Watch: Kirra for the cleanskins!

Stu Nettle picture
Stu Nettle (stunet)
Swellnet Dispatch

Behind the rock at Snapper has been short and thick, but when Kirra came to life this morning the barrels stretched into the next suburb. Few surfers clocking multiples barrels too: check old mate on the first one with a triple banger. The sponsor stickers were missing, it was a session for the working man, not that the brotherly love was flowing going by the five-strong burning near the end.

Comments

thermalben's picture
thermalben's picture
thermalben Monday, 1 Jul 2019 at 2:00pm

First wave! Love the lil' first pump. I was with ya, mate.

lost's picture
lost's picture
lost Monday, 1 Jul 2019 at 7:21pm

Fist pump ? I’d be claiming that and sharing this on socials for the next year - nice work old mate.

teezyheezy34's picture
teezyheezy34's picture
teezyheezy34 Monday, 1 Jul 2019 at 2:09pm

So, so good. Burn city on that last wave.

Kirra supposedly not as great as it used to be... would love to have experienced it at its 80s-90s? peak.

Solitude's picture
Solitude's picture
Solitude Monday, 1 Jul 2019 at 5:18pm

Pretty sure people have major rose coloured glasses when reminiscing about Kirra.
Take off is very heavy and if you look at some of the barrels for that clip alone not to mention Oma and other swells from the last 5 years how much better can a wave get??

freeride76's picture
freeride76's picture
freeride76 Monday, 1 Jul 2019 at 5:25pm

It's definitely improving and getting close to being at it;'s best.

The angle of the sandbar is still not the same as it was, which means it runs off down the beach more (as someone noted) and doesn't hug the Point.

but yeah, still insane.

I focus's picture
I focus's picture
I focus Monday, 1 Jul 2019 at 7:16pm

I surfed it in 76 similar size and don't remember it lining up like the clip Townsend was out ripping I surfed the end section pretty much to myself barrel after barrel............coming from WA and having my arse handed to me by Margret's main break I couldn't believe it.

deanw12's picture
deanw12's picture
deanw12 Wednesday, 3 Jul 2019 at 11:01am

Was there, was better, the sand followed the point more and didn't run off like that so longer. Still, those waves are pretty epic.

Elki1976's picture
Elki1976's picture
Elki1976 Wednesday, 3 Jul 2019 at 3:44pm

When your from Margs , Kirra is like a paddle pool . Nothing heavy just a dream for us hard paddle but !!

mike.logan's picture
mike.logan's picture
mike.logan Thursday, 4 Jul 2019 at 4:06pm

I pulled in there one Jan in the late 80's - about the same size waves and saw 5 boards broken in the space of an hour - mainly on takeoff. Was there about 5 weeks ago and a wave only about 18" high broke for over 700m - rideable all the way.

crg's picture
crg's picture
crg Monday, 1 Jul 2019 at 2:26pm

Love watching Joe Average get the wave of his year rather than some pro-hoe burning someone to get his 50th for the day.

Teezy it was way better and longer pre Superbank. Big groyne had an unbelievably heavy section first, then it stretched out and dredged on a much better sand angle than it does now. It tends to go straight out into deeper water now, before it used to bend and head towards little groyne where it would sometimes double/triple up and then finish down past where the cafes are now.

And you definitely didn't see 5 burns on one wave. There was respect in the lineup.

Elki1976's picture
Elki1976's picture
Elki1976 Wednesday, 3 Jul 2019 at 3:44pm

Yewwww !!

Ape Anonymous's picture
Ape Anonymous's picture
Ape Anonymous Monday, 1 Jul 2019 at 2:38pm

No jet skis! Am I dreaming?

FreeHeelLife's picture
FreeHeelLife's picture
FreeHeelLife Monday, 1 Jul 2019 at 4:04pm

What's the name of this song?

Shaun Pickett's picture
Shaun Pickett's picture
Shaun Pickett Monday, 1 Jul 2019 at 6:12pm

Just Friends by Monsoon Moon ;)
lnkfi.re/2oUJpXZu

Ape Anonymous's picture
Ape Anonymous's picture
Ape Anonymous Monday, 1 Jul 2019 at 4:58pm

Dude at 1:30 got a deep shack!! Some vortex tunneling going on there for sure.

ringmaster's picture
ringmaster's picture
ringmaster Monday, 1 Jul 2019 at 5:27pm

Great waves no doubt but how the fuck do you people surfing between Sydney and Noosa motivate yourselves to paddle out with the ridiculous numbers in the water whenever it's half decent?

After watching that and about 5 minutes of the live feed from Snapper today on Coastalwatch, I momentarily hated surfing and the whole scene that it is.

