The Mad Hueys just dropped their Kirra clip and of all the cuts you've seen theirs is the best on the 'net. Got lots of barrels, hollow POV shots, and what's a Mad Huey's clip without a splash of beer?
carebearsandunicornsTuesday, 24 Feb 2015 at 4:09pm
So Euros getting towed in in 8ft Hossegor or Supertubos are lame, but the Mads using jet skis in 5ft Kirra are cool?
AndyMTuesday, 24 Feb 2015 at 9:45pm
Does anyone know if there's a petition or a movement I can join to encourage the Powers That Be to ban jetskis anywhere near surfers in the water?
panaitanTuesday, 24 Feb 2015 at 11:29pm
I'm with you Andy. What sort of wan##r thinks its OK to take a ski out in those conditions. I don't care who you are. It sets a bad precedent that just kills everything thats so special about a day like that at Kirra. What if everyone turned up with a ski! Is it not illegal in QLD like in NSW to be within 200m of a surfer?
cjt101Thursday, 26 Feb 2015 at 6:13pm
panaitan wrote:
I'm with you Andy. What sort of wan##r thinks its OK to take a ski out in those conditions. I don't care who you are. It sets a bad precedent that just kills everything thats so special about a day like that at Kirra. What if everyone turned up with a ski! Is it not illegal in QLD like in NSW to be within 200m of a surfer?
As long as sites like Swellnet keep promoting their mates to act like wankers and think their superstars, the practice of towing in to 5 foot barrels will unfortunately continue. Wakeup Swellnet and think about it.
AndyMThursday, 26 Feb 2015 at 8:07pm
Well said cjt101, what do you say Swellnet?
Do you want to condone and essentially encourage small wave tow-ins at breaks already crowded with paddle surfers by showing these videos?
Are you part of the solution or part of the problem?
There's a lot of people out there who feel very strongly against this and I'd guess they're in the majority.
mk1Tuesday, 24 Feb 2015 at 4:02pm
First stop on the World Tour starting this weekend - The Mad Hueys Pro!
YEW!
floydTuesday, 24 Feb 2015 at 5:00pm
I don't care how good these knuckleheads can surf based on their occasional clip its all a brain free zone.
bum_acidTuesday, 24 Feb 2015 at 5:31pm
the backhand choob was pretty insane
tom heranTuesday, 24 Feb 2015 at 6:04pm
yew!
Clivus MultrumTuesday, 24 Feb 2015 at 6:06pm
Is it true the Mad Hueys take their name and inspiration from Iain Hewitson, that sausage fingered buffoon from Network Ten that is forever spruiking Bi-Lo?
jaunkempsTuesday, 24 Feb 2015 at 7:13pm
HAHAHAHA awesome Clivus, had $1.85 pork sausages from Bi-Lo at his restaurant one night and sent them back as they weren't cooked on the grill just par boiled and scared with the flame, he came out and glared around the room looking for the sausage clown, love the connection, fatso will always be just that, Mad and Full of Cream giddy up XXX
leckiepTuesday, 24 Feb 2015 at 9:10pm
Someone get Iain 'Huey' Hewitson towed into a bomb set during the Quikky pro!
Could be just what the WSL need to really ignite the viewership.
Clivus MultrumTuesday, 24 Feb 2015 at 9:35pm
Uh hah! The big fella surfs? The plot thickens... Like a tasteless and clumsily made dish whipped up by the patron of the Mad Hueys atop a checkered table cloth in a windy off-site location in a time before terms like "plate up" and "hero of the dish" were bandied about network ten's gourmet offering.
leckiepTuesday, 24 Feb 2015 at 10:17pm
Clivus you've cracked the code! It's the long game!
Via a series of adrenaline filled web clips these visionaries from QLD are executing a viral media strategy for ol' Huey. Raising his profile until the youth are salivating for his triumphant return; Clearing the mahogany table of the WSL for a proven viewer magnet: the reality cooking show with a surfing twist. Heavy contingent of reptile (snake?) on the menu at the snapper event, but watch out not to burn it!
Hero is an overused term but surely it's appropriate to describe the self ells and well considered actions of these cats.
leckiepTuesday, 24 Feb 2015 at 10:23pm
*selfless
Clivus MultrumTuesday, 24 Feb 2015 at 11:00pm
As the folks at Ultra Tune profess, LeckieP, you speak-a my language!
CraigWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 10:10am
Huey's got a lotta fingers in a lot of pies.
leckiepWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 2:17pm
Each of Huey's fingers would be about the same diameter as a pie.
digitsTuesday, 24 Feb 2015 at 7:15pm
You don'y know who Huey is? Filth Clip
Clivus MultrumTuesday, 24 Feb 2015 at 9:28pm
I'm led to believe he is a chef / oversized TV personality but his cuisine saaarks so I'm beginning to doubt that. I'm also struggling to comprehend why, if at all, this rag-tag bunch from the Gold Coast have chosen him as their representative, in name if nothing else, hence the earlier comment. Help a metaphorical brother out, digits?
lostdoggyTuesday, 24 Feb 2015 at 11:22pm
Don't know if you are playing dumb, but Huey is a well known name for God of surf.
digitsWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 12:12am
Hi Clivus. I'm an old dude and back in the late seventies / eighties a few mates and I had a very very admiral statue that we used to lay tributes to salute & yell yo Huey at to bring on great surf for us. (Huey the surf god). Back then there were no jetski's, you had to be fit to surf Kirra, Burls, Cylinders and any other point waves for hours when it was on with no where near the crowds of today. MP & Rabbit would be out there. We would surf Dbah to ourselves until Bruce L turned up. Loved your take on it. I still reckon it a sic clip. Stay over it's Huey's
Clivus MultrumWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 12:29am
Thanks for the info, digits. You too LostDoggy. They sound like heady days. Heady days with Huey.
MickyFannyWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 10:01am
I'm throwing down the MickyFanny gauntlet to the Mad Hueys. The next clip must contain:
1. The Statue described by digit;
2. Ian Hewitson in any form (preferably human, living and cooking);
3. Backing track - Hip to Be Square by Huey Lewis;
4. At some point in the clip, Lleyton Hewitt serving at them in a drunken game of A.R.S.E;
5. The real mad 'Da Hui' Eddie Rothman and Graham Stapelberg , Randy Rarick and Paul Speaker strapped to a polygraph. $50,000 going to whoever tells the truth. And the Mad Hueys can ask ANY question they want.
Lets make it happen.
Clivus MultrumWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 10:11am
Swellnet, pull some strings, you've got time.
chookTuesday, 24 Feb 2015 at 8:17pm
tow-ins with a selfie stick. yawn.
AverageTuesday, 24 Feb 2015 at 8:26pm
Is this video taking the piss? I'm sure the words to the song are:
"You.. say... Isn't it hard.. paddling out, paddling out".
No paddling out was part of this movie. All tow all day. Booo
leckiepTuesday, 24 Feb 2015 at 8:54pm
Not sure if they'd be across the irony tbh...
BlowinTuesday, 24 Feb 2015 at 9:19pm
Those waves were purdy.
NatmaniTuesday, 24 Feb 2015 at 9:24pm
That's the best clip of Kirra from this swell. Who gives a shit if they're gettin towed in. If you had a ski, you'd get towed in too
AndyMTuesday, 24 Feb 2015 at 9:42pm
No, I wouldn't tow in because I'm not an obnoxious bogan prick.
wax-on-danielsonTuesday, 24 Feb 2015 at 10:45pm
anyone talking shit about jet skis has never surfed kirra over 3 foot and don't know how bad the rip is.
and don't take away from the fact that someone that rips shit all over you, used a ski to pull into a barrel drinking a beer! u unco's would be lucky to pour a frothy in your face at the pub without spilling it on your dick. more than likely while talking up shit about the last piss-weak soft-core ripples you surfed.
soggydogTuesday, 24 Feb 2015 at 11:44pm
do you have down syndrome? do you need a wheel chair to get to the high tide line? just wondering mate. Gotta go to bed now mate so I can surf some soft-core ripples on my SUP at about 10 ish.
shaunWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 8:47am
There you go a classic dickhead with an intelligent argument defending skis:-))))))))))))
memlasurfWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 4:42pm
Wax you have a way with words and of describing what I can decipher is something about a heavy rip, something about excrement in ones face, a jet ski and drinking beer whilst spilling it down your torso onto your appendage. I think you then go onto talk about small surf. Well done!
camlTuesday, 24 Feb 2015 at 11:23pm
Yep you definately need a jetski to surf kirra over 3ft . Michael peterson wouldnt approve tho
soggydogTuesday, 24 Feb 2015 at 11:26pm
they surf for a living and are local so they can drop in on who they like, I build for a living and I'm local, so given dingo's reasoning I should be able to take over his house whenever the fuck I please and he can just eat a dick and sleap on the curb while I shag his missus in his house....coz I'm a local builder and a fucken sick one at that, oh that's right she left him, well that makes things heaps easier. Sorry bout your house dicko, it's mine now!! Guess it's back to the refuge.
eat-your-vegiesWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 12:54am
theres allways been a sweep @ kirra....... why the jet ski
a lot closer than 200mtrs
wingnut2443Wednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 8:10am
Authorities just need to do their job, and the video evidence makes it clear there are PLENTY of breaches of the QLD Maritime law, which reads:
"PWC rules on the water
If you're travelling at more than 10 knots you must keep a distance of 30m from other moving boats, unless you're involved in an approved aquatic event or where doing so would endanger you or another person.
