Well that's the quarter-century up for the 'new' millenium.

Things that once seem so far-fetched: wave pools, surfing in the Olympics, have come to pass, and in the case of pools have become passé - though besides being built in a desert, the latest Revel Surf Park looks exciting.

On the competition front, 2024 delivered another popular world title for John John Florence, and the Olympics gave us the odd exciting moment, and was promptly forgotten about a week later. After two appeances, this seems like it'll be the pattern for Olympic surfing: largely a commercial enterprise, meaningful for a fortnight every four years, minimal impact on surf culture.

With so many people surfing now, surf culture is more broad and diverse than ever. As much as is possible, we've tried to cover it and I think it shows with the range of stories on offer this year.

Here are the best stories from the year that was.

Geoff McCoy 1944-2024

"His Earthly body departed, his ideas alive forever."

Not sure what it says that the most popular story on Swellnet in 2024 was an obituary. Are we a morbid bunch? Perhaps the best explanation is that Australia has a long lineage of visionary shapers and Geoff McCoy sat at the top of that particular totem pole. McCoy was bold and innovative, he was also arrogant and self-sabotaging. What he wasn't was mundane, or pedestrian, or without opinion, and this, even if you never liked his boards, made Geoff McCoy a superstar during Australian surfing's glory years.

March Of The Stormtroopers: A Brief History Of Deadmans

"I first laid eyes on Deadmans in the mid-70s and knew immediately that I’d never surf it. In fact, nobody did then, or so I thought."

Penned by longtime Manly surfer Pete Mitchell. Pete's an avid social media poster and this article grew out of one such post. It could only have been written by a local, for not only was he curious but Pete had the contacts and he also knew the various eras of the wave - many of which occurred before Deadies felt the media spotlight.

A Perfect Circle: An Ode To The Rip Bowl

"An understanding of outflow, ability to triangulate, and capacity to sprint paddle when needed, are other skills the smart rip bowl surfer possesses."

While most of his articles are weather or forecasting related, Craig's scientific curiosity roams across all of surfing's fertile paddocks. This time it grazed on the wonders of the rip bowl, how they work, but also a look at the surfers who seek them out.

Best of all, it led to another great article, this one written by Lachy McDonald about the Mornington Peninsula, which is the rip bowl capital of Australia.

A Novel Way To Deal With Crowds

"By communicating with them and helping them catch a wave, you create the conditions for reciprocal behaviours."

Written by Steve on the second day of the new year, meaning the height of school holidays on the NSW Far North Coast, it's a treatise in coping with the hordes. Best of all, it didn't lean on rat cunning but an understanding that you are the crowd and the crowd is you. Even if thinking of yourself as a fraction of the whole didn't get you more waves, it helps rationalise the often-frustrating act of surfing in crowds.

Surfing Banned In Hong Kong And Norway

"...thrill-seeking residents were putting their lives in danger and exposing frontline officers to risk."

In November, surfing was banned in both Hong Kong and parts of Norway. It was a bit of a nothing story though it served as a reminder of just how good we have it here in Australia.

Bali Cliff Collapse

"Set in the white cliffs of Uluwatu, with incredible ocean views and onsite lifestyle amenities, Amali Luxury Residence brings new heights to serviced living."

A short photo gallery taken just days after the construction mishap caught the attention of huge numbers of people; the comment thread a lightning rod of anger and frustration. Amazingly, the cliff collapse was gazumped by other enviro vandalism stories emanating out of Bali and surrounds: cliff clearing near Uluwatu temple; a proposed road around the southern Bukit coastline; an escalator at Pantai Kelingking on Cenigan; a daring clifftop residence also on Cenigan.

It's hard to see the end point of Bali's rampant development and it hurts to think about it.

Would You Pay For Extra Waves?

"Put six of them between, say, North Kirra Surf Club and Tugun and you would transform miles of closeouts into reliable surf spots which would relieve pressure on the Superbank."

Another engaging thought piece from Steve. This time contrasting surfing with fishing, not just the act of standing on a board or wetting a line, but also comparing the organisations who support each activity and how they're improving the sport for their followers. Among many projects, fishing orgs restock rivers and create artificial reefs - at last count 150 of them around Australia.

Surfing Australia has no similar vision, yet if it did, would we support it? The comments numbered in the hundreds and made for great reading.

Josh Morgan: The Sounds Within The Silence

"Just like in other zones, bodyboarders on the Mornington Peninsula took heavy water surfing to another level with the discovery and pioneering of new waves."

One of the more satisfying stories of 2024 was this bio on Josh Morgan by Lachy McDonald. The story was always going to get a response from Victorian surfers, particularly those on the Mornington Peninsula who've crossed paths with Josh, yet it was in the comments from surfers who've never met him that its worth as a story was justified.

Josh is deaf, blind in one eye, but despite these obstacles he became wedded to the ocean, especially when it was at its angriest, while also cultivating admirable human qualities.

Gallery: Flat-Lining At Five Metres

"From Monday to Wednesday the Significant Wave Height flat-lined at five metres, while the Maximum Wave Heights hovered between eight to eleven metres."

Three days in July that saw Deadmans masquerading as a near-perfect wave, with Craig parked in the channel, finger on the record button, mouth agape in awe. 

How Do You Choose A Surfboard?

"“What are you riding, mate?” has led me down many fruitful paths."

Another comment collector from Steve, again showing his nous for tapping into the little-known yet strongly-held beliefs of Aussie surfers. This time on board design, our predilection for various design strands, and who influences those decisions.

All important matters of course.