Photos: Island Swapping With Ethan

In early October, Gold Coast-based photographer Josh Bystrom thought his time on Namotu was up. He'd spent a month there as staff photog, caught a number of good swells, including one that Jack Robinson, Joao Chianca, and Yago Dora had flown in for, and was ready to head home.

Yet one more swell appeared on the forecast, and word was Ethan Ewing was leaving his North Stradbroke home to catch it.

Josh delayed his exit to watch the world's pre-eminent style master ride Cloudbreak, the newly-minted CT location. The following text was penned by Josh on the plane ride home.

I’ve been in Fiji for just under a month and seen three solid swells during this time, two of which were incredible, laced with long period energy, while the other didn’t quite live up to its potential but by traditional standards was still pretty bloody good.

As I write this, Cloudbreak and Restaurants are still pumping, and they will be again in a few more days as another swell is about to enter their swell window.

During this time I’ve seen a steady increase of big names visiting the island chain which is a little out of the norm. So too is the relentless swell the South Pacific served up through September and October.

Once again, Fiji is well and truly on the radar of professional surfers, from Jack, Joao, and Kai Lenny a few weeks ago, to Ethan Ewing, this week’s big name in the line-up.

Having visited Fiji only three times previously, Ethan explained his reason for the visit: to surf big hollow lefts. Something in short supply at his island home. Ethan travelled with fellow North Stradbroke Islanders, his brother Curt, and Bede Durbidge.

Bede, having surfed on the WCT for thirteen seasons, provided insider knowledge on the area: where to sit at Restaurants, the best waves to look out for at Cloudy, while also keeping the froth factor high whenever a crazy wave thundered along the reef at Cloudbreak.

Ethan took to the water, immediately making his presence felt, dissecting lips on triple-overhead waves with his smooth backhand flow. His prowess under the lip also made apparent with some of the best backhand barrel riding I’ve ever seen out there, ducking and weaving under the lip and then putting on the E-brake at the end to maximise that last little bit of tube time.

His back injury, incurred in August at Teahupoo, seemingly not a factor in any of the decisions made out there in some pretty testing conditions.

In addition to his incredible style, Ethan is also a humble fellow, going out of his way to chat with the guests on Namotu island and an ol' photographer like me.

Vinaka vakalevu, Ethan, we can’t wait to see you on tour next year and of course back here in Fiji.

Though not huge, the swell was very long period and arriving during a time of light tradewinds, the mornings almost perfectly still. Curtis Ewing slicing the glass as the swell began to fill in.

Ethan on one of the bigger waves of the swell. Shortly afterwards a clean-up set smoked the pack and a disorientated surfer climbed onto Ethan's board thinking it was his own.

Namotu lifeguard Eden Hage paddled this one via a second ledge roll in, providing one of the craziest moments of the swell.

Ethan slowing for the barrel in a place where most surfers are gunning for the shoulder.

Ethan and the result of tight positioning.

Curt, above and below, screwfooting one of Ethan's board through a beautiful backlit cave.

Though not one of the Stradbroke contingent, Jojo Roper gets a run here as a standout during the swell. Other surfers on that list include Laurie Towner, Taj Burrow, and Ben Wilson.

Despite the afternoon wind threatening the chandeliers to fall, Ethan still kept his act deep and clean.

Similarly with brother Curt, who remained calm when the spray began to fly.

Fellow islander Bede Durbidge - Ethan's Cloudbreak confidant - scoops in late as the colours dim.