Consider the density of waterway traffic in the area to determine a safe speed. You must stay 60m away from, or reduce your speed to 6 knots if within 60m of:
people in the water
anchored or moored boats, structures, boat ramps, jetties or pontoons
the shore
the boundary of a bathing reserve.
Exceptions apply to the 60m from shore rule if:
the waterway is less than 120m wide, and:
you operate the PWC as close as practical to a straight line to transit the area
you stay as close as possible to the centre of the waterway or a marked channel
the PWC is being used in waterskiing or towing."
So, as soon as the surfer steps off the ski, or lets go of the tow rope, the ski driver is in breach of these rules, since the surfer and ski are then immediately within 60m of each other (assuming a moving surfboard is not deemed a moving boat, in which case the 30m rule applies), then as the ski progresses along as the surfers ride the wave they, as in this clip, are obviously within 60m of other surfers who are caught in the impact zone.
There is also a "code of conduct" for tow surfing in Qld, in which is states:
"Vessels are restricted from operating in the bathing reserve unless it is being used for tow-in surfing when the beach is closed due to extreme weather conditions and it is not operated within 200 metres of any aquatic equipment, wind powered craft or swimmers."
The whole length of the gold coast, as per the code of conduct guide, is listed as a bathing reserve.
It will be too late once someone gets killed (or badly injured) from being run over by a jet ski ... !!!
Authorities PLEASE do someone NOW.
brutusWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 9:48am
and I think if you are going to tow someone behind you on a PWC..you must have a spotter.......
everytime a ski goes near a wave they are going too fast,no spotter....totally illegal...in place that needs less surfers not more..skis are just a greedy way to surf.....and should be stopped....or if you see anyone with Jetski assist...drop in on them!!
pigdoggerWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 9:14am
Seriously - jet skis in the line-up? Just adds insult to the likelihood of injury. It's lazy and stupid on a day like that. Sure the clip is a good one, but at what price? There are times and places to use jet skis - crowded Kirra on a paddle-in sized day is not one of those times and places.
yocalWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 12:27pm
never seen a day at Kirra that wasn't paddle-in size. We're not talking about 10ft Cape here, it rarely holds 8ft before it washes through!
lindoWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 9:39am
Couldn't agree more with the recent comments re foolishness of having jetskis in 4-5' waves, and thanks Wingnut for pointing out the QLD regulations. Had a close call at Granite quite a few years back - 6' lumpy day with a few of us out there when a jetski comes blasting in towing a grom, presumably driven by dad and with younger daughter on the back. He nearly ran over a couple of surfers, came within 5 m of us, and then got very abusive when we were waving at him to get out of there, spouting some particularly choice language in front of his daughter who must have been 10 or thereabouts. Needless to say he did leave not long afterwards. Moral of the story - people with too much money and not enough brains, trying to turn their kids into pro surfers. What a joke.
surfingbymyselfWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 9:45am
...not across the irony?
I thought their whole schtick was a scathing commentary on Tony's Australia and the elevation of mindless insensitive consumption. Surely that clip of them in the pacific was pre-emptive satire of Tony's nuanced and effective dialogue with Indonesia? Just as this clip and their obvious complete disregard for anyone else in the lineup is commentary the the classic aussie surftrip integration to a foreign lineup? some of these comments seem to suggest that they are doing it in earnest?
Clivus MultrumWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 11:49am
I haven't seen anything to suggest they're doing it in earnest, of all places. The seem focussed around the Gold Coast with the occasional jaunt to PNG.
surfingbymyselfWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 1:15pm
Clivus, you're absolutely right, all gold coast based, not a hint of earnest (although I thought I remembered an earnest or similar sounding suburb up near Arundel/Molendinar?). And that makes sense as another element of their performance art, is there anywhere more appropriate for an extended satire of the crossover of surf/bogan/aspirational culture that they so remorselessly glass with a busted stubby in every clip?
Clivus MultrumWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 4:30pm
SBM, unfortunately my knowledge of Gold Coast suburbs is akin to Team Mad Hewitson's combined knowledge of anything beyond 'how to wear a birdcage when swimming with a tiger shark' or 'how to be a legend by drinking a beer in the ocean'. That is, sweet Fanny Adams. As such, in WA and in earnest, I cant answer your question re the proximity of earnest to Arundel/ Molendinar. I'm liking what you're putting down re performance art though. These mad-dogs are truly next level.
thermalbenWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 9:47am
I can't tell if you're being ironic yourself, SBM.
floydWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 10:35am
@ben, so with so many people deadset against towing at places like kirra why do you continue to feature these videos? you are only encouraging the morons to continue in this illegal and anti-social behaviour.
I await your considered reply.
stunetWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 10:41am
1) It's not illegal.
2) Lots of those waves are paddle.
3) If we made the vid we'd have a say over content. Alas we didn't make the vid.
Rabbits68Wednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 10:51am
Intersting that Brutus says it is illegal, you say it's not illegal. Clearly your both very well versed on a lot of matters covering surfing. Appears to be some confusion about the laws or maybe the interpretation of the laws.
stunetWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 10:59am
Trust me, it's not illegal in QLD under those circumstances. Article to come.
Rabbits68Wednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 11:01am
Thanks..
yocalWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 12:29pm
frothing, will be a good article and good discussion to come...
saltmanWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 3:18pm
stunet wrote:
Trust me, it's not illegal in QLD under those circumstances. Article to come.
What circumstances are they?
When I did my PWC license a few years ago there were no exceptions regarding the laws cited above re speed and proximity to swimmers, surfers
pigdoggerWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 4:06pm
I look forward to your story Stu (no irony intended). And if it is legal that doesn't make it right ... stupid is stupid.
On the legality issue, this is from Maritime Safety Queensland's 'No observer for tow-in surfing' bulletin, last reviewed and gazetted in November 2013:
The PWC (personal water craft) operator must not operate the watercraft at a speed of more than six knots within 200 metres from:
• all persons in the water other than the skier (the person who is being towed)
• all paddle surfers in the water
• all other ships or watercraft in the water.
Sorry to say, Stu, while the video doesn't necessarily show this regulation being breached, it would be fair to assume that it would every time someone is towed into a wave near the those battling the current to stay in the takeoff zone. Not to mention when they are ferrying their riders back to the peak - this alone is enough to make all the paddlers have the shits and thereby lessen the enjoyment for those not fortunate enough to have mechanical assistance.
southeyWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 11:23am
the problem with this is most laws are not actually related to surfing ( ie towing ) .
they were set in waterskiing , and then the eightees when jetski's started to think they were cool .
now we also have access lanes , waterways/channels and swimmers and designated swimming zones . the main problem i see is their is no desgnated " surfing - paddle " zone in legislation .
Qld maybe different , but NSW and VIC are near mirror images in the water laws .
PS , Lindo . ( for your future reference ) an observer ( not spotter ) needs to be atleast 12 years of age ( vic ) and 16 years of age ( nsw ) .
the main issue is tow surfing is looking to frequently release the skier/towee , and then retrieve . As waterskiiing is based on people trying to stay attached .
and if you do release then the boat / ski operator is within their rights to travel to the fallen / still riding skier . the blurred lines is that other surfers are not treated as swimmers but fellow skiers/ towees' / potential particapants . ( ie the ski operator could argue that they were fearful of the persons safety and came within 30M to check .
thank ourselves lucky that all this is partaken in the ocean , because as wingy has said . in narrow rivers most of these rules go out the window and are allowed to pass .
careful what you guys try to push through legislation , people waterskiing on narrow busy rivers like the Murray will also be effected .
floydWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 11:33am
stunet wrote:
1) It's not illegal.
2) Lots of those waves are paddle.
3) If we made the vid we'd have a say over content. Alas we didn't make the vid.
1.) If its not illegal its certainly anti social and against what most surfers in the water want. I await your article on why its not illegal and why it is elsewhere, perhaps your article can explore the inconsistencies in the law between Qld and other states like Vic & NSW.
2) Lots of those waves are paddle …. ???? what's the point your are making here?
3) Vid content …. true but are you telling me / us you have no control over what is posted on your website because that's my point …. Just don't allow such videos showing these tow morons on your website.
So, my question remains unanswered. Why are you posting these vids on your website?
Get off the fence SW!
footnote: I recall being corrected sometime ago when I suggested the surf media & SW was just part of the mutual back-scratching gravy train known as the the surf industry. Prove me wrong guys.
stunetWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 11:45am
You really love telling people what to do, eh Floyd? You a school teacher?
1) I'll repeat again: it's not illegal. It may be against your ethics. So be it.
2) The point I was trying to make is this: lots of those waves are paddle. Clear now?
3) When you have your own website you can choose not to run it. That'll be great!
You can say what you like about Swellnet and surf media, I have no control over your thoughts or words.
So thanks for the advice Floyd. We'll take your suggestions on board with all the respect a level-headed and consistent commenter such as yourself deserves.
floydWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 12:10pm
Crikey, talking about being level-headed yourself stu, not.
I'm no school teacher and I'm also not the one that said on this website last year that they would "……..…" and " …….…" nah, you know darn well what you committed yourself to do stu so call me stupid but I'm just waiting for you to be good to your word (maybe this is what the forth coming article will be about).
Further, I would have thought given your commitments from last year on this topic you wouldn't be actively encouraging towing by showing videos like you have this week.
Stupid and naive maybe but no school teacher.
southeyWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 12:22pm
maybe just wait for the article Floyd .
perhaps stu and ben is just whipping everyone up into a frenzy to get the issue attention ( pre release hype ) before dragging down the whole system ...
or
perhaps its just going to be another article that centres SN in the middle caught between the industry gravy train and angry punters ....
