The recent swell in the southern states provided three days of good, sizeable waves. In South Australia the swell didn't hit directly, as it did in SW Victoria, though you could hardly call it a glancing blow. In fact some waves in the state were the biggest they'd been in twelve months.

Jeff Schmucker went roaming for waves that only break in such conditions. And he found a few. On a coast full of heavy waves these waves rate near the top. Waves where half of the face becomes lip, and the makeable line between take-off and the channel is a razor's edge. Jo Henstridge took the photos.// STUART NETTLE