Watch: Ethan // Mexico

Stu Nettle picture
Stu Nettle (stunet)
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Just when I'd convinced myself that Ethan Ewing - despite his speed, precision, and style - was not the Great White Hope of Australian surfing, and that any comparison to Andy Irons was entirely overblown, the fella goes and drops this clip.

No airs*, but count (if you can) the number of full-rail gaffs - all of them delivered with an easy elegance.

*Except for the third wave.

Comments

ryder's picture
ryder's picture
ryder Monday, 22 Nov 2021 at 1:01pm

Buttery...

Craig's picture
Craig's picture
Craig Monday, 22 Nov 2021 at 1:11pm

Scintillating!

tango's picture
tango's picture
tango Monday, 22 Nov 2021 at 1:12pm

That 2:25 turn was pretty spot on.

thermalben's picture
thermalben's picture
thermalben Monday, 22 Nov 2021 at 1:27pm

Bloody hell, he surfs alright.

Ricko2526's picture
Ricko2526's picture
Ricko2526 Monday, 22 Nov 2021 at 1:56pm

No airs. *Air on the third wave.

Blowin's picture
Blowin's picture
Blowin Monday, 22 Nov 2021 at 2:08pm

Let yourself be drawn down the YouTube Algo hole of Ethan Ewings stylistic slashing. Don’t hold back…immerse yourself.

It’s Andy Irons X Shane Powell gold.

I reckon he’s too chilled in his surfing sometimes and that’s why he sometimes becomes nigh invisible during heats. The talent and moves are there but he seems to lack the chip on his shoulder which delivers that teeth baring exclamation to his big turns as shown by certain stumpy legged sons of Italian immigrants and bipolar older brothers of effortlessly gifted and feted younger siblings.

Ethan needs to have his grizzled old manager violently pushed towards heart attack by a thoughtless competitor in order to bring forth his inner demon for savage revenge.

Or something.

lilas's picture
lilas's picture
lilas Tuesday, 23 Nov 2021 at 6:46am

I think the main reason apart from his chilled character, is that Ethan comes from North Straddie and that place is so very chilled. No one is in a hurry and the place literally runs on "Island Time"
Most people don't know this but his amazing style has some very deep genetic roots.
it was handed down by his mother who was one of Australia's [unsung] Women Surfing legends. His mother, Helen Ewing, who has unfortunately since passed, won Bells at the age of 16/17 [Helen Lambert] She could have easily gone on to be one of the best women professional surfers in the world were it not for the choice to raise a family.
I can say with authority that his mum absolutely ripped as I spent my grommet days watching her smashing lips left right and center. Totally committed to every wave and was always pushing the limits of what was possible on a surfboard.
I used to look up to her for how beyond vertical she could blast reos as she was pushing it beyond what any of the local guys could do.
It's so sad that Helen passed a while ago and considering Ethan would have been a young teen at the time, it must have been[still is] a difficult time.
Seems worthy though that her choice to shun a surfing career and raise a family, would deliver us one of the best surfers in the world.
Even if Ethan doesn't find that mongrel in him to win comps, I think most people would happily watch his Free-surfing video edits for the rest of their lives.
Surely this clip puts a stamp on him having possibly the fastest and most critical forehand snap currently on the planet?. I can only think of Toledo as anyone being able to match the speed and ferocity of his turns. [pro surfing only]

AndyM's picture
AndyM's picture
AndyM Tuesday, 23 Nov 2021 at 10:22am

Good post mate, I was thinking the same thing with regards to him being an island boy, it's a different mentality over there. very little flash or ego, just grass roots community.
And nice little ode to Helen, she was one of the most impressive surfers I've ever seen in the water, all power and drive and low centre of gravity.
Great style too, so no real surprise with Ethan there either.
Maybe his future lies outside of turns to the beach for points?

spiggy topes's picture
spiggy topes's picture
spiggy topes Tuesday, 23 Nov 2021 at 1:17pm

On the money Lilas re Helen Ewing's passing at a critical time in her sons' lives. As far as the genes go, he's got Helen's cool flair and the stamina and musculature of dad Bill, without the height. As an individual he is growing strongly and one can only hope the best is yet to come. If the frenetic pace and intensity of Brazilian surfing ever gives way to crystalline style and perfect execution Ethan will be a contender. Coaching can often be the all important pivot-point.

brownie48's picture
brownie48's picture
brownie48 Monday, 22 Nov 2021 at 2:17pm

Hahaha Blowin...well written

I heard on the webcast in the Mexico comp that he has teamed up with Mike Parsons and if that is correct then the new Ethan will be far more polished and effective in a heat than the old Ethan

Blowin's picture
Blowin's picture
Blowin Monday, 22 Nov 2021 at 2:27pm

Ethan Ewing couldn’t be more polished. Lacking polish isn’t his weakness, Lacking aggression is his weakness.

