It's a seven hour journey from Marrawah to Shipsterns. Six hours by car through the core of the Apple Isle, then an hour by ski to the south-eastern extremity. It's a trip Zebulon Critchlow makes often. "I try and get down there whenever Shippies breaks," says Zeb.

This video was shot two Tuesdays ago, the same day that James Hollmer-Cross came a'gutser on a solid one and broke his arm. As clear as the footage is, GoPros distort the vision making it hard to gauge size or distance. "It was about 6 to 10 foot," said Zeb. "Though there was the odd 12 footer."

The first three waves are Zeb, while the last wave is Alex Zawadski. "Zadders wave is one of the 12 footers," says Zeb.

As for the tow and paddle mix, Zeb says the ski only comes out when no-one is paddling, and anyway, Shippies hasn't been immune to the paddle push that's happening everywhere across the globe. "Marti Para has led the push down here. He's led by example, paddling into some real big waves."

"He also knows more about the line-up than anyone. I've learnt a lot from him." Sitting tight on the ledge as an approaching set looms is one thing, tackling the notorious Shippies step is another.

"You've gotta let it come to you," says Zeb nonchantly. "Stay as low as you can and then bend your knees when you land." Sounds simple...

As for board size, Zeb is going shorter not longer. "I had a 6'6" for paddling but I found the transition too tight for a 6'6"." Also, having too much board behind his back foot was messing with control when the foamball came lurking. 

So Zeb got shaper Stuart Smith to make a 6'3" to paddle into triple overhead Shippies. "It's got 30 litres of volume," says Zeb. "It paddles unreal."