Greg Long and Grant 'Twiggy' Baker are unlikely surf partners and not just because of their age difference. More than ten years seperates the big wave duo and they live more than 10,000 kilometres apart, Long in San Clemente, California, Twiggy in Durban, South Africa. Yet despite the distances in age and geography they've formed a formidable team, first as tow partners and now as sparring partners operating at the vangard of big wave paddle surfing.

Their recent southern hemi winter travels has seen them in South Africa, Puerto Escondido and also a very fruitful trip to the desert coast of South Australia. South Oz has had a bumper winter harvest and the lads timed their trip well intersecting with an incredible swell. Upon landing they teamed up with Josiah Schmucker for a number of huge paddle sessions at an open ocean break.

Josiah has made a name for himself surfing this wave and sharing the line up with the two best big wave surfers in the world was a rare treat. It also provided a gauge on what it takes to make it as a big wave professional. As the photos show the local lad isn't far off the pace.

Following the big wave sessions Greg and Twiggy were treated to a few smaller, yet no less hollow, reefs in the region. Keep an eye on Swellnet later in the week for those photos.

All photos by Jeff Schmucker except for the 'feeding time' photo which features Jeff and was taken in local waters a few years back.