Getting Mike Parsons to coach Ewing in effective aggression is like getting Miss Piggy to coach in subtlety and restraint.

freeride76's picture
freeride76's picture
freeride76 Monday, 22 Nov 2021 at 2:42pm

Have to agree.
Saw a lot of him surfing excellent quality Point surf in 2020 and thought he might go top 5.

Doesn't bring enough major turns to heats.

And he lacks a bit of spark and variety in repertoire above the lip, which means unless he goes super hard like Morgan Ciblic for eg, he gets overshadowed by more progressive surfers.

I think he needs more aggression and also a little upgrade to the skillset.

Damn, he links those power turns up good though and throws so much spray.

Blowin's picture
Blowin's picture
Blowin Monday, 22 Nov 2021 at 2:55pm

It’s a shame that he’s competitively motivated as I find his heats a bit meh, whilst his YouTube clips are excellent.

He needs his truly beautiful surfing framed by a truly beautiful cinematographer. I don’t mean just well filmed like all the standard Billabong clips, I mean an artisan crafted film like the Old Jack McCoy Billabong epics.

His strongpoint is the sheer perfection and completion of his surfing. That needs to be showcased in perfect waves using a creative eye. Frankie Oberholzer would have been undervalued in a rashie too.

I was thinking this just yesterday as I watched Sik Joy* for the first time in ages.

*The weak link in the McCoy Dreaming series. Still excellent but a couple of the music choices were fucken appalling.
“Sing, sing something “…..WTF?

Working my way through them in order of increasing appreciation.
Sik Joy < Sons of Fun < Bunyip Dreaming < Green Iguana

amb's picture
amb's picture
amb Monday, 22 Nov 2021 at 2:45pm

Enjoyed listening to the Sunnyboys, been awhile

andy-mac's picture
andy-mac's picture
andy-mac Monday, 22 Nov 2021 at 3:17pm

That was epic!
Great surfing, guy is ripping. Loving Sunnyboys tune also, blast from the past.
Have to track down pumping Kirra with 'Tunnel of Love' turned up on Kong's Island.

OHV500's picture
OHV500's picture
OHV500 Monday, 22 Nov 2021 at 4:02pm

Epic Sunnyboys - and the surfings not bad either, the speed from his bottom turns :)

udo's picture
udo's picture
udo Monday, 22 Nov 2021 at 4:22pm

On Fkn Fire..
there is something very special about that board ..speed and extra projection [?] out of turns..

Komodo's picture
Komodo's picture
Komodo Monday, 22 Nov 2021 at 5:28pm

Ripping

tiger's picture
tiger's picture
tiger Monday, 22 Nov 2021 at 7:33pm

Sick ripping, spray aplenty! Was just doing dinner prep earlier listening to double J, and they had sunny boys on classic albums. Epic arvo in the kitchen!

san Guine's picture
san Guine's picture
san Guine Monday, 22 Nov 2021 at 8:55pm

One of those surfers who is very easy on the eye.

Not a pump pump pump air guy, so will be consigned to the annals of professional surfing history. A ripper but...

The flotsam and jetsam that litters professional surfing (please EW... prove me wrong)

Solitude's picture
Solitude's picture
Solitude Monday, 22 Nov 2021 at 9:06pm

As far as top flight surfing is concerned I’d rather watch Ethan go around than most.

With that being said obviously he’s into this competitive shtick so it’s hard to imagine any up and comer not having a very consistent air game in their repertoire if they want to be a serious contender??

I feel it’d have to be a year like when Parko won where it was largely
quality waves with barrels for someone like Ethan to dominate over the fly boys.

Good luck son.

suchas's picture
suchas's picture
suchas Monday, 22 Nov 2021 at 9:15pm

If I was Snips I would get him to ditch the check turns. But I’m not Snips and Ethan rips. Imagine if his repertoire was one continuous stream- like Dane does.

