Watch: Roby D'Amico // Toxic Point, Italy

Stu Nettle picture
Stu Nettle (stunet)
Swellnet Dispatch

Did you happen to read Craig's swell analysis article last week? The one about the largest wave ever recorded off Croatia..?

If so, you may have noticed the chart he supplied with gale-force winds sweeeping south into the Mediterranean off France, then projecting NE across the boot of Italy and into the Adriatic Sea where they whipped up said record-breaking wave.

While those winds and associated rainfall were hammering the shores of the Med, ol' Roby D'Amico was hunched over the wheel of his sporty coupe deep into a six hour drive. First rule of surfing in the Med: act fast. The waves you see now won't be there tomorrow, or even this afternoon, so you need to be on site when the weather turns.

"Scoring good waves in Italy is very hard," says Roby, "but when it happens, take a deep breath and make the most of it, because it will not happen again anytime soon."

This clip appears to show a classic slab, rock-bottomed and short, yet it's a rivermouth. A temporary wave created by the heavy rains flushing toxic water into the sea.

The tight-cropped opening sequences gives way to pulled-back vision as he starts to figure out the wave.

Comments

TeeRob's picture
TeeRob's picture
TeeRob Thursday, 21 Nov 2019 at 10:40am

VIVA ITALIA

Bob Sacamano's picture
Bob Sacamano's picture
Bob Sacamano Thursday, 21 Nov 2019 at 1:26pm

Now thats a wave pool!

spencie's picture
spencie's picture
spencie Thursday, 21 Nov 2019 at 1:27pm

Always enjoy watching his surfing. Such a great variety of waves in that region.

lampy's picture
lampy's picture
lampy Thursday, 21 Nov 2019 at 1:28pm

Need to pull back the camera shots a bit. Too much closeup

stunet's picture
stunet's picture
stunet Thursday, 21 Nov 2019 at 1:32pm

Think maybe it was to remove landmarks.

But yeah, that opening stuff was tight.

SoCal Steve's picture
SoCal Steve's picture
SoCal Steve Friday, 22 Nov 2019 at 3:06am

I concur.

indo-dreaming's picture
indo-dreaming's picture
indo-dreaming Friday, 22 Nov 2019 at 5:13pm

100% i was about to post the same thing, ruined it for me.

If it was to remove landmarks, they didn't do to well with the frozen frame grab.

Island Bay's picture
Island Bay's picture
Island Bay Thursday, 21 Nov 2019 at 2:09pm

Good barrel skills.

Sprout's picture
Sprout's picture
Sprout Thursday, 21 Nov 2019 at 2:48pm

Why B&W, it always looks shit compared to colour when it comes to the ocean.

stunet's picture
stunet's picture
stunet Thursday, 21 Nov 2019 at 2:49pm

I'd say overcast and brown water is why.

bipola's picture
bipola's picture
bipola Thursday, 21 Nov 2019 at 3:10pm

it was good watching him paddle into the waves .black and white made it feel like winter

t-diddy's picture
t-diddy's picture
t-diddy Thursday, 21 Nov 2019 at 3:24pm

how fun did that look

Sam2609's picture
Sam2609's picture
Sam2609 Friday, 22 Nov 2019 at 4:58pm

This was actually filmed in northwest WA but the poor creators are terrified after the backlash of Ishka and Henshaw's last piece!
the "toxic" title refers to the Localism faced whilst filming.

jános's picture
jános's picture
jános Friday, 22 Nov 2019 at 6:46pm

Hey Sam, it'd be easier if you just said off off Blowie.

Sam2609's picture
Sam2609's picture
Sam2609 Friday, 22 Nov 2019 at 6:48pm

Do you froth more after an easy session or a hard one?

c735293's picture
c735293's picture
c735293 Saturday, 23 Nov 2019 at 11:50pm

It's funny how any unicorn wave in Europe is so protected by close up filming. But anywhere and everywhere in Indo (and Ireland) is fine to post - even named. Maybe I shouldn't be worried. All the wannabe's and "alpha" males will travel over to Europe instead of polluting the water with their toxic testosterone and oozing egos closer to home? Might even work with the Brazzos! Name the spots and add landmarks! Please!

Leen's picture
Leen's picture
Leen Saturday, 7 Dec 2019 at 5:39pm

Shots too close,20 seconds in and I was gone.