What at first appears a standard hero's journey story, promises something altogether different.

Stephanie Johnson is still coming to terms with her recent excursion to Toonalook Point. "I couldn't help but be concerned and upset at the distress many of the surfers seemed to be in," said Ms Johnson.

A lively li'l vid with Mason surfing V'land about as big as it holds.

Long before he sold it as a product, Shanan Worrall used the theory behind Shark Eyes to protect him as he dove in sharky waters. These days, as interactions increase and statistics pile up, he's informing surfers about something the dive community has long known about.

The pre-dawn air bites as Ryan Scanlon trudges across the frost-covered paddock, gumboots crushing grass beneath his feet. While the surf might be pumping at Bells and Winki, just seven kilometres to the south-east, he's got 100 cows to milk before school.

Through the fog, he can just make out a glow emanating from Torquay – Australia's surf capital and home to industry titans Rip Curl and Quiksilver. The same distance that takes fifteen minutes to drive is a distant world to the teenage farm boy, hands raw from manual labour.