Watch: Cape Solander // The view from the end of the rope

Stu Nettle picture
Stu Nettle (stunet)
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At the risk of setting off another fiery thread...

Here's Cape Solander this time last week when the period and size jumped making it, not exactly tow only, but with sets that definitely hit the threshhold.

Funny old place, the Cape, where paddlers tow and vice versa, and to a large degree everyone gets along. It's been that way for twenty years. I might be wrong, but it seems most (all?) of the outrage happens online.

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Sprout's picture
Sprout's picture
Sprout Monday, 1 Mar 2021 at 10:17am
stunet's picture
stunet's picture
stunet Monday, 1 Mar 2021 at 10:40am

"to a large degree"

Remigogo's picture
Remigogo's picture
Remigogo Monday, 1 Mar 2021 at 10:36am

What you are saying Stu is just what I had suspected all along.

But what do I know, coming from quieter parts of the country.

stunet's picture
stunet's picture
stunet Monday, 1 Mar 2021 at 10:49am

I haven't surfed it for a long time but I used to get out there a bit and it was always an eye opener when the tow crews rocked up. Place would stink, you'd be unnerved by how close they'd come before veering away, and the skis would distract at a wave that really needs focus, yet no-one else seemed perturbed by it.

Perhaps because many of them also owned skis, or took the opportunity when thrown the rope? Can only assume. Anyway, it's a tight-knit crew and they seem to sort things out themselves.

Guess some of the BBers get uppity, and not without cause.

mikehunt207's picture
mikehunt207's picture
mikehunt207 Monday, 1 Mar 2021 at 11:00am

Looks like Tim can add destroying local flora to his resume, that track he blazed in a national park will end up a meter wide and there will be another bunch of guys doing the same thing next time (same happens all over north point bush too, photogs walking all over plants to get that "unique" perspective) - clueless city folk or just selfish cunts? You decide, but jeeze nothing like some stupid plants can get in the way of filming your mates towing through paddling surfers for social media fame.
It didnt look like the paddlers were struggling to catch waves so calling bullshit on that excuse too (go Kirk!).
Tim has a long history of bringing people to film and surf at other peoples breaks, his thick skin and the fact he sucks up to the tough cunts or the local sponno brigade so he can do this doesnt mean he is any less hated by the rest of the surfers he is fucking over with his actions.
As for the selfie stick selfie talk while hiding in the bush .....

panaitan's picture
panaitan's picture
panaitan Monday, 1 Mar 2021 at 9:17pm

Agree. Its a national park for a reason - to preserve the native flaura and fauna. Your just stuffing it up to earn some cash. Just like every other greedy environmental vandal.

Trentslatterphoto's picture
Trentslatterphoto's picture
Trentslatterphoto Tuesday, 2 Mar 2021 at 10:54am

dudes runs his own race and that's cool but he has no respect and is tight as a fishes ass hole.

Blake87's picture
Blake87's picture
Blake87 Tuesday, 2 Mar 2021 at 12:40pm

Guys, c'mon. It's not like he used a chainsaw or anything

Spuddups's picture
Spuddups's picture
Spuddups Monday, 1 Mar 2021 at 12:27pm

Skis around paddle surfers is like a red flag to a bull round here. I accept the idea that perhaps some of the locals at Cape Solander don't mind jetskis but I'm guessing that the people that do mind have gone somewhere else.
I'm generally a pretty mild mannered fellow, but jetskis are one thing that really make me lose my shit. I farken' hate them. I hate the noise, the smell and the general fucktard nature of some of the people that drive them. On planet Spud they'd be all chucked into a giant purpose built machine and shredded. Their owners would be sent to re-education camps where they'd undergo intensive psychological realignment using techniques banned by various UN conventions. Upon release they'd spend two years under intense supervision by mentally unhinged ex-Stasi operatives.
So yeah, it's the subject I love to hate. On a positive note though it does add some interest to my otherwise crushingly mundane existence. A bizarre variant of The Stockholm syndrome if you will.

stunet's picture
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stunet Monday, 1 Mar 2021 at 1:23pm

Ha ha...from furious anger to curious love in two sentences.

Epic post, Spud.

Spuddups's picture
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Spuddups Monday, 1 Mar 2021 at 2:45pm

Slow day here aye.

The Fire's picture
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The Fire Tuesday, 2 Mar 2021 at 6:49pm

I wanna hear more about planet spud.

billie's picture
billie's picture
billie Monday, 1 Mar 2021 at 6:15pm

Well said (or ranted rather?). Love it.

marcus's picture
marcus's picture
marcus Tuesday, 2 Mar 2021 at 4:26pm

yes we (secret custodians of the place for 15 years before they found it) were moved on. they tried towing at island and I voiced my opinion.

many of the original riders that kept these places secret have moved elsewhere

they made a rule we could only surf it at night or before 8am, i surfed it at night. he watched me surf it at night, helmet with torches bolted to it.

the magasine asked him where he got the idea for day makers to surf it at night and do a photospread, he said i dunno.

kooks

never once in 15 years did we ever take a photographer there and claim wonky towed in barrels.

never once did we tell a soul.

and we are the kooks?