More than happy to have to put on a 4/3 and hood down here as a trade off for the human filth in warmer water up North.

Solitude's picture
Solitude's picture
Solitude Monday, 1 Jul 2019 at 6:19pm

Many of us avoid it for lesser known, lesser quality and less crowded spots. They are still out there

Blowin's picture
Blowin's picture
Blowin Monday, 1 Jul 2019 at 6:59pm

Plenty of great waves getting ridden without the circus. You’ve just got to get away from the cities and cross your fingers that the media muppets don’t turn up in your neck of the woods .

NickT's picture
NickT's picture
NickT Tuesday, 2 Jul 2019 at 7:42am

You are so wrong Ringmaster. There were a few spots firing on this swell and if one long patch of sand can attract literally hundreds of surfers that would otherwise travel down the coast a bit more then isn't it a good thing? You can have your 4'3 and your howling winds. We get uncrowded quality waves most sessions. Water is still 22c here too. Enjoy that hot tea by the fire

Nick-Trista Wagner's picture
Nick-Trista Wagner's picture
Nick-Trista Wagner Tuesday, 2 Jul 2019 at 12:51pm

You only see the Snapper circus on the cameras, was out there today no problems getting a wave if you sit wider than the camera lens. There are plenty of quality waves around if you are happy no to be seen and know where to look.

The Fire's picture
The Fire's picture
The Fire Monday, 1 Jul 2019 at 6:27pm

Ringmaster- same logic as lotto, you gotta be in it to win it.

That last wave is a classic- you burnt that guy so i can burn you x5.

Lotsa guys in steamers... weird.

goofyfoot's picture
goofyfoot's picture
goofyfoot Monday, 1 Jul 2019 at 6:29pm

First wave is wave of your life material.
Last wave is go to jail for murder material

Ahhh the goldy

tubeshooter's picture
tubeshooter's picture
tubeshooter Monday, 1 Jul 2019 at 7:04pm

classic failed burn at 1:18 ,,
I hope the offender got 2 beatings.

Brian from Brissy's picture
Brian from Brissy's picture
Brian from Brissy Monday, 1 Jul 2019 at 7:10pm

Is that Ryan "Turtle" Grey... triple pit... legend

freeride76's picture
freeride76's picture
freeride76 Monday, 1 Jul 2019 at 8:15pm

Ringy it's madness and this might possibly be the most hyped swell in history, especially with Snapper being live broadcast today with commentary (courtesy of the taxpayer btw).....but I'll disagree with Blowin here: there aren't plenty of waves like this , in fact there isn't anywhere like it in the world.
Probably in a couple drifts at Kirra you are going to get tube time if you make the drop, possibly a really sick one and maybe the wave of your life.
Snapper is a different story, much more locked down behind the rock.

Also sad fact is alot of NENSW premium Pointbreaks are off-line or very mediocre at the moment because of lack of sand so you can paddle around in very ordinary surf knowing the Goldy is off it's tits or you can get in the mix and try and nab one or two.

Blowin's picture
Blowin's picture
Blowin Monday, 1 Jul 2019 at 9:16pm

There’s only one Kirra , but there’s waves to make you smile in a big way without needing expose yourself to that kind of madness.

Agree with the hype thing though. I heard that the Coastalwatch muppets were live streaming with commentary , which I honestly believe is a new low point in Australian surfing.

We are so lucky to have had the run we’ve had over the last few decades before it came to this.

Agree with Ringmaster in his overall view though . I’ve been tempted to put up the forecasts of other places around Oz just to it the stomach churning levels of East coast hype into perspective. Not much to be gained by doing that though.

Thank Christ the surf media is East coast centric.

shoredump's picture
shoredump's picture
shoredump Tuesday, 2 Jul 2019 at 5:31am

I agree in that we had a lucky run, I caught the end of it in the 80s. I disagree that live streaming swell events is a low point though. I mean if you prefer to watch netball then I’m ok with that, but there’s no denying that forecast good days (everyone just take responsibility for their own hype here) forecast pumping days is a big part of this culture. I looked into it around the last great CB event, and found that’s its doable, and considering I get 90% off all last minute airfares, I could do it for a lot less than you might think. You know where to find me SN :) ........
Had a great day of waves at home yesterday, overhead quality semi secret beachbreak, deep in a scenic National Park, bluebird conditions, and just us 4 mates. Heaps of opportunity for this on the east coast for those that want it

Blowin's picture
Blowin's picture
Blowin Tuesday, 2 Jul 2019 at 7:09am

Shoredump- I’m off the concept because it’s unsolicited filming of a public event.

Where’s the privacy gone ?