Fuck stu , you've put yourself under a bit of pressure mate ... i hope its pulitzer worthy
the Romans want blood .....
stunetWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 12:25pm
You think we deliberately whipped this up Southey? Appreciate the credit mate.
southeyWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 12:29pm
i reckon you two have been hanging out with Max Markson ( all shoe polish , no socks ) or probably more realistic Singo .
stunetWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 12:32pm
Yeah, keep an eye on Today Tonight for us Southey.
Next stop Hollywood...
DamothediverWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 10:43am
floyd wrote:
@ben, so with so many people deadset against towing at places like kirra why do you continue to feature these videos?
CLICK BAIT!!!!!
thermalbenWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 11:07am
clickbait(Internet marketing, pejorative):Website content that is aimed at generating advertising revenue, especially at the expense of quality or accuracy, relying on sensationalist headlines to attract click-throughs; such headlines.
Headline: "Mad Hueys do Kirra - video".
Subheading: "The Mad Hueys just dropped their Kirra clip and of all the cuts you've seen theirs is the best on the 'net."
Content: Fantastic footage from Kirra, certainly the best clip I've seen so far (although "Kirra: dedicated to Mars" comes a close second). TMH clip also contained the only POV vision to date.
Looks like our house is in order, so I think you can hold off on that phonecall to MediaWatch.
DamothediverWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 2:57pm
Hahahaha sorry Ben.........I consider myself suitably chastised.
For the record.....I did enjoy the clip and it was the best one of that swell that you showed.
I usually stay away from the points, especially at this time of the year when the circus is in town because the average punter like me really doesn't stand a chance when they are all in the water.
Nick BoneWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 11:48am
I can understand skis when there is a mad sweep at kirra. But when people are towed in - picked up - dropped at the top of the line up - towed in - rinse'n'repeat that somethings gotta give...
Rabbits68Wednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 12:21pm
In regards to the sweep/rip at Kirra, I would of thought that that is the best way to deal with excess crowds. Having only surfed Kirra a handful of times I do recall the sweep being strong & that meant that those who were prepared to paddle harder for longer tended to get more waves from further up the point, whereas those that didn't, slowly drifted back down the line picking up the rest.
Whilst The Kirra sweep is on a grander scale (when it's overheard) than most beachies, it's really no different to a lot of other beachies that have a sweep/rip, which sets up the same scenario, the fittest surfers get the cream so to speak, instead of the surfers who are either sponsored (provided skis etc) or other surfers who can afford skis. I'm not a fan of skis being used unless it's tow in size waves. Or in a contest situation.
ljkarmaWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 11:57am
Ben your comments re the two clips above seems logical enough and pretty hard to argue against the MH clip being the better.
Difference as I see though is that one is an 'editorial ' clip with credit at the end for photographer/producer and music/soundtrack credit, which is how it should be.
In contrast, the MH clip is clearly a commercial 'advertorial' with blantant MH logos and promo at beginning, during and at the end. No credit is given to anyone other than MH so one can assume it is they who produced it and filmed it or paid someone to do it. No music credit is given (or did I miss something) for a very well known song so how does that work ?
Does this mean I can create a add clip for my brand, slap some music on it and send it to SN and if it's super hot stuff, you will run it for free and without any waiver from me?
Just saying
'
clip
stunetWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 12:04pm
Of course, if it's super hot stuff and people will want to see it then yes we'll embed it.
Do you really think we ask creators to supply copyright permission for embedded vids???
This thread is getting loopier and loopier...
wellymonWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 12:41pm
Yep
ljkarmaWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 1:06pm
stunet wrote:
Of course, if it's super hot stuff and people will want to see it then yes we'll embed it.
Do you really think we ask creators to supply copyright permission for embedded vids???
This thread is getting loopier and loopier...
There must be an echo in here
I addressed my question to Ben as it was his calm and considered post that raised my question.
So why do you jump in and attempt to answer for Ben and, may I say, not answer the question in relation to whether the MH clip is an advertorial and it appears from your final comment, to dismiss my question as being somehow 'loopy'
So if Ben would be kind enough to confirm that rather than pay for an add on your site I can produce a red hot add/clip with music by whoever and you will possibly run it without any waiver from me. Which if that is so copyright/legality is my problem not an issue for SW?
Thats all pretty simple and await to hear from Ben..
thermalbenWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 1:25pm
Stu and I have been both in and out of meetings/phone calls this morning, so we're juggling replies to this to keep the topic moving along.
ljkarma wrote:
whether the MH clip is an advertorial
We simply run the content as is - some clips have ads or logos, others don't have any. If there's a minute of ads before the surfing starts (or whatever), then we probably won't run it. It's simply a judgment call from our end as to whether the clip is good enough - we're surfing punters ourselves and won't run content we're not interested in (no-one sees the large number of videos we decide not to run each day).
ljkarma wrote:
So if Ben would be kind enough to confirm that rather than pay for an add on your site I can produce a red hot add/clip with music by whoever and you will possibly run it without any waiver from me. Which if that is so copyright/legality is my problem not an issue for SW?
It's simply not an issue for us. Why? The video is not hosted on Swellnet - it's hosted on a Vimeo account (or YouTube, or whatever). So the publisher - in this case The Mad Hueys - have full control over the clip (and are therefore responsible for copyright etc). The publisher could decide to block Swellnet from showing the video, or they could completely remove the clip from their Vimeo account altogether. We have no control over that.
Luke GWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 12:21pm
Jetskis are fair go when there is large volumes of water moving and paddling back out can be tiresome but thats it, waiting out back for the bombs to tow-in when other surfers have battled paddling out to the line up without the aid of horsepower is not 'cool' in my eyes...
yocalWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 12:32pm
What a crock of shit,
if you cant paddle it then you cant handle it
yocalWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 12:39pm
Also I don't really care whether Swellnet runs a clip of whip-ins/step offs or not. Not their problem, good footage in the end. If i was out there i'd drop in on the cunts if i thought what they were doing is unfair for the rest of the punters.
At Kirra, never seen it impossible to paddle into, and like someone said above, the sweep is a natural crowd thinner. If some jock hopping off a ski was taking all my waves while i was paddling and they were getting a whip back to the top of the lineup i'm dropping in on the cunt when I decide i'm sick and tired of it. Don't need any jetski laws to back my actions up
brutusWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 12:47pm
Ok Just checked out the Qld PWC Tow laws.......just google it or Stu get the link...ol feral fossil is not savy enough.
Its very clear that PWC 's used for towing do not have to have a spotter.....but it clearly states that a PWC cannot do more than 6 knots within 200 meters of people in the water.....
This law makes it impossible to tow or do stepoffs.......if there is a surfer in the water!
next??
donweatherWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 1:49pm
Brutus is spot on Stu. It's highly illegal what they're currently doing at Kirra (and elsewhere). Here's extracts from the Dept of Transport website:
“The PWC operator must not operate the watercraft at a
speed of more than six knots within 200 metres from:
• all persons in the water other than the skier (the
person who is being towed)
• all paddle surfers in the water
• all other ships or watercraft in the water. ”
There's also VERY specific criteria that the jetski must have/satisfy to be towing in without a spotter. From the pics I've seen, NONE of these jetskis (other than the redbull team one) satisfies these specific criteria.
"The PWC operator must ensure that the PWC is
equipped with a rescue sled with a minimum of five
hand-grip handles: two on the port side, two on the
starboard side and one at the bow of the sled, attached
to the watercraft with a three point hitching."
Maritime Safety need to commence fining these individuals not complying with the above ASAP before someone is seriously injured or killed.
brutusWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 2:09pm
you are right Don when you say its only a matter of time before someone is hurt or killed....yes it does happen we had had a couple of people killed here on Port Phillip bay...!
But for all the whingers and grizzlers about crowded waves and drop ins from snapper to Kirrra....FFS.....do something about the skis...stop them and you will stop a lot of overcrowding.....or keep whining!
stunetWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 2:26pm
2. Tow-in surfing without an observer
Maritime Safety Queensland has gazetted an exemption pursuant to section 18A Transport Operations (Marine Safety) Act 1994 that exempts operators of personal watercraft from the requirement at section 222 of the Transport Operations (Marine Safety) Regulation 2004 to carry an observer. This exemption for operators of personal watercraft only applies if the tow-in surfing operations comply with the requirements of this code of conduct.
donweatherWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 2:30pm
Sorry Stu....don't understand your point of this post? You saying that if they're not towing in then this rule doesn't apply? Agree, but then the basic rule of PWC and proximity to other people (and low speed) in the water still applies!!!
brutusWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 5:21pm
actually if you do not tow....its only 60m that you can operate from people in the water.............but Tow is 200 m........but both at 6 knots....
donweatherWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 5:33pm
Yep, knew that it was 60m if no towing, but either way 60 or 200m, these guys have broken it IMO.
ljkarmaWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 1:11pm
so Brutus, what do you estimate their speed to have been (approx) from you experience and how close do you guess they were from the footage?
nottombatmanWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 1:14pm
I think the clip was great viewing and I thank Ben and Stu for showing us it and congratulate them on getting an exclusive.
I think tow-ins at Kirra (or any other point break or beachie where other paddling surfers are in the water) are an egregious crime punishable by a public dacking and revocation of local status (if your a local you should know how to do it without a ski).
I also think, Mad Huey gear is the Ed Hardy/Tapout/Dethrone of surfing - be thankful the muppets who wear it are self-advertising as such.