Spuddups's picture
Spuddups's picture
Spuddups Tuesday, 2 Mar 2021 at 5:53pm

You don't come across as a kook to me.

davidinindo's picture
davidinindo's picture
davidinindo Monday, 1 Mar 2021 at 11:36pm

Off piste in a national park means more fences and less access for the the general public that do follow the rules, shame on you!!! Its happening up and down the coast! And a 250kg jet ski tow rope near taking a free surfers head off needs to be addressed!!! As a high profile surf videographer you need to be at the fore front!!!!!

billie's picture
billie's picture
billie Tuesday, 2 Mar 2021 at 9:28am

Caaaarn BonyThong, give us your argument

Tim Bonython's picture
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Tim Bonython Tuesday, 2 Mar 2021 at 1:37pm

Here's my argument. I have camera, will travel, love the beauty of mostly large waves that break in a way that's unique too any other spot. And as I have always said, 'waves are the star, surfers are there to enhance it'. All I am doing is what I always did is and that's put a lot of effort into what i do in capturing those moments. The politics of what happens in the water is nothing to do with what i like to document.
I just point, focus & push that red button.

Spuddups's picture
Spuddups's picture
Spuddups Tuesday, 2 Mar 2021 at 6:11pm

Fair enough Tim. You were an observer, so no harm done really. Sorry you had to get dragged into this whole anti tow-in thing. It's a favourite topic amongst us grumpy old men on this forum. The whole thing really kicked off with some rather unscrupulous towing at Kirra and Snapper a few years back. Since then it's got a life of its own.
As for the exposing of spots thing, well I have no skin in the game, so I don't get involved. I do really enjoy watching your clips though. It's obvious that you are passionate about what you do and it shows in the high quality of what you produce.

billie's picture
billie's picture
billie Tuesday, 2 Mar 2021 at 8:53pm

G'day Tim, I appreciate your response, authenticity and often, your videos.

However; I don't agree with your response.

I believe you are complicit in the game. It is clear that you often meet surfers to share a jetski and grab the footage. That to me is a lot more than "just point, focus & push that red button". I believe it actively encourages the towing and the thoughtless behaviour to get footage for the internet and social media.

I also think it's pretty bad form to trample through beautiful bush. I am a keen bushwalker and I find it sad when I see track after track trampled through gorgeous coastal heath so that fisherman or surf photographers can shave a few minutes off a walk.

tango's picture
tango's picture
tango Tuesday, 2 Mar 2021 at 10:10pm

Plaudits to Tim for fronting up, but I agree wholeheartedly with Billie.

Rabbits68's picture
Rabbits68's picture
Rabbits68 Wednesday, 3 Mar 2021 at 12:34am

What Billie said. Really surprised you thought trashing the bush and documenting it was somehow going to enhance the clip. I usually support and enjoy your clips/films but that was totally unnecessary, arrogant and disrespectful. May a large tick be currently enjoying your ball sack...

billie's picture
billie's picture
billie Wednesday, 3 Mar 2021 at 12:58pm

Yeah, I'm also glad that Tim is engaging on here. I judge that this wouldn't be easy for him but I'm grateful for his presence. There is some discomfort in this and the other related thread. Discomfort for Tim and the Jet skiers, discomfort for the viewers, discomfort for myself and other writers for being assertive, discomfort for the viewers that may enjoy it. I'm just really glad that their is a discussion and it is civil and mature and honest.

Blake87's picture
Blake87's picture
Blake87 Tuesday, 2 Mar 2021 at 12:50pm

Well I appreciate the footage, cheers Tim.

With the ski thing. Some sketchy instances for sure that need thinking over but let's be honest, the paddlers aren't going to move aside even if there are heaps of tow-only waves. Yeah the law says , from memory, skis need to be 50 or 100m from surfers, but wouldn't you prefer to come to an agreement to share the line up on days like this where numbers are low anyways?

Just a thought.

science's picture
science's picture
science Tuesday, 2 Mar 2021 at 2:13pm

There are no rules against "bush bashing" through national park (obviously leave your machete at home) - they are open to the public - in fact most NPs allow "back country" camping where you create your own adventure provided you follow the rules and regulations. Ffs they're not museum exhibitions; it's the wild and to prohibit exploration removes the most basic of freedoms. If you like paths go to the botanic gardens or a zoo.

Ben Harding's picture
Ben Harding's picture
Ben Harding Tuesday, 2 Mar 2021 at 9:44pm

+1

tango's picture
tango's picture
tango Tuesday, 2 Mar 2021 at 10:16pm

Sure, NPs are open to the public and the public are encouraged to use them in a way that maintains the natural values. As a ranger for NPWS in Sydney Harbour NP a long time ago, I think it's pretty clear that bush-bashing is actively discouraged in national parks, particularly in proximity to popular places. If everyone enjoyed "the most basic of freedoms" and bush bashed there'd be trampling all over the shop and b-grade tracks everywhere.

I wouldn't have classed anywhere near Kurnell as "the wild" but after reading the antics in the first post link, I'm not so sure.

greg-n.williams's picture
greg-n.williams's picture
greg-n.williams Thursday, 4 Mar 2021 at 6:59am

Experienced the Jet Skis a few years ago @ "Bin Alley" where sets were 6ft & paddling in wasn't an issue but the rip was. After four or five tow ins behind where I was taking waiting to takeoff I decided enough was enough & faded the tow in on the nxt wave after waiting(& paddling to keep in position) for 15mins. No respect shown to me by the tow-ins who ignored the 50m rule & wanted everything that came through! They have there place in surfing & that in my opinion is when you can't paddle in anymore & can only surf by being towed in! As far as T.B. goes well enough said by Billie who I agree with, the word 'complicit' tells the story here!