As if surf cams aren’t bad enough , now you’ve got people’s surfing efforts being commentated and packaged for consumption. No one in the line up at Snapper signed a contract saying that Coastal watch could broadcast their session, let alone have some bastard throwing their narrative in there.

Why not livestream Rabbit scratching his arse and kicking the footy down at the oval ? He gets no option to appear or not , no say in how he is presented. He gets no payment or credit. And we all get to pile in with our live broadcast comments on his performance.

Fuck that.

Im also of the opinion that crew who film others getting worked whilst jumping off the rocks and then sell it to surf sites need to be kicked in the arse till their teeth rattle out.

What kind of evil paparazzi bullshit is that ? Take your camera and your skulking mercantile voyeurism and fuck right off.

Maybe it’s old fashioned to think that you can do anything without some cock sticking it up on the internet without your consent ?

Maybe it’s old fashioned to just think that a public place shouldn’t be filmed for private commercial gains ?

The only saving grace is that it was at Snapper. A joint already ruined. But you just know it’s ony a matter of time before other spots are on there.

The same fuckwits responsible for this would be having wet dreams about taking their filming lark to more exotic spots .

Upcoming forecast ! XXXXXX bay on the pump ! Live-streaming now !!!!!!

Swell alert !!!!!!!!

Don’t even think of missing this session.....everyone take the same day off work and be at the same spot at X o’clock !!!!!

And we will film it all. No wave should break without it being live-streamed .

I guess that the crew filming surf spots for cube monkeys to watch would be all good with other crew filming ther missus laying on the beach and then live streaming it to a website for the guys who beat off in the sand dunes . Public place wth no right to privacy.

abc-od's picture
abc-od's picture
abc-od Tuesday, 2 Jul 2019 at 8:05am

Coasatlwatch only hosted it. The live stream was created by MySurf, an arm of Surfing Australia, so it was paid for by you and me

The Fire's picture
The Fire's picture
The Fire Tuesday, 2 Jul 2019 at 8:00pm

Blowin man you can babble shit hey. Good luck trying to change status quo online via whinge posting 24/7.

Blowin's picture
Blowin's picture
Blowin Tuesday, 2 Jul 2019 at 9:33pm

Hey Fire - Go fuck yourself , cobber.

If you want to get out out Snapper and mix it up with 400 hassling fucks just so Rabbit can give you a shout out , then good luck to you.

I’d prefer that whole concept was left in the cum stained gusset of Surfing Australia’s skid marked undies rather than given a head of steam in the real world.

Give those fuckers an inch at Snapper and they’ll be trying to pull it at places where people just want to go surfing without their circus act shitting on the rug.

Anyway , you stick to your blown out , paparazzi live stream and leave the rest of us to go surfing in peace.

How’s that sound ?

The Fire's picture
The Fire's picture
The Fire Wednesday, 3 Jul 2019 at 8:22pm

Nice.

You know this is an all ages website, right?

NickT's picture
NickT's picture
NickT Tuesday, 2 Jul 2019 at 7:45am

Nicely put

shoredump's picture
shoredump's picture
shoredump Tuesday, 2 Jul 2019 at 8:21am

I don’t understand why you like unsolicited filming that’s 6 hours old, like the kirra cleanskins video, or how you love 24hr+ unsolicited surf photography, like wave of the day, but have a problem with live stream. It’s the same thing. I do get your comment, and it has merit, but I can’t accept it from anyone who frequents any surf website. I just think surf websites, and the WSL, are best if they reflect surf culture. Swell events are one of our favourite parts

syril500's picture
syril500's picture
syril500 Monday, 1 Jul 2019 at 8:44pm

Just ruthless those drop ins. What happened to respect? That shit just turns me off surfing.

freeride76's picture
freeride76's picture
freeride76 Monday, 1 Jul 2019 at 8:47pm

Honestly if my local break was even halfway breaking how it should I wouldn;t even be thinking of the Goldy.
But I'm that sick of swells just going to waste and wide burgers, semi close-outs etc etc that I've put Kirra back on the radar.
got a couple good ones during Oma.

Looks like the pattern, just like Post-Oma, is going to devolve into a week of straight onshore E'ly muck, so there's no point waiting around for it to clean up and get "pretty" around here. We are going to end up in the same position we started with: no sand, poor surf.
Its gunna be a long, frustrating week watching vids of the Goldy, might as well drive up, paddle out and have a go.

nextswell's picture
nextswell's picture
nextswell Monday, 1 Jul 2019 at 8:53pm

Not true rm. I live north of Coffs and get most swells to myself. Not a classic pointbreak but only a k from home. Inconsistent on the wknd but super clean and the odd shoulder which gives a surfable wall. Get lots of enjoyment watching these crowded gc clips. Makes you truly appreciate a quiet beach break. Let them have their ‘perfect points’!

freeride76's picture
freeride76's picture
freeride76 Tuesday, 2 Jul 2019 at 8:45am

much, much smaller today, and much better.

looks like the live broadcast of snapper has had a desirable effect of dragging crowds away.