Finally, to the Mad Hueys themselves, good on you lads, wish i could spend all day arseing about in flawless Kirra whipping beers and waves left right and centre.
Peace!
wellymonWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 8:54pm
Gooble gooble
soggydogWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 1:51pm
This jet ski debate is great, as a mate of mine and myself discussed on a run to the West Coast last year during a good size swell. By a good size swell I mean maxed out Yallingup, Bears, big North Point etc, not 4 to 5 foot sand bottom point breaks.
Any way my thoughts ran along the lines that Jet Skis where great for the average punter as with a swell of that caliber a lot of the top tier surfers where removed from line ups that they would otherwise have dominated to tow waves that would be out of the comfort zone of many of the punters, or they where at North Point. Now the location we chose to surf is one of the premier waves of the region and the bay it is in provides a number of options. The level of competency in the surf was high and as long as you went for it everyone got a crack. Very few if any drop ins.
Like I said the Jet Skis provided the service of clearing dominant surfers from lineups that they would have normally left scraps for many. Also the size of the swell meant that many of dubious ability did not enter the line up.
But during Queenslands recent swell event, and previous ones, it seems that jet skis are a niusance and un-fairly allow those with to dominate lineups that given sweeps/currents and length of possible rides would make lineups much more manageable for everyone. The two photos posted by Stu really show how retarded the situation was with some gumby being towed into a 4 foot wave by a tinny, and the high speed Ski rider watching his mate on the wave not where he is going.
Why does the ownership of a Ski on the West Coast make you a hell man but if you own one in Queensland chances are when it's on you are a complete tool?
The debate about websites playing the clips is a good one too. On one hand there is some great footage, truly inspiring stuff. It made me want to jump on a plane and get amongst it. But on the other by embeding the clip and watching it we are condoning said behavior. It's like saying "I hate Bikies....but does anybody know where I can score some meth?".
Any way I'm sure this one will rear it's ugly head the next time you guy's get a swell and unti all the punters band together to stamp it out your stuck with it.
brutusWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 1:53pm
6 knots is 11KPH....which is slower than any wave...so to catch the wave and be within 200 mtrs @6 knots........impossible...
I saw a clip where the ski is running in front of the wave watching the surfer......he has to be doing 20 knots......what if a surfer had a wipeout on the previous wave and stuck his head up and got run over.....
from what I have read on the Qld maritime rules for PWC/Tow website........the previous swell including Marcia.....all Skis were breaking the law.....
If you want to try and alleviate some of the hassle and get back to ...if ya fit enough and have the balls paddle at Kirra.......ban the skis!!
sbsbWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 2:06pm
Interested in Stu's claim that the thread is getting "loopier", when I think that people have clearly raised some questions about the process by which editorial decisions are made. While in today's world the fantasy wall between advertising and editorial is well and truly in tatters, nevertheless most media organisations (and Swellnet does have a "News" section) take some measures to indicate when sponsored content exists.
I also thought the promo on the Mad Hueys vid was a bit more than usual - for example as well as the two posts to FB my local surf report page in Victoria encourages me to check out "'The Mad Hueys Do Kirra’ - now playing exclusively on Swellnet". The "exclusively" here makes me wonder whether a financial transaction is taking place, and also seems to trouble the assertion that "it's not our vid, we just link to it." Am I not only being encouraged to watch the Mad Hueys in order to view ads for the Good Guys on the Swellnet site and possibly buy a TV (the usual model of ad-supported page views), but finding that the "programming"/editorial is also paid for and it is one big commercial (albeit an excellent one)? There's nothing wrong or illegal with that of course, as Stu points out, but it does raise some questions about the kind of analysis that gets produced. For example, would there be other sponsor-related agreements that may have influenced Stu's in-depth take on WSL's media strategy? What about the features on shapers and manufacturers?
Without a clear understanding of what is paid content and what isn't there will always be some kind of suspicion on the part of readers/viewers as to what motivates particular posts that are not to their liking. Whether or not that suspicion is accurate, I think rather than writing it off it would be easier to clearly indicate somewhere what the policy is. And if you want to say it's commercially sensitive that's OK too, then we at least know what the answer is!
stunetWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 2:32pm
I'll tell you explicitly and unequivocally that a financial transaction hasn't taken place. Exclusivity was gained cos we've got the traffic.
I dig the link between the Good Guys and and the Mad Hueys tho'...
sbsbWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 2:39pm
Thanks Stu, that is a helpful clarification that I think should quiet some of the punters (except those against the surf industry and co-branding as a whole, not much to be done there)
sypkanWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 2:42pm
I couldnt agree more and raised similar concerns in the Kirra friday video. Apparently no money changed hands, how something becomes 'exclusive' without money or favour is a little mysterious.
As you point out, with a lot swellnets content it is not clear what is editorial and advertorial. Kind of ironic considering they make a business pointing out others shameless marketing and capitalist tendencies.
Kandooma resort, Aloita resort, Udo's threadstarter fund, More surfboards, there are plenty of situations that should require an Alan Jones/ John Laws discalimer. Especially considering their lefty stance complaining about other's capitalists ways.
stunetWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 3:40pm
I don't agree with you that "a lot swellnets content it is not clear what is editorial and advertorial". In recent times - i.e the last two years - we've had Kandooma and Aloita Resort but I was pretty upfront about everything to do with Aloita. Made no secret whatsoever.
I don't know about Udo's threadstarter fund, he's not an employee anyway. Mark Pridmore is a part-time employee but I can't think of any advertorial of his I've run. If he had a board swap meet I've announced it much as I've announced similar things for non-employees.
Back in the day I did reviews of GSI boards and made mention of them being sponsors. Here's a quote from 2010: "Disclaimer: Although Swellnet received no payment for this review, GSI advertise with Swellnet. So, although I've been honest, some people may see this review as a blatant plug. There's not much I can do about that. The most important thing to consider, however, is that I got to go surfing during work hours."
As for irony, Swellnet has given favourable reviews to plenty of other (competing) surf publications and their journos:
White Horses
Jock Serong (SW writer)
Paper Sea Quarterly
Sean Doherty (a couple of times)
Surfing Life
Surfing World publications (3 Crown media)
Surfer
I reckon we're pretty fair and balanced despite what you think.
sypkanWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 4:01pm
I think you are pretty fair and balanced too. However you do not always diclose affiliations and favours. You might think it was pretty obvious what was happening with Aloita (as did I) but if you have nothing to hide, a disclaimer is a sign of respect to your readers. I'm sure Alan Jones saw no need to make his fringe benefits and payments obvious, but the authorities saw it differently.
Kandooma was a bit vague, which was pointed out by Indo D
Udo has to be more than an over zealous contributor, No affiliation at all?
stunetWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 4:05pm
None whatsoever. And I'm happy to answer any questions regarding advertorial.
memlasurfWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 4:56pm
Geez Stu I bet you never imagined the size of this can of worms when you posted the vid. I thought the last one of Kirra was fun this one has got to be the best ever. Do you have a richter scale for the largest number of comments to one article or vid?
asharper001Wednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 2:12pm
Last year during the Jeffrey's Bay comp, jetski assist was not available and J'Bay was looking a bit more solid than any of the Kirra clips. So this begs a few questions....
Why can the Pro's and other J'Bay locals handle that sweep and Kirra at 5ft is too hard for the Pro's on hand and southern gold coast locals? Is Jeffreys bay off limits to Jetski's permanently or was this a competition decision? If permanently, how do we get such laws for all (crowded/populous) beaches here in Australia?
mick-freeWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 5:29pm
Ski's banned completely at Jbay. Think it was a local driven thing but I'm not sure. Jbays not squeezed in flat like Kirra and doesn't have the sweep as bad. Has current but I surfed it on finals day was fine to get back out, actually was harder getting in.
asharper001Wednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 5:47pm
Cheers mick-free. Wasn't sure if it was just a comp thing for the ski's. Also for the sweep comparison between the two. Thought they might be similar but guess not the case.
seaman-stainesWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 2:25pm
Some points (I am not pro jet ski, but I'm not too bothered by them down the end of Kirra)
I wonder if the fact that the beaches were officially closed makes the use of Jet Skis permitted. (Just a guess)
I don't think too many were actually towing in (other than those kooks in that photo with the boat), most were using them as a taxi.
On the Sunday arvo most of the ones I saw, were dropping surfers right back at Snapper so even if you wanted to pay back a taxied surfer you would have no idea who they were and you would be miles away by the time they caught up to you.
Unless you have experienced the sweep then it's hard to make comments about how weak people surfing it are, it is a non stop conveyor belt that is almost impossible to paddle against. My shoulders were burning, non stop paddling for hours on end.
donweatherWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 2:34pm
seaman-staines wrote:
I don't think too many were actually towing in (other than those kooks in that photo with the boat), most were using them as a taxi.
I have no issue with this whatsoever provided the skis are not breaking the law on proximity to others in the water.
It's when they're towing or dropping the surfer into the wave through the line up or much worse.....high speed cruising in front of the towed surfer on the wave straight through the lineup where surfers are paddling back out. This is blatantly dangerous and completely against the law.
mk1Wednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 3:36pm
Everyone jumping in with a bitch and a moan lately. WTF?
wallyWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 4:00pm
As others have said, Kirra might be a small wave spot, but the current is epic. You don't catch a wave and then just paddle back out. The run around is the only option. You are paddling just to hold position. The fact that the wave is 3 to 6 foot is not really the issue.
memlasurfWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 4:59pm
The sweep obviously then contributes to the hollowness of the wave. Giant rip bank?
wallyWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 5:15pm
It's a factor. Slater, who loves Kirra, has referred to it as the salmon run.
