Watch: Russell Bierke // Flow State
It's been three years since ol' Russ released his signature film, 'Bezerke'. The same year, Russ won the nastiest big wave comp of all time, the 2016 version of the Cape Fear contest, held 6/6/16 when the Black Nor'easter swell lashed the Solander bedrock.
And there's been other milestones since: big Peahi, big Nazare, a big injury incurred down in Vicco, and a couple of big Shippies paddle ins (1:30 and the last wave).
You may notice the common adjective...
Yet despite the outsized efforts, Russ has kept his ego in check and it sings to our collective psyche: let your actions talk.
Like 'Bezerke', 'Flow State' is a longer form clip clocking in at fifteen minutes, however it ain't all action with Russ and Brett Burcher indulging in some banter across the console. But don't look for profundity, you wont find it here, as like all elite athletes with innate talent, Russ can't quite say why he can do what few other surfers can.
However, it's a rare chance to hear him talk and he's serene, almost meek, and wonderfully unpretentious. The same attitude that's served him so well in the water.
Click in, people.
Comments
Far out man, fifteen minutes of heavy drops and mad barrels with the odd swerve....
never grows old.
This is one of those longer clips that you really should check out.
love that you get to see the paddle in and drop on some of the heaviest ones.
XXXX beer? Seriously?
Breathtaking surfing, beautifully shot and edited, and that's all you can say?
+ take your fucking feet off my dash?
Definitely take your feet off my dash!
No you can't swear ...mate!
Get your feet of the dash....
some of the best late take offs i have seen. this guy has it wired.
the slow mo and music were perfect. i was holding my breath on some late take offs
Spot on bipolar, the slow mo in this case is absolutely necessary.
Ditto the paddle ins... this is where it all begins and what we want to see in these types of waves.
Bloody hell, he's getting better switchfoot backside barrels than I get frontside, non-switch (10:18).
Haha I was thinking "hang on wasn't he backhand on the lefts now he's backhand on the rights?"
Some serious skills.
Fantastic footage, though being at work I have to mute sound so can't comment on the sound track.
Ha! I just figured they flipped the footy...
Didn't you notice his legrope is on the front foot, ergo, switch foot!
That was incredible
He is next level. I would love to see him on a surf trip on a surf trip with JJF. They have a very similar temperament.
Yep. Totally agree. And don’t force the dialogue....
That last one at Shippies. Insane skills and instinct.
Fucking brilliant! Definition of a hard core charger.
THIS CLIP IS NEK LEVEL
Best clip i've seen all year. Incredible waves. An Aussie surfer to be proud of. Those extra paddles he does to get down the beasty ones are a beautiful display of holding his nerve when every instinct is probably telling you to jump up early. Great footage.
I was thinking the same, leaving the jump late, I reckon most would’ve tried to get up earlier and failed.
As said above amazing clip. He appears to be at the pinnacle of Australian slab surfing. Nice to see such a humble bloke getting some credit for what he’s doing.
How late is he on those lefts? Does Russ get waves at pipe? Does he bother?
Would be amazing to see him in the Pipe Masters Solitude... He'd give alot of the top guys a run for their money.
He’d be a worthy wildcard that’s for sure.
He is Hawaiian
The two angles of the last wave are fantastic. In the first, the land angle, he seems to delay his bottom turn and I wondered why - was he struggling to get his rail in? - but the answer is clear in the water angle when you see the step, not a big one but a step nonetheless, move up the wall of the wave, and he has to clear it before putting his edge in, only just managing to evade the lip.
Amazing wave.
And apparently on a 6'2. Stunned.
Wow. Glad I put the headphones on and watched intently. Sound and vision. Amazingly technical left backdoor take offs and a new line from further back at Shippies. A camera is there but know he would do it anyway with no-one watching unlike more than a few other big wave surfers.
Complements to the director/photographer... top shelf film... rare in this day.
nuts how he solved the step problem at Shippies by going deeper, thus avoiding it, as Stu noted.
Almost all paddlers take off deeper than the step when I've been there. There's a little chip in which then grows down the line towards the step ledge (some waves go ugly, others don't and are perfect) onwards into the big end bowl barrel.
ok, that was the first time I've really seen someone deeper than it paddling.
Amazing stuff Russ & AK. Some beautiful work in here.
Wow, incredible vid. The soundtrack for suspense and drama, those waves and the vision.
Iv'e said it before and will say it again, no one else is taking off as deep and making slabs as heavy as he is in Aus, and even the world..
Between this and Noa's clip... and the 1ft SC lunchtime beachies... I think I'll just keep pretending to work.
Huge balls, determination and skill - he is incredible. Beautifully shot.
What a great bookend between the first and last wave that looked just as impossible.
Incredible.
Waves, surfing, thoughts, music, sound....
wow.
and the switch foot..
Well to me Brett Burchers latest and this would make good bookends....both great vids and the guys are good mates....be hard to find better.
Can’t add much more to what’s been said.
He’s just got something different in his reflexes or something.
Between him, JJF, and Jack Robbo If I only had to watch their clips for the rest of me life I wouldn’t mind a bit
Yeah how about a specialist event - scrap the WSL endless heats at pipeline instead have
JJF
Jack Robo
Russell
Surf the best of the winter swell
Can't believe you picked 3 natural footers, goofy. haha
Hard to think of someone who’s surfing waves like that better. Maybe JJF? The guy’s an absolute natural. Makes it look effortless.
epic
Amazing surfing, cinematography and soundtrack.
Amazing! Your surfing is now the best on Earth! Or is now the time?
The perfect fusion of equipment, skill, mind state and self belief = Russel Bierke. So much to appreciate in such a relatively small video clip.
(Everything plus) Equipment! Yes. Confidence and skill ain't worth dung if we can't rely on our equipment. Good work Russ' dad, keeping the young fella safe.
Russ, man. Look after those shoulders, knees and hips - you'll keep charging till at least 55.
That was a truly masterful display of big-wave surfing! Top shelf production levels too.
Just watched this with my boys and my 7 yr old goes( super deadpan)" That was epic". Yes it was mate. Cheers Swellnet for epic content.
Pure barrel fest..yeeew!!
What?WOW!!Just lost for words??Russ n Jack Robb=Oz has the best free surfers in the world
I wasn't lost for words...I said bullshit!!! Atleast 4 times.
Ha ha- me too.
Interspersed with 'you're fucking kidding me!'
Me too. Absolute bullshit might I add!!!
Epic classy edit..perfect combo music and timing..
Unbelievable, I’ve got goosebumps watching that! One of the best clips I’ve ever seen. No one comes close to him in those slabs, he has such an instinct and incredible reflexes. So sick!
This is the best big wave vid I have seen. The guy is balls on legs and the direction, music cinematography etc world class. Well done team!!
Sheeesh...Ive got a sore neck from tensing up as I watched. That was beautiful and scary and intense all at the same time. Best thing Ive seen in ages.
Wowzers!
This vid really is something...
There's not too many vids that I'll watch again, but this one takes the cake.
I was manoeuvring the office chair under the lip, I didn't make it
I'm lowering the chair on my next viewing
Outrageous!!! Thanks Russell, not many surf vids I revisit as many times as this one!!