Gallery: 2019 Retrospective

Craig Brokensha picture
Craig Brokensha (Craig)
Swellnet Dispatch

It's the final day of the year, and what better time to look back on the year that was. While again not a standout year on the East Coast, there were more than a few moments and only a handful of days that were totally unsurfable around the Sydney region.

The first real swell of consequence was that of Tropical Cyclone Oma. A large north-east groundswell made its way down the south east Queensland coast from the initial stages of Oma, with a follow up large east-southeast as it turned extra-tropical right off the coast. Good 4-6ft+ NE groundswell fell way to 10-12ft or E/SE swell.

Post Oma, a holiday to the Northern Hemisphere to visit a mate in Colorado saw me surfing liquid of a different form and also coming across one of the craziest landscapes I've seen. Sand dunes at 2,650m above sea level with 4,000m mountains as a back drop. How they came to be is explained in this article.. The great sand dunes in the sky.

On return to Australia, the surf lit up with a great run of uncrowded east-northeast swell over the Easter Long Weekend. I swam with the housing one session and captured these shots of my mates enjoying the spoils.

Fun sessions where had into late autumn, making the most of moderate southerly groundswell pulses.

It was one of the better starts to winter in recent years, culminating in a prolonged E/NE groundswell event under offshore winds early July.

The annual roadtrip to Splendour coincided with a great run of moderate to large S'ly groundswell and offshore tending variable winds with minimal crowds. It was exhausting working on the road while the rest of the Swellnet team was on leave, but getting a few great empty sessions in made it all the worth while.

The focus then turned away from the surf to another big snow season. The third in a row, with many epic campouts and lines put down the Main Range. Take note of the inversion in the third shot down, walking above the clouds as the sun sets was one of the most special moments of the year.

In between snow trips the surf continued to provide if you knew where to look.

When two back to back days of large Shippies lined up with clear, sunny skies, I couldn't resist and bought a cheap ticket down to Tasmania and shoot the action. Perched half way up the cliff looking into the barrel I shot these photos from deep in the Tassie wilderness.

The end of the year consisted of one more holiday mixing up the surf and snow, and putting down a couple of solo lines, deep in the backcountry.

The Fight for the Bight community paddle out was a special day, seeing everyone rally behind such a great cause. Pity the goverment doesn't seem to be listening.

The final week of the year provided good waves back home in South Oz and here's to an even bigger and better 2020!

Happy New Year!

Comments

simba's picture
simba's picture
simba Tuesday, 31 Dec 2019 at 11:23am

Nice selection Craig but to me that first photo is the bomb...well done and happy new year.!

wax-on-danielson's picture
wax-on-danielson's picture
wax-on-danielson Tuesday, 31 Dec 2019 at 11:56am

You don’t see a dolphin missing it’s dorsal fin every day

philosurphizingkerching's picture
philosurphizingkerching's picture
philosurphizing... Tuesday, 31 Dec 2019 at 12:28pm

His name...…...Derek.

lostdoggy's picture
lostdoggy's picture
lostdoggy Tuesday, 31 Dec 2019 at 4:51pm

I thought Derek lost his eye, not his fin?

lostdoggy's picture
lostdoggy's picture
lostdoggy Tuesday, 31 Dec 2019 at 4:56pm

Oh no, Derek lost his eye way back and then went finless later on, I remember now.

bipola's picture
bipola's picture
bipola Tuesday, 31 Dec 2019 at 1:05pm

thanks for the photos, happy new year

Clivus Multrum's picture
Clivus Multrum's picture
Clivus Multrum Tuesday, 31 Dec 2019 at 4:32pm

Great shots mate

I focus's picture
I focus's picture
I focus Tuesday, 31 Dec 2019 at 5:51pm

Great collection Craig you take a nice frame love the variations between snow and surf.

Tim Bonython's picture
Tim Bonython's picture
Tim Bonython Wednesday, 1 Jan 2020 at 5:12am

HAPPY NEW YEAR Craig! And thanks for all your support. Lets look forward to another stellar year mate.. 2019 was pretty good swell wise.

innatube's picture
innatube's picture
innatube Wednesday, 1 Jan 2020 at 8:35am

Nice photos Craig.

Just as a matter of interest , i've just come back from a high altitude desert in northern India that sits at over 3000m . There's even double hump hairy camels there with sand dunes and it's surrounded by massive mountain ranges. Don't think you can ski there but.

Craig's picture
Craig's picture
Craig Wednesday, 1 Jan 2020 at 8:39am

Thanks for the kind words guys.. and wow Innatube, will have to look that up! Thanks for sharing.

truebluebasher's picture
truebluebasher's picture
truebluebasher Wednesday, 1 Jan 2020 at 10:28am

Happy New Year Craig, Tim, Andrew & all swellnet snapperz...totally wild guys!

With kind permission, crew wish to tribute Craig thru swellnet's finest in fleet.
Craig's swellnet Archives: Waves of our Dazed + Bestie best ovz + swellnet sessions.
https://www.swellnet.com/photographers/craig-brokensha

Captain's catch of the day...hooks tbb rummaging thru swellnet's treasure chest.
Keelhauling is too good for that bloody thieving rotten scoundrel...All say Aye!

eastcoastbuoy's picture
eastcoastbuoy's picture
eastcoastbuoy Wednesday, 1 Jan 2020 at 8:56pm

captured some beauties! thanks for sharing

zenagain's picture
zenagain's picture
zenagain Wednesday, 1 Jan 2020 at 9:59pm

Great pics.

All the best for 2020 and beyond. Looking forward to the next.

Well done tbb for sharing that.

Bnkref's picture
Bnkref's picture
Bnkref Thursday, 2 Jan 2020 at 6:13am

Always scoring Craig. Great to see. Love the pics.

Barrel Daithwaite's picture
Barrel Daithwaite's picture
Barrel Daithwaite Thursday, 2 Jan 2020 at 4:32pm

Awesome photos and great write up. The second last looks like Godzilla.

batfink's picture
batfink's picture
batfink Saturday, 4 Jan 2020 at 8:22am

Well done Craig. So now all those road trips become tax deductions!

You know I'd be doing it if I had the chance.

"only a handful of days that were totally unsurfable around the Sydney region"

Our definitions of 'unsurfable' clearly slightly different. :-)

Trentslatterphoto's picture
Trentslatterphoto's picture
Trentslatterphoto Wednesday, 8 Jan 2020 at 7:12pm

HOW SICK IS THAT FIRST PIC

Craig's picture
Craig's picture
Craig Wednesday, 8 Jan 2020 at 8:20pm

Cheers Trent, yeah stoked capturing that moment. Just after I paddled out into that. Was absolutely turning inside out just behind the rocks and outside Snapper on this shallow bank but then into a big hole so it was fine. Looked super intimidating though and the current sent you on your way down to Little Marley instantly.

HWennerstrom's picture
HWennerstrom's picture
HWennerstrom Thursday, 9 Jan 2020 at 6:31am

Great photos Craig!