I would prefer no jet skis, as it would not be sustainable if most people had them. It's queue jumping. But, when there is helpful technology, it is hard to stop people from using it.
Older photo, I'll just include for fun.
seaman-stainesWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 5:21pm
Sweep runs South to North, drags you from Snapper to North Kirra at quite a rate of knots, not always but on most larger swells like this it is insane. Occasionally you get a reverse sweep which is worse because the kooks can stay out the back.
Rabbits68Wednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 5:01pm
I'm really surprised to read above that there are surfers quite happy to have jet ski taxis to assist there surfing at Kirra just because of the epic sweep. Maybe I'm missing something but isn't the reality of this scenario (if it plays out & becomes legal, if its not already) that there would be countless jet skis all taking surfers back to the same takeoff zone, all the associated noise & stench, the added crowd factor to an already excessive crowd, the danger factor etc. Maybe some of you GC crew are already used to it. I just find it astounding & if this place sets the precedent what's to follow at all surf locations that require a bit of effort?!?
brutusWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 5:25pm
when all considered.....the whole area from D-Bah > Kirra is man made.....and man has been tinkering with waves,sand flow etc for years...
So why are we surprised that there is a weird cowboy type approach out there......amazing how people seem to break every written and unwritten law to do with surfing...maybe we should just leave everybody there and use it as an example of what you would not want at your own beach.....??
Rabbits68Wednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 5:32pm
Agreed. That's the problem too I reckon in that we humans aren't very good at learning from past experiences hence a jet ski hire business is coming to your local sometime soon. Yeeeeehaaaa!!!
mick-freeWednesday, 25 Feb 2015 at 5:43pm
yikes that mad hueys clip is on Channel 10 news
burgsurferFriday, 27 Feb 2015 at 7:56am
I have surfed the uber bank once, January last year for 2 weeks including a 6 ft swell. Having surf etticit instilled in me from growing up in a line up where punches were thrown and people were sent in, the only two places I could catch waves on the good days were behind the rocks at snapper and wide at Greenmount, Kirra didn't break. The snaking across the rest of the bank was horendrous but it was just a crew of snakes... Same guys snaking again and again gettin 5 x as much waves as the nice people! behind the rocks at snapper there was a good queue system in place observed by most except two snakes.... Only problem with taking off behind the rocks was half the time a shoulder hopper would drop in. So you take off, yell as loud as you can as you are getting to your feet and then ride over 17 surfers duck diving through the face. I liked the local blokes who sat behind the rocks and had some good chats and laughs about the crowds... Good guys, had no issue- get down the line a little and it was just a drop in / snake circus....
velocityjohnnoSaturday, 28 Feb 2015 at 11:11pm
Absolutely loved the vid, used the POV to describe how Kirra works to grom: the tube, the lines, the water movement of the sweep which also seems to jet you down the point and help the wave, the sensation of air pressure changing very shortly after takeoff, and grom saw why people name their dogs and daughters after this wave. Not going to go into the jetski debate other than to say Charles Darwin wouldn't approve. Lots of respect for the QLD crew who grow up with these sweeps and can paddle like no others.
Comments
Towed in?
Yea exactly...... Towed In tools.
So Euros getting towed in in 8ft Hossegor or Supertubos are lame, but the Mads using jet skis in 5ft Kirra are cool?
Does anyone know if there's a petition or a movement I can join to encourage the Powers That Be to ban jetskis anywhere near surfers in the water?
I'm with you Andy. What sort of wan##r thinks its OK to take a ski out in those conditions. I don't care who you are. It sets a bad precedent that just kills everything thats so special about a day like that at Kirra. What if everyone turned up with a ski! Is it not illegal in QLD like in NSW to be within 200m of a surfer?
As long as sites like Swellnet keep promoting their mates to act like wankers and think their superstars, the practice of towing in to 5 foot barrels will unfortunately continue. Wakeup Swellnet and think about it.
Well said cjt101, what do you say Swellnet?
Do you want to condone and essentially encourage small wave tow-ins at breaks already crowded with paddle surfers by showing these videos?
Are you part of the solution or part of the problem?
There's a lot of people out there who feel very strongly against this and I'd guess they're in the majority.
First stop on the World Tour starting this weekend - The Mad Hueys Pro!
YEW!
I don't care how good these knuckleheads can surf based on their occasional clip its all a brain free zone.
the backhand choob was pretty insane
yew!
Is it true the Mad Hueys take their name and inspiration from Iain Hewitson, that sausage fingered buffoon from Network Ten that is forever spruiking Bi-Lo?
HAHAHAHA awesome Clivus, had $1.85 pork sausages from Bi-Lo at his restaurant one night and sent them back as they weren't cooked on the grill just par boiled and scared with the flame, he came out and glared around the room looking for the sausage clown, love the connection, fatso will always be just that, Mad and Full of Cream giddy up XXX
Someone get Iain 'Huey' Hewitson towed into a bomb set during the Quikky pro!
Could be just what the WSL need to really ignite the viewership.
Uh hah! The big fella surfs? The plot thickens... Like a tasteless and clumsily made dish whipped up by the patron of the Mad Hueys atop a checkered table cloth in a windy off-site location in a time before terms like "plate up" and "hero of the dish" were bandied about network ten's gourmet offering.
Clivus you've cracked the code! It's the long game!
Via a series of adrenaline filled web clips these visionaries from QLD are executing a viral media strategy for ol' Huey. Raising his profile until the youth are salivating for his triumphant return; Clearing the mahogany table of the WSL for a proven viewer magnet: the reality cooking show with a surfing twist. Heavy contingent of reptile (snake?) on the menu at the snapper event, but watch out not to burn it!
Hero is an overused term but surely it's appropriate to describe the self ells and well considered actions of these cats.
*selfless
As the folks at Ultra Tune profess, LeckieP, you speak-a my language!
Huey's got a lotta fingers in a lot of pies.
Each of Huey's fingers would be about the same diameter as a pie.
You don'y know who Huey is? Filth Clip
I'm led to believe he is a chef / oversized TV personality but his cuisine saaarks so I'm beginning to doubt that. I'm also struggling to comprehend why, if at all, this rag-tag bunch from the Gold Coast have chosen him as their representative, in name if nothing else, hence the earlier comment. Help a metaphorical brother out, digits?
Don't know if you are playing dumb, but Huey is a well known name for God of surf.
Hi Clivus. I'm an old dude and back in the late seventies / eighties a few mates and I had a very very admiral statue that we used to lay tributes to salute & yell yo Huey at to bring on great surf for us. (Huey the surf god). Back then there were no jetski's, you had to be fit to surf Kirra, Burls, Cylinders and any other point waves for hours when it was on with no where near the crowds of today. MP & Rabbit would be out there. We would surf Dbah to ourselves until Bruce L turned up. Loved your take on it. I still reckon it a sic clip. Stay over it's Huey's
Thanks for the info, digits. You too LostDoggy. They sound like heady days. Heady days with Huey.
I'm throwing down the MickyFanny gauntlet to the Mad Hueys. The next clip must contain:
1. The Statue described by digit;
2. Ian Hewitson in any form (preferably human, living and cooking);
3. Backing track - Hip to Be Square by Huey Lewis;
4. At some point in the clip, Lleyton Hewitt serving at them in a drunken game of A.R.S.E;
5. The real mad 'Da Hui' Eddie Rothman and Graham Stapelberg , Randy Rarick and Paul Speaker strapped to a polygraph. $50,000 going to whoever tells the truth. And the Mad Hueys can ask ANY question they want.
Lets make it happen.
Swellnet, pull some strings, you've got time.
tow-ins with a selfie stick. yawn.
Is this video taking the piss? I'm sure the words to the song are:
"You.. say... Isn't it hard.. paddling out, paddling out".
No paddling out was part of this movie. All tow all day. Booo
Not sure if they'd be across the irony tbh...
Those waves were purdy.
That's the best clip of Kirra from this swell. Who gives a shit if they're gettin towed in. If you had a ski, you'd get towed in too
No, I wouldn't tow in because I'm not an obnoxious bogan prick.
anyone talking shit about jet skis has never surfed kirra over 3 foot and don't know how bad the rip is.
and don't take away from the fact that someone that rips shit all over you, used a ski to pull into a barrel drinking a beer! u unco's would be lucky to pour a frothy in your face at the pub without spilling it on your dick. more than likely while talking up shit about the last piss-weak soft-core ripples you surfed.
do you have down syndrome? do you need a wheel chair to get to the high tide line? just wondering mate. Gotta go to bed now mate so I can surf some soft-core ripples on my SUP at about 10 ish.
There you go a classic dickhead with an intelligent argument defending skis:-))))))))))))
Wax you have a way with words and of describing what I can decipher is something about a heavy rip, something about excrement in ones face, a jet ski and drinking beer whilst spilling it down your torso onto your appendage. I think you then go onto talk about small surf. Well done!
Yep you definately need a jetski to surf kirra over 3ft . Michael peterson wouldnt approve tho
they surf for a living and are local so they can drop in on who they like, I build for a living and I'm local, so given dingo's reasoning I should be able to take over his house whenever the fuck I please and he can just eat a dick and sleap on the curb while I shag his missus in his house....coz I'm a local builder and a fucken sick one at that, oh that's right she left him, well that makes things heaps easier. Sorry bout your house dicko, it's mine now!! Guess it's back to the refuge.
theres allways been a sweep @ kirra....... why the jet ski
a lot closer than 200mtrs
Authorities just need to do their job, and the video evidence makes it clear there are PLENTY of breaches of the QLD Maritime law, which reads:
"PWC rules on the water
If you're travelling at more than 10 knots you must keep a distance of 30m from other moving boats, unless you're involved in an approved aquatic event or where doing so would endanger you or another person.
