Watch: And Russ comes a'gutser

Stu Nettle picture
Stu Nettle (stunet)
Reels

With one wave under his belt and the size on the rise, Russ Bierke would've rightfully been feeling good about the upcoming session.

Instead, he buried the nose on his second wave, skimmed down the face and into the path of the pitching lip. In his own words he, "got slammed hard on the bottom and my elbow found a sharp bit of reef."

"Thankfully missed my arteries and muscle."

Russ was helped from the water and out of his wetty by good mate Sean Mawson.

And despite being the one with stitches he added, "I feel like some people don’t take this place as seriously as they should."

Footage by Andrew Kaineder and O'Neill Australia.

Comments

Walk around G's picture
Walk around G's picture
Walk around G Monday, 1 Feb 2021 at 12:03pm

Should have waited a few hours after lunch at least, before watching that one......nasty!

_Bodhi_'s picture
_Bodhi_'s picture
_Bodhi_ Monday, 1 Feb 2021 at 1:31pm

Fark mate!! that gash looked really gnarly... Damn, poor bloke.

udo's picture
udo's picture
udo Monday, 1 Feb 2021 at 1:34pm
Spuddups's picture
Spuddups's picture
Spuddups Monday, 1 Feb 2021 at 1:42pm

Goes with the territory I suppose. Looks like he got off fairly lightly this time. I cringe when I watch him surf sometimes. He's a rare combination of raw talent and balls of steel. I wish him all the best.

When I was younger I had the no talent and balls of tin combo. Just lacking enough in the brains department to push myself over the edge but not enough talent to pull it off. I took quite a few beatings before I finally decided to settle down a bit.

joesydney's picture
joesydney's picture
joesydney Monday, 1 Feb 2021 at 4:17pm

I think the secret might already be out.....

theblacksheep's picture
theblacksheep's picture
theblacksheep Monday, 1 Feb 2021 at 1:55pm

Years ago a mate took me fishing to this spot and it was 6-8+ foot and firing and not a soul. The most perefect spitting barrels breaking onto what I thought was dry rock and would be unrideable.
Occassionaly one looked makeable and for a split second I contemplated paddling out but couldnt understand how you could survive a wipeout or getting caught. Just goes to show the next level people are going to these days. Hats off chargers.
ps maybe they dont show the headland so it's not recognised but Id love to see a drone shot of how close they are to death

Jamyardy's picture
Jamyardy's picture
Jamyardy Monday, 1 Feb 2021 at 7:02pm

You might be thinking of another wave. No one comes anywhere close to a headland when surfing out there.

eel's picture
eel's picture
eel Monday, 1 Feb 2021 at 7:24pm

This wave is quite a ways out to sea. I reckon you're thinking of supers.

simba's picture
simba's picture
simba Monday, 1 Feb 2021 at 2:18pm

hes lucky ...cause it couldve been worse

Vunerable's picture
Vunerable's picture
Vunerable Monday, 1 Feb 2021 at 3:20pm

Keep charging fella ! good luck with your recovery.

andy-mac's picture
andy-mac's picture
andy-mac Tuesday, 2 Feb 2021 at 7:25am

Ouch!
Better elbow than skull.
Interesting that in a lot of the Pipe and Chopes footage coming out now guys are wearing Gaths.
Seems like no brainer when surfing waves like this...
Quick recovery mate....

loungelizard's picture
loungelizard's picture
loungelizard Tuesday, 2 Feb 2021 at 9:46am

not schadenfreude as he has always seemed a cool guy, but a near drowning, this, who knows what else, helps in justifying the occasional (well..) pullback and no go as justifiable caution and not pure cowardice..