class surfing Soli
Speed , power, flow and insane barrell wrangling with timeless style
nothing missing in the repertoire
WTF WSL !!
A lot of good surfers don’t make a go of it in the WSL , for different reasons.
Some are good free surfers but not so good in competitions , some don’t like the yearly grind of turning up and restriction of freedom, etc.
Looks like he’s having enough fun anyway ,without some kindergarten cop telling him what to do.
Such an amazing surfer and a great guy.
Video Comments
Why put a fucking sad emo song [with an out-of-tune-guitar] on the opening sequence?
The other fast punk song should have been first up to grab your attention rather than making you fall asleep. I am always astounded at the lack of skill in choosing and adding music to surf vids.
Tim Bonython
Sad emo song? Haha, yikes.
Not everyone is still such a child that they need something hard and fast to grab their attention.
It's the third song that is the stinker here. Faux-anthemic angry bro nonsense. That Cloudbreak footage deserves better.
brilliant - thought he looked the goods early on in his CT year - but its how you finsih the year I guess.
terrific vid, great surfer
Thx oneil and sb - throughly enjoyed that 15 min break
I had no idea that he was such a good barrel rider! That 4m30s barrel was so sick! Good on O'Neill for the support.
Insane barrel riding skills front & backside, every takeoff on the edge, fixated for the 15 minutes. Quite the variety in that soundtrack though!
Soli is my pick for the Surfer of the Year merit award
sperm suits are the way of the future. Nate, me and now Soli rocking them. (7:30)
I had to replay the 3:56 wave several times to believe that a take off like that was possible....insane.
I agree. He makes those under-the-lip-vertical drops look pedestrian.
That backhand barrel at around 7.34 was 15 seconds long!
That was pretty B*$#hit.....
That full speed drone footage at Cloudbreak is one of the best angles Ive seen - the real sense of the speed is intense!