Consider the density of waterway traffic in the area to determine a safe speed. You must stay 60m away from, or reduce your speed to 6 knots if within 60m of:
people in the water
anchored or moored boats, structures, boat ramps, jetties or pontoons
the shore
the boundary of a bathing reserve.
Exceptions apply to the 60m from shore rule if:
the waterway is less than 120m wide, and:
you operate the PWC as close as practical to a straight line to transit the area
you stay as close as possible to the centre of the waterway or a marked channel
the PWC is being used in waterskiing or towing."
Taken from here: http://www.msq.qld.gov.au/safety/personal-watercraft.aspx
So, as soon as the surfer steps off the ski, or lets go of the tow rope, the ski driver is in breach of these rules, since the surfer and ski are then immediately within 60m of each other (assuming a moving surfboard is not deemed a moving boat, in which case the 30m rule applies), then as the ski progresses along as the surfers ride the wave they, as in this clip, are obviously within 60m of other surfers who are caught in the impact zone.
There is also a "code of conduct" for tow surfing in Qld, in which is states:
"Vessels are restricted from operating in the bathing reserve unless it is being used for tow-in surfing when the beach is closed due to extreme weather conditions and it is not operated within 200 metres of any aquatic equipment, wind powered craft or swimmers."
The whole length of the gold coast, as per the code of conduct guide, is listed as a bathing reserve.
See here for the guide: http://www.msq.qld.gov.au/Waterways/Tow-in-surfing-code-of-conduct.aspx
It will be too late once someone gets killed (or badly injured) from being run over by a jet ski ... !!!
Authorities PLEASE do someone NOW.
and I think if you are going to tow someone behind you on a PWC..you must have a spotter.......
everytime a ski goes near a wave they are going too fast,no spotter....totally illegal...in place that needs less surfers not more..skis are just a greedy way to surf.....and should be stopped....or if you see anyone with Jetski assist...drop in on them!!
Seriously - jet skis in the line-up? Just adds insult to the likelihood of injury. It's lazy and stupid on a day like that. Sure the clip is a good one, but at what price? There are times and places to use jet skis - crowded Kirra on a paddle-in sized day is not one of those times and places.
never seen a day at Kirra that wasn't paddle-in size. We're not talking about 10ft Cape here, it rarely holds 8ft before it washes through!
Couldn't agree more with the recent comments re foolishness of having jetskis in 4-5' waves, and thanks Wingnut for pointing out the QLD regulations. Had a close call at Granite quite a few years back - 6' lumpy day with a few of us out there when a jetski comes blasting in towing a grom, presumably driven by dad and with younger daughter on the back. He nearly ran over a couple of surfers, came within 5 m of us, and then got very abusive when we were waving at him to get out of there, spouting some particularly choice language in front of his daughter who must have been 10 or thereabouts. Needless to say he did leave not long afterwards. Moral of the story - people with too much money and not enough brains, trying to turn their kids into pro surfers. What a joke.
...not across the irony?
I thought their whole schtick was a scathing commentary on Tony's Australia and the elevation of mindless insensitive consumption. Surely that clip of them in the pacific was pre-emptive satire of Tony's nuanced and effective dialogue with Indonesia? Just as this clip and their obvious complete disregard for anyone else in the lineup is commentary the the classic aussie surftrip integration to a foreign lineup? some of these comments seem to suggest that they are doing it in earnest?
I haven't seen anything to suggest they're doing it in earnest, of all places. The seem focussed around the Gold Coast with the occasional jaunt to PNG.
Clivus, you're absolutely right, all gold coast based, not a hint of earnest (although I thought I remembered an earnest or similar sounding suburb up near Arundel/Molendinar?). And that makes sense as another element of their performance art, is there anywhere more appropriate for an extended satire of the crossover of surf/bogan/aspirational culture that they so remorselessly glass with a busted stubby in every clip?
SBM, unfortunately my knowledge of Gold Coast suburbs is akin to Team Mad Hewitson's combined knowledge of anything beyond 'how to wear a birdcage when swimming with a tiger shark' or 'how to be a legend by drinking a beer in the ocean'. That is, sweet Fanny Adams. As such, in WA and in earnest, I cant answer your question re the proximity of earnest to Arundel/ Molendinar. I'm liking what you're putting down re performance art though. These mad-dogs are truly next level.
I can't tell if you're being ironic yourself, SBM.
@ben, so with so many people deadset against towing at places like kirra why do you continue to feature these videos? you are only encouraging the morons to continue in this illegal and anti-social behaviour.
I await your considered reply.
1) It's not illegal.
2) Lots of those waves are paddle.
3) If we made the vid we'd have a say over content. Alas we didn't make the vid.
Intersting that Brutus says it is illegal, you say it's not illegal. Clearly your both very well versed on a lot of matters covering surfing. Appears to be some confusion about the laws or maybe the interpretation of the laws.
Trust me, it's not illegal in QLD under those circumstances. Article to come.
Thanks..
frothing, will be a good article and good discussion to come...
What circumstances are they?
When I did my PWC license a few years ago there were no exceptions regarding the laws cited above re speed and proximity to swimmers, surfers
I look forward to your story Stu (no irony intended). And if it is legal that doesn't make it right ... stupid is stupid.
On the legality issue, this is from Maritime Safety Queensland's 'No observer for tow-in surfing' bulletin, last reviewed and gazetted in November 2013:
The PWC (personal water craft) operator must not operate the watercraft at a speed of more than six knots within 200 metres from:
• all persons in the water other than the skier (the person who is being towed)
• all paddle surfers in the water
• all other ships or watercraft in the water.
Sorry to say, Stu, while the video doesn't necessarily show this regulation being breached, it would be fair to assume that it would every time someone is towed into a wave near the those battling the current to stay in the takeoff zone. Not to mention when they are ferrying their riders back to the peak - this alone is enough to make all the paddlers have the shits and thereby lessen the enjoyment for those not fortunate enough to have mechanical assistance.
the problem with this is most laws are not actually related to surfing ( ie towing ) .
they were set in waterskiing , and then the eightees when jetski's started to think they were cool .
now we also have access lanes , waterways/channels and swimmers and designated swimming zones . the main problem i see is their is no desgnated " surfing - paddle " zone in legislation .
Qld maybe different , but NSW and VIC are near mirror images in the water laws .
PS , Lindo . ( for your future reference ) an observer ( not spotter ) needs to be atleast 12 years of age ( vic ) and 16 years of age ( nsw ) .
the main issue is tow surfing is looking to frequently release the skier/towee , and then retrieve . As waterskiiing is based on people trying to stay attached .
and if you do release then the boat / ski operator is within their rights to travel to the fallen / still riding skier . the blurred lines is that other surfers are not treated as swimmers but fellow skiers/ towees' / potential particapants . ( ie the ski operator could argue that they were fearful of the persons safety and came within 30M to check .
thank ourselves lucky that all this is partaken in the ocean , because as wingy has said . in narrow rivers most of these rules go out the window and are allowed to pass .
careful what you guys try to push through legislation , people waterskiing on narrow busy rivers like the Murray will also be effected .
1.) If its not illegal its certainly anti social and against what most surfers in the water want. I await your article on why its not illegal and why it is elsewhere, perhaps your article can explore the inconsistencies in the law between Qld and other states like Vic & NSW.
2) Lots of those waves are paddle …. ???? what's the point your are making here?
3) Vid content …. true but are you telling me / us you have no control over what is posted on your website because that's my point …. Just don't allow such videos showing these tow morons on your website.
So, my question remains unanswered. Why are you posting these vids on your website?
Get off the fence SW!
footnote: I recall being corrected sometime ago when I suggested the surf media & SW was just part of the mutual back-scratching gravy train known as the the surf industry. Prove me wrong guys.
You really love telling people what to do, eh Floyd? You a school teacher?
1) I'll repeat again: it's not illegal. It may be against your ethics. So be it.
2) The point I was trying to make is this: lots of those waves are paddle. Clear now?
3) When you have your own website you can choose not to run it. That'll be great!
You can say what you like about Swellnet and surf media, I have no control over your thoughts or words.
So thanks for the advice Floyd. We'll take your suggestions on board with all the respect a level-headed and consistent commenter such as yourself deserves.
Crikey, talking about being level-headed yourself stu, not.
I'm no school teacher and I'm also not the one that said on this website last year that they would "……..…" and " …….…" nah, you know darn well what you committed yourself to do stu so call me stupid but I'm just waiting for you to be good to your word (maybe this is what the forth coming article will be about).
Further, I would have thought given your commitments from last year on this topic you wouldn't be actively encouraging towing by showing videos like you have this week.
Stupid and naive maybe but no school teacher.
maybe just wait for the article Floyd .
perhaps stu and ben is just whipping everyone up into a frenzy to get the issue attention ( pre release hype ) before dragging down the whole system ...
or
perhaps its just going to be another article that centres SN in the middle caught between the industry gravy train and angry punters ....
Fuck stu , you've put yourself under a bit of pressure mate ... i hope its pulitzer worthy
the Romans want blood .....
You think we deliberately whipped this up Southey? Appreciate the credit mate.
i reckon you two have been hanging out with Max Markson ( all shoe polish , no socks ) or probably more realistic Singo .
Yeah, keep an eye on Today Tonight for us Southey.
Next stop Hollywood...
