Stop Thinking, with Russell Bierke - video

Stu Nettle picture
Stu Nettle (stunet)
Swellnet Dispatch

The modern surf clip is often criticised for the overuse of air revs, but that's not a charge you can throw Russell Bierke's way. The young south coast fella toys with the other end of the wave riding spectrum: late drops into clubhouse-size waves over barely submerged reefs. Stop thinking indeed...

Comments

zenagain's picture
zenagain's picture
zenagain Saturday, 29 Aug 2015 at 10:03am

Pretty cool vid but why do they dick around with the editing? Do they think it's cutting edge or new wave or something? (scuse the puns)

That bomb at 2:20 was looking the goods then he edited it into three stages and missed all the crucial stuff.

Sorry, but in my opinion:- C- (fail)

udo's picture
udo's picture
udo Saturday, 29 Aug 2015 at 10:20am

Russ-Is the real deal. Looking forward to seeing the boy in the Cape Salander comp

Vimeo: A length of Thrill Russel Bierke

memlasurf's picture
memlasurf's picture
memlasurf Saturday, 29 Aug 2015 at 10:38am

Couldn't agree more Udo. Great surfing particularly the way he glided backdoor into the big left hand peak on that elephant gun. Beautiful to watch has great backhand technique. Does he surf his own shapes?

stunet's picture
stunet's picture
stunet Saturday, 29 Aug 2015 at 10:49am

Nah, he rides his Dad's boards. Kirk Bierke is originally from So Cal but spent 17 years surfing and shaping on the North Shore before moving to Australia. He now shapes out of Ulladulla.

crustt's picture
crustt's picture
crustt Saturday, 29 Aug 2015 at 11:23am

Young Russell would have most likely been sprinkled with talcum powder than glass dust for the opening scenes :-))), though he should learn to shape, follow in his dads footsteps and beyond.

Rabbits68's picture
Rabbits68's picture
Rabbits68 Saturday, 29 Aug 2015 at 10:42am

What a talent. Brilliant.......

goofyfoot's picture
goofyfoot's picture
goofyfoot Saturday, 29 Aug 2015 at 11:27am

Felipe I hope you're watchimg

wingnut2443's picture
wingnut2443's picture
wingnut2443 Saturday, 29 Aug 2015 at 1:08pm

Hahahaaaa... yep.

zenagain's picture
zenagain's picture
zenagain Saturday, 29 Aug 2015 at 12:15pm

Sorry, I failed to acknowledge what a great talent Russ is. Charging those very serious waves.

Maybe I overeacted a bit, just watched the vid again and it's awesome, just disappointed the wave I wanted to watch to completion was chopped.

wingnut2443's picture
wingnut2443's picture
wingnut2443 Saturday, 29 Aug 2015 at 1:09pm

Yep, easily THE wave and it has some weird edit ... perhaps, the images were held back to be sold?

zsurfnut's picture
zsurfnut's picture
zsurfnut Saturday, 29 Aug 2015 at 3:53pm

FN great music / surf clip combo is all I have to say

blow-in-9999's picture
blow-in-9999's picture
blow-in-9999 Saturday, 29 Aug 2015 at 5:31pm

I miss the South Coast so much. SEQ (mainly the Sunny Coast and Northern NSW) has some sick setups but its just too fickle.

t-diddy's picture
t-diddy's picture
t-diddy Sunday, 30 Aug 2015 at 1:13am

A few things...
a) You didn't finish your sentence 'The modern surf clip is often criticised for the overuse of air revs'.....by people who can't DO them
b) this kid is charging
c) Am I the only 1 who feels this kid may be transgendered? (eg, 1:38)

syril500's picture
syril500's picture
syril500 Sunday, 30 Aug 2015 at 6:26am

Great backhand tube riding skills. Love that one he pulls back on at the 2:30 mark with the whole lineup looking back thinking "no way".

udo's picture
udo's picture
udo Wednesday, 2 Sep 2015 at 8:49pm

Lets hope Russ gets a invite to next years Cape Fear comp, non event this year, waiting period finished.

earthbound's picture
earthbound's picture
earthbound Friday, 4 Sep 2015 at 6:59pm

I've known the family since they moved here from Hawaii, and has footage of Riss as a frothing 12 year old grom surfing 2 ft close outs. What's always struck me about the family and by default Russ is their humility. Kirk, his dad, has charged bigger waves than I care to dream about and has been focussed on it quietly forever. He once told me he'd rather surf big Puerto than Indo any day because it was unruly and unpredictable, unlike the mechanical predictability of Indo!! Point being, Russ is a breath of fresh air because he's humble and groomed for this from a very young age, from a caring supportive family. I really wish him the best and that he stays safe whilst going so hard!!!