Bnkref's picture
Bnkref's picture
Bnkref Tuesday, 2 Jul 2019 at 11:16am

FR, I was up roughly your way last week for a break from the cold down here in Vic. Welcomed on Monday by a max of about 12, a howling southerly and 40mm of rain.

Went for a drive to check out the point on Tues after never seeing it in the flesh. All that rock on the beach and in the shallows was a surprise. And the point itself was a sorry sight. Wind affected burgers breaking all over the place.

JackStance's picture
JackStance's picture
JackStance Tuesday, 2 Jul 2019 at 11:37am

The burns...

Robo's picture
Robo's picture
Robo Tuesday, 2 Jul 2019 at 2:30pm

15 - 20 is a crowd where i live

AndyM's picture
AndyM's picture
AndyM Tuesday, 2 Jul 2019 at 3:46pm

What a fun day - might have been a bit slow at times and the banks are far from epic but it was good value and the crowds were civil.

Time to pull up a seat in front of the backyard firepit and enjoy a rum.

freeride76's picture
freeride76's picture
freeride76 Tuesday, 2 Jul 2019 at 3:50pm

did you end up getting some good ones Andy?
I found a good one to go in on eventually.

Blowin's picture
Blowin's picture
Blowin Tuesday, 2 Jul 2019 at 4:23pm

Lucky buggers.

I saw a crowd of 8 having a ball on some sssssssmmmokers this morning.

dellabeach's picture
dellabeach's picture
dellabeach Tuesday, 2 Jul 2019 at 4:29pm

Much more user friendly between 10 and 12 this morning.
I counted only 95 guys out from the lookout at 9:30.
Much better odds than last night when I estimate around 250 frothers were out...most waves had 3-4 guys taking off shoulder to shoulder.
Perfect waves but literally a lottery to get one with no outside interference.
If you choose to paddle out, you can't complain, it is what it is.

AndyM's picture
AndyM's picture
AndyM Tuesday, 2 Jul 2019 at 4:57pm

@FR - yeah I got quite a few fun ones, ended up being out there for the best part of 5 hours. To cap it off, my last one was a wide one from out off the corner to past the hut, walled up and with some push, so happy days.
You sounded happy with the Desert Storm...

freeride76's picture
freeride76's picture
freeride76 Tuesday, 2 Jul 2019 at 5:40pm

you gotta love that. enjoy the rum. I smashed it a bit hard down at ....... on the weekend so I'm staying dry.

Island Bay's picture
Island Bay's picture
Island Bay Saturday, 6 Jul 2019 at 4:31pm

3or 4 snapped boards at Kirra, even today. And it was about 10 times better than it looked and than I thought it would be.

Back to NZ tomorrow. Thank you FR76 and AndyM and other point locals for having me. I got some gems, and will be back.

Thank you to Kirra peeps for today, which was a bloody bonus and a half. Uncrowded, fast, hollow. Friendly crew, too. Maybe everyone is surfed out.

freeride76's picture
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freeride76 Saturday, 6 Jul 2019 at 5:41pm

good stuff IB, you timed it well.

Island Bay's picture
Island Bay's picture
Island Bay Monday, 8 Jul 2019 at 9:21am

Yeah, still can't quite believe how lucky I've been.

And while I'm obsessing over Kirra, what board would you ride out there at say 3-4ft, and solid 5ft? Just curious. I was on my Russ Short Bonzer, but was dreaming about my Byrning Spears deep six.

yocal's picture
yocal's picture
yocal Monday, 8 Jul 2019 at 9:48am

I scored it on Friday arvo low tide. It bumped back up in size and was draining. Reminiscent of the old pre-superbank Kirra until Pizza Hut, then it ran off. But some of the heaviest waves (closeouts) i caught were at north kirra after fighting the crowd it was an apt way to end each lap! Butterbox was all-time IMO and I saw some heavy barrels ridden through there.

yocal's picture
yocal's picture
yocal Monday, 8 Jul 2019 at 9:51am

3-4ft up to 6ft I ride a heavily rockered 6'3 or 6'4 with narrow overall outline (i'm 6'1). Or in other words the board in my quiver which i make the most takeoffs with.

Island Bay's picture
Island Bay's picture
Island Bay Monday, 8 Jul 2019 at 9:56am

Nice one, yocal!
Sounds like my experience on Saturday. So much juice.