Max Wax's picture
Max Wax's picture
Max Wax Monday, 22 Nov 2021 at 10:20pm

Was thinking the same. Nothing to nit pick at apart from the double pumps

vbaaccess's picture
vbaaccess's picture
vbaaccess Monday, 22 Nov 2021 at 9:19pm

Butter smooth craves maintain speed from one turn to another. Great bottom turns which setup top turn carves. Great to see carving instead of boring airs.

Gowest's picture
Gowest's picture
Gowest Tuesday, 23 Nov 2021 at 8:01am

Riiipppinng no further words required
I knew it was sunny boys early but don’t know the title???

andy-mac's picture
andy-mac's picture
andy-mac Tuesday, 23 Nov 2021 at 8:11am

https://m.

Basil's picture
Basil's picture
Basil Tuesday, 23 Nov 2021 at 10:50am

2.03.... sliding the tail out and pulling it back while air-dropping... So good.

ringmaster's picture
ringmaster's picture
ringmaster Tuesday, 23 Nov 2021 at 1:00pm

Sunnyboys & Ethan Ewing.

A magic combo!

Right up there with Bugs/Kong/Chappy getting sick barrels accompanied by 'Tunnel Of Love' back in 82/83? Must have worn the shit out of that vid back then.........

The MIDdleman.'s picture
The MIDdleman.'s picture
The MIDdleman. Tuesday, 23 Nov 2021 at 3:52pm

Speed.
Back foot never moves.

dean maddison's picture
dean maddison's picture
dean maddison Tuesday, 23 Nov 2021 at 6:11pm

Best ripping by an aussie surfer i have seen in a long while. Fast , on rail , powerful with style. If he is going to cut on the circuit hope his airs are good , or all those filthy gouges will be worth nothing. Still fuck wow . Blowin nailed it , needs attitude.

udo's picture
udo's picture
udo Tuesday, 23 Nov 2021 at 6:57pm
Southside Rodeo's picture
Southside Rodeo's picture
Southside Rodeo Tuesday, 23 Nov 2021 at 9:32pm

His style is so elegant and graceful it's incredible. That said, I much prefer the on edge feel to John John, Dane or heck even Dusty Payne. It's not that Ethan's surfing isn't as good as those folks it just lacks something that holds my attention. Alright, I'll just say it, it lacks mongrel.

Bungan33's picture
Bungan33's picture
Bungan33 Wednesday, 24 Nov 2021 at 8:37am

Sunnyboys and full speed, style dripping rail surfing - what a cracker way to spend 4 minutes. Had to rewind the foam climb reo thing at 2:20 several times to see what he actually did - too fast!.

Gra Murdoch's picture
Gra Murdoch's picture
Gra Murdoch Wednesday, 24 Nov 2021 at 9:44am

So pure. Great to learn about his folks. And indulgently apropos of nothing, post-HSC summer of '84, TDK 90 minute tape: side A Talking Heads, Stop Making Sense, Side B Sunnyboys Live – practically all we listened to the whole summer, non-stop, the soundtrack to extremely good times with the crew. I can't hear a track from those albums now and not be taken back. Bloody hell!

gragagan's picture
gragagan's picture
gragagan Wednesday, 24 Nov 2021 at 12:19pm

I love the crack at 1:00.
This whole vid shits all over any pump-pump-spin crap

Iced vovo's picture
Iced vovo's picture
Iced vovo Wednesday, 24 Nov 2021 at 3:01pm

Watch the above side by side with Jordy Smith's 'Silver Linings' episode 2 edit at Jeffreys Bay, good to compare.

fcalmon's picture
fcalmon's picture
fcalmon Wednesday, 24 Nov 2021 at 3:25pm

One of those days when you feel invincible and everything you do just works.... Fantastic surf and great soundtrack!

mugofsunshine's picture
mugofsunshine's picture
mugofsunshine Friday, 26 Nov 2021 at 10:46pm

That two stage bottom turn, once you see it you can't unsee it. Horrid. Give me Tom in free scrubber any day.

david de Figueiredo's picture
david de Figueiredo's picture
david de Figueiredo Wednesday, 16 Feb 2022 at 11:51am

Surfs very clean lines!