The weekend drought breaker - photos

Stu Nettle picture
Stu Nettle (stunet)
Swellnet Dispatch

By my reckoning the last time the lower East Coast got hit by a swell of any significance was March 6th. That's the last time I had cause to walk to the far end of the board rack. Yeah, we've had some mid-range swells - including the ten days of Easter swell - and the odd south magnet has raked in some acutely directional Southern Ocean beef, but it's been a long time since the whole coast was bathed in big waves.

But that's what happened this Saturday and Sunday. A long range groundswell - topping out at 15 seconds, correct me if I'm wrong, Ben - hit Saturday morning and built through the day. It ran headlong into a perfect nor-wester, the wind even laying down for an arvo session of pure silk. The swell was still strong on Sunday and the wind, at least everywhere outside the northern Illawarra which was very strong offshore, was again fantastic.

Not only did this swell break the drought but it did so with an accuracy that every cube monkey should be thankful for: it hit Saturday morning, dropped Sunday arvo leaving plenty of memories for the working week.

This gallery will be updated over the coming day.

Justian Goode edging in late during an epic paddle session 50 or maybe 100 kilometres from Sydney CBD (Photo Brad Whittaker)

One of many great waves Boogs VandePolder paddled into on Saturday (Photo Brad Whittaker)

Boogs charging for the cause...

...and relishing the effect (Sequence Brad Whittaker)

An unridden gem on the lower Hunter (Photo Trevor Anthoney)

Unknown surfer enters the bowl section at the above wave (Photo Trevor Anthoney)

The Red Bull Cape Fear comp didn't run on Saturday and you can argue that decision all you want but the lack of surfers provides some clues (Photo Dazz White)

Few crew paddled out on Sunday but - Dean Jamieson locked in (Photo Brad Whittaker)

Saturday, 11:55am, Northern Beaches (Photo Simon Hayward)

Midday perfection (Photo Simon Hayward)

Give a guy a chance (Photo Simon Hayward)

Bad decision, Kiama (Photo Phillip Winterton)

Ellis Nichol late but composed, about 100 kms give or take from Sydney CBD (Photo Clarrie Bouma)

Hedgey breaks out the Bushman midday Saturday (Photo Clarrie Bouma)

Styling to the very end (photo Clarrie Bouma)

Rissole dragged himself away from the Island  (Photo Brad Whittaker)

Matt Griggs during the moment in between  (Photo Brad Whittaker)

Tod Laurence, Shark Island  (Photo Brad Whittaker)

Unknown punter heading for a scalping, Shark Island  (Photo Brad Whittaker)

Beautiful drop after midday Saturday (Photo Dazz White)

Last legs in the city on Sunday (Photo Dazz White)

A couple more of Boogs VandePolder just because (Photos above and below Brad Whittaker)

And finally, here's how Swellnet forecaster Craig Brokensha spent his weekend...

Comments

Fairy Nuff's picture
Fairy Nuff's picture
Fairy Nuff Sunday, 23 Jul 2017 at 7:23pm

a

goofyfoot's picture
goofyfoot's picture
goofyfoot Sunday, 23 Jul 2017 at 7:55pm

running from the swell Craig? hehee..

Cracking photos..

udo's picture
udo's picture
udo Sunday, 23 Jul 2017 at 8:16pm

Oi not running from the swell ..
ms pineappleheads casting couch is inside that tent....good choice craig .

Craig's picture
Craig's picture
Craig Sunday, 23 Jul 2017 at 9:24pm

Haha, hard choice but clear windless days in the BC on weekends are rarer.

Found waves later this arvo, just took 7 hours :/

evosurfer's picture
evosurfer's picture
evosurfer Sunday, 23 Jul 2017 at 10:15pm

This Boogs dude saw him out ulus 2 years ago in the giant swell of the century
give the word class surfers out there a surfing lesson.

farquarson's picture
farquarson's picture
farquarson Monday, 24 Jul 2017 at 6:39am

If I had to choose a best photo - I'd pick boogs.

the-spleen_2's picture
the-spleen_2's picture
the-spleen_2 Monday, 24 Jul 2017 at 8:21am

If I had to choose best three he'd be in all of them. Watta session!

groovie's picture
groovie's picture
groovie Monday, 24 Jul 2017 at 6:56am

Awesome w/end of waves ! Winter finally arrives!!! GR8 photos really shows the quality & power delivered by the best swell of the winter so far!

daisy duke kahanamoku's picture
daisy duke kahanamoku's picture
daisy duke kaha... Monday, 24 Jul 2017 at 7:46am

Epic photos! What are the chances of success for the bloke in the first photo??

I'm giving him less than 20% .....but 100% for comittment.

stunet's picture
stunet's picture
stunet Monday, 24 Jul 2017 at 9:09am

The word from the channel was he "didn't quite make it" but the effort was appreciated by everyone out there, applause, cheers etc.

abc-od's picture
abc-od's picture
abc-od Monday, 24 Jul 2017 at 7:49am

I was wondering about that shot too. It looks like a crazy Shippies double up. Great effort.

Womble123's picture
Womble123's picture
Womble123 Monday, 24 Jul 2017 at 8:59am

There was a photog smashed at Shark Island. concussed and bleeding pretty heavily from the head/face. Someone (legend) swam him in on their bodyboard and the entire lineup at the point was shouting and waving for the lifeguards - to no avail.... Had to be swum the entire way in. Apparently his camera housing picked up by a fishing boat so hope he gets it back and is ok.... anyone hear how he pulled up?

Craig's picture
Craig's picture
Craig Monday, 24 Jul 2017 at 10:05am

Wowee!

goofyfoot's picture
goofyfoot's picture
goofyfoot Monday, 24 Jul 2017 at 10:27am

He just blew the wave of his life... poor bastard

tonybarber's picture
tonybarber's picture
tonybarber Monday, 24 Jul 2017 at 10:16am

What a magic weekend. As the photos show, swell every where, the wind played its role. From where we were, there quality breaks every few kilometres.

syril500's picture
syril500's picture
syril500 Monday, 24 Jul 2017 at 7:22pm

Doesn't get any better than that newcastle footage

udo's picture
udo's picture
udo Monday, 24 Jul 2017 at 7:43pm

Goddam shame Boogs wasnt in Newy..faark that would have been epic viewing

Snowsurfmatt's picture
Snowsurfmatt's picture
Snowsurfmatt Monday, 24 Jul 2017 at 8:08pm

guys pushing hard in xl conditions, wasn't long ago I was reading that Australian surfers are pussies , I don't think so