Watch: Drew McPherson // Solitude

Stu Nettle picture
Stu Nettle (stunet)
Swellnet Dispatch

No, I don't know who Drew McPherson is, but he's described as a "product tester" on the bio, which puts him somewhere above influencer and somewhere below ambassador. It's a confusing gig, this millenial jobs market.

Anyway, what I do know about Drew is that he's got an eye for style, doesn't mind a kick stall, and he can make his single fin sing. Not a board I'd choose for these waves but it takes all sorts to make the world go 'round.

The video is by Need Essentials and I've no idea where it was shot.

Sorry, there really wasn't much info attached and I'm not in a sleuthing mood.

Comments

Blowin's picture
Blowin's picture
Blowin Thursday, 20 Sep 2018 at 10:31am

Product tester.

It just so happens that I’m minding a mates home for a month as he swans around Italy . This very mate of mine was a product tester for a very large surfwear company. He lives in a colder part of the country and theyd send him and his son next seasons wetsuits to test before they released them.

Not a bad deal getting hundreds of dollars of cutting edge wetties delivered to your door gratis each year in exchange for a little feedback.

He must rip or be an industry insider you are wondering. Nope. He’d previously bought one of their suits and it fell to pieces on him so he tried to get it sorted with the company. Apparently the response from the company was entirely unsatisfactory.

But he persevered and somehow got in touch with the head wetsuit designer and unloaded on him about the shitty product and the shitty support he received. The designer was all ears as my mate then went to town on them so hard that the result was free wetsuits ....every year !

Anyway , the designer left the company or some such and the wetsuit well ran dry . He had a good run though. Now he’s sipping wine in Italy and I’m feeding his chickens. Some people have life on a string.

PS The vid was filmed in Tonga*

* might not be Tonga.

Craig's picture
Craig's picture
Craig Thursday, 20 Sep 2018 at 11:08am

Great yarn, love these little tidbits Blowin.

Island Bay's picture
Island Bay's picture
Island Bay Thursday, 20 Sep 2018 at 11:21am

Spuddups will be able to name all spots and what tide, wind and swell they work on.

Great video, btw.

Spuddups's picture
Spuddups's picture
Spuddups Thursday, 20 Sep 2018 at 12:57pm

I could, but I won't. ;-)

Island Bay's picture
Island Bay's picture
Island Bay Thursday, 20 Sep 2018 at 2:51pm

Good!

tonks's picture
tonks's picture
tonks Friday, 21 Sep 2018 at 3:07pm

What a beautiful place wherever it is and the surfs not bad either especially the last few waves,small but almost perfect and long.Drew goes good on that single too!

velocityjohnno's picture
velocityjohnno's picture
velocityjohnno Friday, 21 Sep 2018 at 5:11pm

I like the way he's pulling in, quick reflexes on the takeoff. Lovely flow to the riding too.
& is that a chully version of Double Island at the end? Haha. What a coast.

velocityjohnno's picture
velocityjohnno's picture
velocityjohnno Friday, 21 Sep 2018 at 5:22pm

& hat tip to Drew, here's a link of TF and WL taking on a certain hollow left, check from 0:50 on for the comparison on goofy single tube riding:

Was out singling nice waves today and damn the backhand bottom turn to hit the lip feels great, the hollower the better.

radiationrules's picture
radiationrules's picture
radiationrules Friday, 21 Sep 2018 at 6:37pm

"No, I don't know who Drew McPherson is, but he's described as a "product tester" on the bio, which puts him somewhere above influencer and somewhere below ambassador. It's a confusing gig, this millenial jobs market."

actually sleuth - that 's hilarous - shows you that good-writing turns up when you least expect it!

oldknees's picture
oldknees's picture
oldknees Friday, 21 Sep 2018 at 7:42pm

Drew's well know around Newcastle NSW. Amongst other things he won the Pro Junior at Surfest in 2007. Really good shortboarder - represented Australia as a junior. Cathrine Hill Bay local. Recently been surfing in Byron for last couple of years. Really under-rated surfer.

Island Bay's picture
Island Bay's picture
Island Bay Saturday, 22 Sep 2018 at 4:26am

Pretty clean, effortless style.
Came across this little gem. Reminded me how much I love this spot - and the other one down the beach.

Spuddups's picture
Spuddups's picture
Spuddups Saturday, 22 Sep 2018 at 5:32am

Yeah, you don't see too much footage of that particular spot considering where it is. He reminds me a bit of Terry Fitzgerald here. Gotta love that single fin style.

bbbird's picture
bbbird's picture
bbbird Sunday, 23 Sep 2018 at 10:00am

Smooth singlefins style...lovin the glide.
PS. That seal owns that SNZ beach during 'mating months', he's a real ankle biter ...