You could get frustrated by this or feel a quiet thrill. Depends on your point of view.

Last Wednesday, as a season-long wave drought broke on the Gold Coast, photographer Josh Bystrom launched into the Kirra Express. The sweep was so strong he could only hope for a half dozen hook ups at best before he was deposited at Bilinga.

He sent the shots on to Swellnet for perusal. Here’s Mick in sequence working up a head of steam, there’s Steph gliding in with finesse, Seabass is deep but recognisable, and who the hell is this?

It’s the best wave of the lot, hands down, and I can’t make a positive ID. Zoom in a bit but there’s no giveaways, no sponsors, no familiar features, just an unassuming bloke on a white board making good moves on the wave of the day.

It’s puzzling.

And thrilling.

Cos everyone loves the underdog - or they should.

Like the back of a milk carton I put the call out to Facebook: “Do you know this man?” Josh did the same. But for two days we heard nothing until we got a bite on the website.

Scott Harris is an old sea dog - I don’t think he’d mind me saying that. Fella has worked on boats throughout Indo and West Oz, in fact he's spent so long in Indonesia he has a local wife, and he’s still a contender at maxing Kirra - age be damned.

Swellnet: How old are you Scott?
Scott: 53...aw, well I’m 52 going on 53.

And how long you been surfing Kirra for?
Aww, since the late 70s early 80s, not really sure which year.

How would last Wednesday rate in your experience?
It wasn't classic Kirra as the banks still aren't as good as they were way back then.

Before the pumping system and the Superbank, you mean?
Yeah..it’s not as good as it was. The actual point through to Butterbox is still pretty straight and closes out. But for what they are now it was a pretty good morning.

Can you recall your best ever swell at Kirra?
Oh yeah, the 40 day swell in ‘86 or ‘87.

Quick answer! You got some memorable waves I take it.
Yeah!

And what about crowds back then?
They were pretty heavy when the swell first started, but because of how long the swell went they started to thin out, people were getting surfed out, and also Burleigh was going off as well. So it wasn't too bad at all.

And the crowds the other morning, what were they like?
I didn’t find it that bad when I first got out. You know, it wasnt that bad.

So you got a few waves then?
Yeah, I think I got two off Big Groyne straight away and then I got one down off the point that was pretty good.

Can you recall the wave that appears in the photo?
That was one of the ones off Big Groyne. It was the first one I paddled into. There was a guy on the inside of me but I was waiting, it was really my wave, so I said ‘no way’, I called him off then went straight into it.

Did you make it?
I made it a fair way. I was in it for quite a while and then it closed out.

Looked like you had a bit of length under your feet. How long was the board?
6’10”.

Who shaped it?
Darryl Bulger. It was actually shaped as an Indo board but it went really well out there.

Well here's hoping for plenty more, eh?
Thanks.