Photos

"First stop was a classy right hander known as Joysticks which is located in The Bay of Plenty. The name says it all, when you are surrounded by four breaks...well, that's plenty."

While a classic winter south swell hit Tahiti, a rare unseasonal east swell has been gracing the Queensland and northern NSW points.

Square and shallow, this wave bears an uncanny resemblance to the Box at Margaret River, except it ain't that Box, it's the other Box.

'Twas a spectacular light show at Manly last night, however the observers weren't looking skyward but across at the waves.

Over the last couple of years Steve Arklay has escaped the slow Victorian summer by spending time in Papua New Guinea.

Every shot a winner.

They say the ground has been moving this winter in Perth. The foundations of limestone shacks in Cottesloe, Scarborough, and other beachfront 'burbs have been shaking under the best season for swell in living memory.

"July was firing, of that there is no doubt." Thus begins the July Maldives Report - with photos!

This morning's Wave of the Day caption was 'Another way to a happy Monday' and that could apply to this gallery of photos.

Last weekend the West Oz coast was hit by the biggest swell of the year so far. After a day of incredible waves in Perth Mike Maxted packed up the Cessna and flew south over the coastline. 

Dawn revealed corduroy lines stretching to the horizon as a field of surfers witnessed Padang Padang as good as it gets with solid 6-8 feet bombs raging in against fierce tradewind conditions.

Six to eight foot barrels exploded onto razor sharp reef for the Teahupoo Trials yesterday. Tuamata Puhetini and Nathan Hedge finished 1st and 2nd respectively to win wildcards into the prestigious Billabong Pro Tahiti. But with the reward came the risk — Kevin Bourez, younger brother of Michel Bourez, suffered an horrific wipeout, going head first into the reef.

Whilst the surfing world has collectively focused on Taj Burrow and Mark Mathews' recent quest for innervision at The Right, the same session was attended by a bevy of local and travelling surfers who also scored some filthy barrels.

A lonely trip to a lonely island somewhere in the Indian Ocean.

Check these frames from Round 1 of the Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang, courtesy expat-Australian-now-Indonesian photographer Mick Curley.

Sandy Desert
Snowy Mountains
Surf Coast

Ray Collins is an ex-coal miner with a keen eye for light and form. These are ten of Ray's best photos as chosen by the man himself.

Cenny Coast tube hound and multiple Australian Indigenous champ, Russ Molony, hooks up with younger bro Grant during a hollow session near home.

Last weekend's oversized south swell on the East Coast was better in some regions than others, and one place that turned on was the Far North Coast of NSW. 

The waiting period for the Red Bull Cape Fear runs out on August 1st and with little on the charts it appears the much anticipated comp won't be held. Temper your disappointment with these photos.