Watch: Tim Bonython // Peahi Pure Paddle

Stu Nettle picture
Stu Nettle (stunet)
Reels

It's the third in Tim's latest trilogy and it has more tension and drama than the other edits combined.

Where to position yourself when hand power is all you can rely on and forty foot sets are strafing the lineup? 

How to stall a 10'0" that's falling at the speed of gravity while also powered by the biggest storm the North Pac has seen in years?

There are many answers to the last question, you'll see delayed bottom turns, tail stalls, and even high speed double hand drags, not all of which are succeesful. At the other end of the spectrum are the swinging west bowls where the surfer doesn't want to stall but surge like a modified Tesla - again, not always succesfully.

There are great waves ridden by Tyler Larronde, Albee, Russ, Torrey Meister, old mate Sam Yoon, and Ty Simpson who gets a bag full and also takes a bagging when one of the aforementioned clean up sets swing through the lineup. Tasmania's Kelly Nordstrom is just metres from him when it happens but appears to make it through unscathed.

The bleeps and bloops are put on ice with stoner rock from Robot God filling the speakers.

Comments

coxypk's picture
coxypk's picture
coxypk Friday, 17 Jan 2025 at 4:01pm

Great waves and good music

Optimist's picture
Optimist's picture
Optimist Friday, 17 Jan 2025 at 4:37pm

Just watched it….it was so impressive I have no words….and our guys tow in at 6 ft Kirra ….those goldy mad dogs.

Fliplid's picture
Fliplid's picture
Fliplid Saturday, 18 Jan 2025 at 9:38am

"….and our guys tow in at 6 ft Kirra ….those goldy mad dogs."
they're definitely a special breed

wally's picture
wally's picture
wally Saturday, 18 Jan 2025 at 10:58am

A very good vid with great interviews, as usual.

There’s a lot happening. One subplot that drew my attention.
I have cropped these screen grabs for ease of seeing on a small screen.

There’s a wave at 18:17, a surfer in a red top manages to paddle over. The bloke behind him and further inside has to dive. He manages to punch through dragging his surfboard behind him. A broken half board bounces in the white water further inside. That was a heavy situation, I thought to myself.

Then there’s a wave at 18:45, I’m pretty sure there’s the same chap and he’s still caught inside. He has to dive again, though he looks pretty tanked. Thankfully, he seems to get through and reunite with his surfboard. Thank goodness for the rescue team.

I’d be staying up on the cliff

Patrick's picture
Patrick's picture
Patrick Saturday, 18 Jan 2025 at 12:47pm

Fantastic
Paddling blows towing out of the park every time. Cool stuff. Inspiring.

I don't remember the last time I watched a Bonython vid all the way through.

nextswell's picture
nextswell's picture
nextswell Saturday, 18 Jan 2025 at 12:57pm

Insane. Love the way these big paddle days allow the surfer to really take the top to bottom drop. Like Luke Sheps first heat Eddie wave. That’s something that’s not possible when towing. Looks so much more difficult and impressive. Also how’s the wipeout at 7.10? He must free fall 30ft. How do you survive that?

udo's picture
udo's picture
udo Saturday, 18 Jan 2025 at 1:42pm

8:38 ~ Sammy Yoon on a Self Shaped 9'9" Fish Twinny.

WaffleStomp's picture
WaffleStomp's picture
WaffleStomp Saturday, 18 Jan 2025 at 3:37pm

That's some heavy knifing drop ins, next level.

radiationrules's picture
radiationrules's picture
radiationrules Sunday, 19 Jan 2025 at 12:15pm

i cant think of bigger paddle peahi (the 2015 swell with arron gold's wave ?) amazing. albee layer nearly got the barrel of his life, nearly got decapitated too...

Parko_70's picture
Parko_70's picture
Parko_70 Sunday, 19 Jan 2025 at 12:55pm

Everytime I see an epic paddle in video, I think, they won't top that. But they do.

Epic stuff and cool music.