Nathan Bartlett going big - video

Stu Nettle picture
Stu Nettle (stunet)
Swellnet Dispatch

Here's something that gives bite to a lurking underdog spirit. In a lineup including some of Australia's best big wave surfers, a relative nobody picks off one of the waves of the day. 

Nathan Bartlett, brother of Byron Bartlett - who's hardly a household name either - steps up and into a bomb at this rare bommie. Tim Bonython, who filmed this wave, said it was just one of many that Nathan caught that morning.

Tim's gonna include them in his next Australian Surf Movie Festival, which is looking better and better by the week. Follow his Facebook and stay tuned.

 

 

 

Comments

yocal's picture
yocal's picture
yocal Friday, 9 May 2014 at 2:55pm

the board doesn't even look over 7ft?

blindboy's picture
blindboy's picture
blindboy Friday, 9 May 2014 at 5:36pm

......was there a chance to pull in? It looks possible but I could be wrong!

udo's picture
udo's picture
udo Friday, 9 May 2014 at 5:56pm

Grand effort just to get onto that lump with the speed its travelling and the howling offshore wind.

caml's picture
caml's picture
caml Saturday, 10 May 2014 at 12:18am

bullshit if it was paddle Tims expert photography we'd see .a charger riding a 6"0 in 15ft surf with a fresh wind ? Please show the paddle in if true

zenagain's picture
zenagain's picture
zenagain Saturday, 10 May 2014 at 7:54am

I'm glad you said what I was thinking caml cause you have the credentials to back it up. I don't.

That board looks easily sub-7ft and we don't get to see the take off.

If it's a true paddle in, it's a pretty phenomenal effort.

caml's picture
caml's picture
caml Saturday, 10 May 2014 at 1:05pm

Hey well its just my guess . Last yr got shown a pic & was told was paddle but board was small & i called bullshit . Research found it was tow . Im just guessing again but would like some more opinions from sn gurus

caml's picture
caml's picture
caml Saturday, 10 May 2014 at 1:08pm

Morgs has an 8"6 for that wave on his clip few yrs back

caml's picture
caml's picture
caml Saturday, 10 May 2014 at 3:08pm

Nathan bartlett nice wave lad can confirm wat you're riding ?

caml's picture
caml's picture
caml Saturday, 10 May 2014 at 3:16pm

Aha just watch the clip and u can see a guy on the shoulder looking over edge as the surfer riding is already up standing on board . Bet you its towed

caml's picture
caml's picture
caml Saturday, 10 May 2014 at 3:21pm

Blindly are u in the mood to discuss tow vs paddle. Who cares anyway ! Where is everyone today ? Gone surfin or wat ?

udo's picture
udo's picture
udo Saturday, 10 May 2014 at 6:36pm

im with you caml ....im calling tow.

stunet's picture
stunet's picture
stunet Saturday, 10 May 2014 at 6:20pm

Oh shit...just saw this thread now, been surfing and busy all day. Tow or paddle? First up, Tim Bonython didn't have anything to do with it. If you've ever met Tim you'll know he's the keenest bert to ever eat the curry, but he doesn't lie. I asked him on Thursday if it was a tow or paddle and he honestly didn't know, he filmed so many waves this day, and he was also chasing waves at the time I rang him.

I made a call that it was paddle 'cos of the late drop, but to be fair I was kinda busy when I posted it and didn't pay due attention. When I look back now it's kinda obvious Nathan is riding a short board so I'd say it's gotta be a tow wave.

Whatever entry he took word is Bill Sharp has accepted it as an early entry in next season's XXL Awards. Spose they'll have to hear from Nathan to figure which category it goes into.

uplift's picture
uplift's picture
uplift Saturday, 10 May 2014 at 6:23pm

Some guys can ride small boards in big waves.

http://www.boardcollector.com/2012/09/riding-waimea-on-5-8-mc-coy-lazor-...

In fact here's an interesting quote, and blast from the past.

'I saw Grant Oliver, for those who remember, surf Fairy Bower in 71 or 72 on a 4'8 twin and it was huge. Sydney waves don't have Hawaiian power but in pure size it was bigger than the wave Cheyne's on.'

If the guy paddled in, will you get a board the same camsless? You could save heaps, taking into account thickness, 4 boards for the price of one.

There, your wish is granted.

gavin007's picture
gavin007's picture
gavin007 Sunday, 11 May 2014 at 11:30am

Who needs to go to Hawaii when you se this stuff off our own shores ?

Brindabelladan's picture
Brindabelladan's picture
Brindabelladan Sunday, 11 May 2014 at 11:56am

It's interesting how "paddle vs tow" significantly influences the appreciation of the images.
I have a lot more admiration for paddling into big waves given the difficulty, skills and risks involved.
This is almost certainly a tow-in because:
1. extremely short board (relative to wave size), and
2. no footage of the "take-off"
It is no accident that the video starts with the surfer part-way down the face (and jet ski and it's wake now completely obscured).
Shame it was promoted as a paddle-in. Nice wave, but ultimately it's just another tow-in. Would much prefer to see video of crew paddling in on their "rhino-chasers" - far more inspirational.

Nathan Bartlett's picture
Nathan Bartlett's picture
Nathan Bartlett Sunday, 11 May 2014 at 6:33pm

Iam not sure what is going on here it is clearly a tow wave and I have no idea why they are saying it was a paddle,

udo's picture
udo's picture
udo Sunday, 11 May 2014 at 6:52pm

Nathan , if that's you on that wave can you tell us a bit about that session ?
mammoth waves and evil offshore wind .....any paddle surfers out there having a dig and would you attempt to paddle it with the right equipment.
Just watched it again in fullscreen, fuck some big chop on the face you had to deal with well done.

caml's picture
caml's picture
caml Sunday, 11 May 2014 at 10:05pm

Yeah Nathan your cool i just watched footage of the boogers getting towed that day . No chance anyone could paddle with that wind i guess

caml's picture
caml's picture
caml Sunday, 11 May 2014 at 10:10pm

I was just testing my eye for detail lads .go Nathan !

mikehunt207's picture
mikehunt207's picture
mikehunt207 Sunday, 11 May 2014 at 10:27pm

once the money starts flowing the lines between fact and fiction often cross. Step offs, jet ski assist going on all the time just make sure the wake and ski is out of the shot.No point letting the truth get in the way of a good story SN. Tom waterhouse will be giving odds on the xxl winners next. Good effort either way, big wave for the east coast.

stunet's picture
stunet's picture
stunet Monday, 12 May 2014 at 8:54am

Get a hold of yourself Mike...or more correctly, let it go. I gave an explanation, the vid went up with two minutes warning on a fucken busy morning. There's nothing else to it. Still a great wave.

yocal's picture
yocal's picture
yocal Monday, 12 May 2014 at 12:43pm

So,
Was it a tow board? Interested to know cause the chop in the face is insane