CLICK BAIT!!!!!
Headline: "Mad Hueys do Kirra - video".
Subheading: "The Mad Hueys just dropped their Kirra clip and of all the cuts you've seen theirs is the best on the 'net."
Content: Fantastic footage from Kirra, certainly the best clip I've seen so far (although "Kirra: dedicated to Mars" comes a close second). TMH clip also contained the only POV vision to date.
Looks like our house is in order, so I think you can hold off on that phonecall to MediaWatch.
Hahahaha sorry Ben.........I consider myself suitably chastised.
For the record.....I did enjoy the clip and it was the best one of that swell that you showed.
I usually stay away from the points, especially at this time of the year when the circus is in town because the average punter like me really doesn't stand a chance when they are all in the water.
I can understand skis when there is a mad sweep at kirra. But when people are towed in - picked up - dropped at the top of the line up - towed in - rinse'n'repeat that somethings gotta give...
In regards to the sweep/rip at Kirra, I would of thought that that is the best way to deal with excess crowds. Having only surfed Kirra a handful of times I do recall the sweep being strong & that meant that those who were prepared to paddle harder for longer tended to get more waves from further up the point, whereas those that didn't, slowly drifted back down the line picking up the rest.
Whilst The Kirra sweep is on a grander scale (when it's overheard) than most beachies, it's really no different to a lot of other beachies that have a sweep/rip, which sets up the same scenario, the fittest surfers get the cream so to speak, instead of the surfers who are either sponsored (provided skis etc) or other surfers who can afford skis. I'm not a fan of skis being used unless it's tow in size waves. Or in a contest situation.
Ben your comments re the two clips above seems logical enough and pretty hard to argue against the MH clip being the better.
Difference as I see though is that one is an 'editorial ' clip with credit at the end for photographer/producer and music/soundtrack credit, which is how it should be.
In contrast, the MH clip is clearly a commercial 'advertorial' with blantant MH logos and promo at beginning, during and at the end. No credit is given to anyone other than MH so one can assume it is they who produced it and filmed it or paid someone to do it. No music credit is given (or did I miss something) for a very well known song so how does that work ?
Does this mean I can create a add clip for my brand, slap some music on it and send it to SN and if it's super hot stuff, you will run it for free and without any waiver from me?
Just saying
'
clip
Of course, if it's super hot stuff and people will want to see it then yes we'll embed it.
Do you really think we ask creators to supply copyright permission for embedded vids???
This thread is getting loopier and loopier...
Yep
There must be an echo in here
I addressed my question to Ben as it was his calm and considered post that raised my question.
So why do you jump in and attempt to answer for Ben and, may I say, not answer the question in relation to whether the MH clip is an advertorial and it appears from your final comment, to dismiss my question as being somehow 'loopy'
So if Ben would be kind enough to confirm that rather than pay for an add on your site I can produce a red hot add/clip with music by whoever and you will possibly run it without any waiver from me. Which if that is so copyright/legality is my problem not an issue for SW?
Thats all pretty simple and await to hear from Ben..
Stu and I have been both in and out of meetings/phone calls this morning, so we're juggling replies to this to keep the topic moving along.
We simply run the content as is - some clips have ads or logos, others don't have any. If there's a minute of ads before the surfing starts (or whatever), then we probably won't run it. It's simply a judgment call from our end as to whether the clip is good enough - we're surfing punters ourselves and won't run content we're not interested in (no-one sees the large number of videos we decide not to run each day).
It's simply not an issue for us. Why? The video is not hosted on Swellnet - it's hosted on a Vimeo account (or YouTube, or whatever). So the publisher - in this case The Mad Hueys - have full control over the clip (and are therefore responsible for copyright etc). The publisher could decide to block Swellnet from showing the video, or they could completely remove the clip from their Vimeo account altogether. We have no control over that.
Jetskis are fair go when there is large volumes of water moving and paddling back out can be tiresome but thats it, waiting out back for the bombs to tow-in when other surfers have battled paddling out to the line up without the aid of horsepower is not 'cool' in my eyes...
What a crock of shit,
if you cant paddle it then you cant handle it
Also I don't really care whether Swellnet runs a clip of whip-ins/step offs or not. Not their problem, good footage in the end. If i was out there i'd drop in on the cunts if i thought what they were doing is unfair for the rest of the punters.
At Kirra, never seen it impossible to paddle into, and like someone said above, the sweep is a natural crowd thinner. If some jock hopping off a ski was taking all my waves while i was paddling and they were getting a whip back to the top of the lineup i'm dropping in on the cunt when I decide i'm sick and tired of it. Don't need any jetski laws to back my actions up
Ok Just checked out the Qld PWC Tow laws.......just google it or Stu get the link...ol feral fossil is not savy enough.
Its very clear that PWC 's used for towing do not have to have a spotter.....but it clearly states that a PWC cannot do more than 6 knots within 200 meters of people in the water.....
This law makes it impossible to tow or do stepoffs.......if there is a surfer in the water!
next??
Brutus is spot on Stu. It's highly illegal what they're currently doing at Kirra (and elsewhere). Here's extracts from the Dept of Transport website:
“The PWC operator must not operate the watercraft at a
speed of more than six knots within 200 metres from:
• all persons in the water other than the skier (the
person who is being towed)
• all paddle surfers in the water
• all other ships or watercraft in the water. ”
There's also VERY specific criteria that the jetski must have/satisfy to be towing in without a spotter. From the pics I've seen, NONE of these jetskis (other than the redbull team one) satisfies these specific criteria.
"The PWC operator must ensure that the PWC is
equipped with a rescue sled with a minimum of five
hand-grip handles: two on the port side, two on the
starboard side and one at the bow of the sled, attached
to the watercraft with a three point hitching."
http://www.msq.qld.gov.au/~/media/msqinternet/msqfiles/home/publications...
Maritime Safety need to commence fining these individuals not complying with the above ASAP before someone is seriously injured or killed.
you are right Don when you say its only a matter of time before someone is hurt or killed....yes it does happen we had had a couple of people killed here on Port Phillip bay...!
But for all the whingers and grizzlers about crowded waves and drop ins from snapper to Kirrra....FFS.....do something about the skis...stop them and you will stop a lot of overcrowding.....or keep whining!
2. Tow-in surfing without an observer
Maritime Safety Queensland has gazetted an exemption pursuant to section 18A Transport Operations (Marine Safety) Act 1994 that exempts operators of personal watercraft from the requirement at section 222 of the Transport Operations (Marine Safety) Regulation 2004 to carry an observer. This exemption for operators of personal watercraft only applies if the tow-in surfing operations comply with the requirements of this code of conduct.
Sorry Stu....don't understand your point of this post? You saying that if they're not towing in then this rule doesn't apply? Agree, but then the basic rule of PWC and proximity to other people (and low speed) in the water still applies!!!
actually if you do not tow....its only 60m that you can operate from people in the water.............but Tow is 200 m........but both at 6 knots....
Yep, knew that it was 60m if no towing, but either way 60 or 200m, these guys have broken it IMO.
so Brutus, what do you estimate their speed to have been (approx) from you experience and how close do you guess they were from the footage?
I think the clip was great viewing and I thank Ben and Stu for showing us it and congratulate them on getting an exclusive.
I think tow-ins at Kirra (or any other point break or beachie where other paddling surfers are in the water) are an egregious crime punishable by a public dacking and revocation of local status (if your a local you should know how to do it without a ski).
I also think, Mad Huey gear is the Ed Hardy/Tapout/Dethrone of surfing - be thankful the muppets who wear it are self-advertising as such.
Finally, to the Mad Hueys themselves, good on you lads, wish i could spend all day arseing about in flawless Kirra whipping beers and waves left right and centre.
Peace!
Gooble gooble
This jet ski debate is great, as a mate of mine and myself discussed on a run to the West Coast last year during a good size swell. By a good size swell I mean maxed out Yallingup, Bears, big North Point etc, not 4 to 5 foot sand bottom point breaks.
Any way my thoughts ran along the lines that Jet Skis where great for the average punter as with a swell of that caliber a lot of the top tier surfers where removed from line ups that they would otherwise have dominated to tow waves that would be out of the comfort zone of many of the punters, or they where at North Point. Now the location we chose to surf is one of the premier waves of the region and the bay it is in provides a number of options. The level of competency in the surf was high and as long as you went for it everyone got a crack. Very few if any drop ins.
Like I said the Jet Skis provided the service of clearing dominant surfers from lineups that they would have normally left scraps for many. Also the size of the swell meant that many of dubious ability did not enter the line up.
But during Queenslands recent swell event, and previous ones, it seems that jet skis are a niusance and un-fairly allow those with to dominate lineups that given sweeps/currents and length of possible rides would make lineups much more manageable for everyone. The two photos posted by Stu really show how retarded the situation was with some gumby being towed into a 4 foot wave by a tinny, and the high speed Ski rider watching his mate on the wave not where he is going.
Why does the ownership of a Ski on the West Coast make you a hell man but if you own one in Queensland chances are when it's on you are a complete tool?
The debate about websites playing the clips is a good one too. On one hand there is some great footage, truly inspiring stuff. It made me want to jump on a plane and get amongst it. But on the other by embeding the clip and watching it we are condoning said behavior. It's like saying "I hate Bikies....but does anybody know where I can score some meth?".
Any way I'm sure this one will rear it's ugly head the next time you guy's get a swell and unti all the punters band together to stamp it out your stuck with it.
6 knots is 11KPH....which is slower than any wave...so to catch the wave and be within 200 mtrs @6 knots........impossible...
I saw a clip where the ski is running in front of the wave watching the surfer......he has to be doing 20 knots......what if a surfer had a wipeout on the previous wave and stuck his head up and got run over.....
from what I have read on the Qld maritime rules for PWC/Tow website........the previous swell including Marcia.....all Skis were breaking the law.....
If you want to try and alleviate some of the hassle and get back to ...if ya fit enough and have the balls paddle at Kirra.......ban the skis!!
Interested in Stu's claim that the thread is getting "loopier", when I think that people have clearly raised some questions about the process by which editorial decisions are made. While in today's world the fantasy wall between advertising and editorial is well and truly in tatters, nevertheless most media organisations (and Swellnet does have a "News" section) take some measures to indicate when sponsored content exists.
I also thought the promo on the Mad Hueys vid was a bit more than usual - for example as well as the two posts to FB my local surf report page in Victoria encourages me to check out "'The Mad Hueys Do Kirra’ - now playing exclusively on Swellnet". The "exclusively" here makes me wonder whether a financial transaction is taking place, and also seems to trouble the assertion that "it's not our vid, we just link to it." Am I not only being encouraged to watch the Mad Hueys in order to view ads for the Good Guys on the Swellnet site and possibly buy a TV (the usual model of ad-supported page views), but finding that the "programming"/editorial is also paid for and it is one big commercial (albeit an excellent one)? There's nothing wrong or illegal with that of course, as Stu points out, but it does raise some questions about the kind of analysis that gets produced. For example, would there be other sponsor-related agreements that may have influenced Stu's in-depth take on WSL's media strategy? What about the features on shapers and manufacturers?
Without a clear understanding of what is paid content and what isn't there will always be some kind of suspicion on the part of readers/viewers as to what motivates particular posts that are not to their liking. Whether or not that suspicion is accurate, I think rather than writing it off it would be easier to clearly indicate somewhere what the policy is. And if you want to say it's commercially sensitive that's OK too, then we at least know what the answer is!
I'll tell you explicitly and unequivocally that a financial transaction hasn't taken place. Exclusivity was gained cos we've got the traffic.
I dig the link between the Good Guys and and the Mad Hueys tho'...
Thanks Stu, that is a helpful clarification that I think should quiet some of the punters (except those against the surf industry and co-branding as a whole, not much to be done there)
I couldnt agree more and raised similar concerns in the Kirra friday video. Apparently no money changed hands, how something becomes 'exclusive' without money or favour is a little mysterious.
As you point out, with a lot swellnets content it is not clear what is editorial and advertorial. Kind of ironic considering they make a business pointing out others shameless marketing and capitalist tendencies.
Kandooma resort, Aloita resort, Udo's threadstarter fund, More surfboards, there are plenty of situations that should require an Alan Jones/ John Laws discalimer. Especially considering their lefty stance complaining about other's capitalists ways.
I don't agree with you that "a lot swellnets content it is not clear what is editorial and advertorial". In recent times - i.e the last two years - we've had Kandooma and Aloita Resort but I was pretty upfront about everything to do with Aloita. Made no secret whatsoever.
I don't know about Udo's threadstarter fund, he's not an employee anyway. Mark Pridmore is a part-time employee but I can't think of any advertorial of his I've run. If he had a board swap meet I've announced it much as I've announced similar things for non-employees.
Back in the day I did reviews of GSI boards and made mention of them being sponsors. Here's a quote from 2010: "Disclaimer: Although Swellnet received no payment for this review, GSI advertise with Swellnet. So, although I've been honest, some people may see this review as a blatant plug. There's not much I can do about that. The most important thing to consider, however, is that I got to go surfing during work hours."
As for irony, Swellnet has given favourable reviews to plenty of other (competing) surf publications and their journos:
White Horses
Jock Serong (SW writer)
Paper Sea Quarterly
Sean Doherty (a couple of times)
Surfing Life
Surfing World publications (3 Crown media)
Surfer
I reckon we're pretty fair and balanced despite what you think.
I think you are pretty fair and balanced too. However you do not always diclose affiliations and favours. You might think it was pretty obvious what was happening with Aloita (as did I) but if you have nothing to hide, a disclaimer is a sign of respect to your readers. I'm sure Alan Jones saw no need to make his fringe benefits and payments obvious, but the authorities saw it differently.
Kandooma was a bit vague, which was pointed out by Indo D
Udo has to be more than an over zealous contributor, No affiliation at all?
None whatsoever. And I'm happy to answer any questions regarding advertorial.
Geez Stu I bet you never imagined the size of this can of worms when you posted the vid. I thought the last one of Kirra was fun this one has got to be the best ever. Do you have a richter scale for the largest number of comments to one article or vid?
Last year during the Jeffrey's Bay comp, jetski assist was not available and J'Bay was looking a bit more solid than any of the Kirra clips. So this begs a few questions....
Why can the Pro's and other J'Bay locals handle that sweep and Kirra at 5ft is too hard for the Pro's on hand and southern gold coast locals? Is Jeffreys bay off limits to Jetski's permanently or was this a competition decision? If permanently, how do we get such laws for all (crowded/populous) beaches here in Australia?
Ski's banned completely at Jbay. Think it was a local driven thing but I'm not sure. Jbays not squeezed in flat like Kirra and doesn't have the sweep as bad. Has current but I surfed it on finals day was fine to get back out, actually was harder getting in.
Cheers mick-free. Wasn't sure if it was just a comp thing for the ski's. Also for the sweep comparison between the two. Thought they might be similar but guess not the case.
Some points (I am not pro jet ski, but I'm not too bothered by them down the end of Kirra)
I wonder if the fact that the beaches were officially closed makes the use of Jet Skis permitted. (Just a guess)
I don't think too many were actually towing in (other than those kooks in that photo with the boat), most were using them as a taxi.
On the Sunday arvo most of the ones I saw, were dropping surfers right back at Snapper so even if you wanted to pay back a taxied surfer you would have no idea who they were and you would be miles away by the time they caught up to you.
Unless you have experienced the sweep then it's hard to make comments about how weak people surfing it are, it is a non stop conveyor belt that is almost impossible to paddle against. My shoulders were burning, non stop paddling for hours on end.
I have no issue with this whatsoever provided the skis are not breaking the law on proximity to others in the water.
It's when they're towing or dropping the surfer into the wave through the line up or much worse.....high speed cruising in front of the towed surfer on the wave straight through the lineup where surfers are paddling back out. This is blatantly dangerous and completely against the law.
Everyone jumping in with a bitch and a moan lately. WTF?
As others have said, Kirra might be a small wave spot, but the current is epic. You don't catch a wave and then just paddle back out. The run around is the only option. You are paddling just to hold position. The fact that the wave is 3 to 6 foot is not really the issue.
The sweep obviously then contributes to the hollowness of the wave. Giant rip bank?
It's a factor. Slater, who loves Kirra, has referred to it as the salmon run.
I would prefer no jet skis, as it would not be sustainable if most people had them. It's queue jumping. But, when there is helpful technology, it is hard to stop people from using it.
Older photo, I'll just include for fun.
Sweep runs South to North, drags you from Snapper to North Kirra at quite a rate of knots, not always but on most larger swells like this it is insane. Occasionally you get a reverse sweep which is worse because the kooks can stay out the back.
I'm really surprised to read above that there are surfers quite happy to have jet ski taxis to assist there surfing at Kirra just because of the epic sweep. Maybe I'm missing something but isn't the reality of this scenario (if it plays out & becomes legal, if its not already) that there would be countless jet skis all taking surfers back to the same takeoff zone, all the associated noise & stench, the added crowd factor to an already excessive crowd, the danger factor etc. Maybe some of you GC crew are already used to it. I just find it astounding & if this place sets the precedent what's to follow at all surf locations that require a bit of effort?!?
when all considered.....the whole area from D-Bah > Kirra is man made.....and man has been tinkering with waves,sand flow etc for years...
So why are we surprised that there is a weird cowboy type approach out there......amazing how people seem to break every written and unwritten law to do with surfing...maybe we should just leave everybody there and use it as an example of what you would not want at your own beach.....??
Agreed. That's the problem too I reckon in that we humans aren't very good at learning from past experiences hence a jet ski hire business is coming to your local sometime soon. Yeeeeehaaaa!!!
yikes that mad hueys clip is on Channel 10 news
I have surfed the uber bank once, January last year for 2 weeks including a 6 ft swell. Having surf etticit instilled in me from growing up in a line up where punches were thrown and people were sent in, the only two places I could catch waves on the good days were behind the rocks at snapper and wide at Greenmount, Kirra didn't break. The snaking across the rest of the bank was horendrous but it was just a crew of snakes... Same guys snaking again and again gettin 5 x as much waves as the nice people! behind the rocks at snapper there was a good queue system in place observed by most except two snakes.... Only problem with taking off behind the rocks was half the time a shoulder hopper would drop in. So you take off, yell as loud as you can as you are getting to your feet and then ride over 17 surfers duck diving through the face. I liked the local blokes who sat behind the rocks and had some good chats and laughs about the crowds... Good guys, had no issue- get down the line a little and it was just a drop in / snake circus....
Absolutely loved the vid, used the POV to describe how Kirra works to grom: the tube, the lines, the water movement of the sweep which also seems to jet you down the point and help the wave, the sensation of air pressure changing very shortly after takeoff, and grom saw why people name their dogs and daughters after this wave. Not going to go into the jetski debate other than to say Charles Darwin wouldn't approve. Lots of respect for the QLD crew who grow up with these sweeps and can paddle like no others.