Swellnet Sessions

Swellnet Sessions

Step Right Up

Mon 20 August 12:00am

Sam Jones is a young surfer from Sydney's Northern Beaches. 15-years young, to be exact. Sam has stepped up to the plate during a couple of swells this past winter, paddling out on the biggest days and spinning 'round on the set waves .

Here Sam steps up during a session just over a week ago. He drops in late, negotiates the step then arcs it off the bottom.

Unfortunately that's all the footage we've got so if you wanna know how the rest of the wave goes you'll need to use your imagination. Me, I'm calling a succesfully threaded pit through the inside.

Swellnet Sessions

Step Right Up

Mon 20 August 12:00am

Sam Jones is a young surfer from Sydney's Northern Beaches. 15-years young, to be exact. Sam has stepped up to the plate during a couple of swells this past winter, paddling out on the biggest days and spinning 'round on the set waves .

Here Sam steps up during a session just over a week ago. He drops in late, negotiates the step then arcs it off the bottom.

Unfortunately that's all the footage we've got so if you wanna know how the rest of the wave goes you'll need to use your imagination. Me, I'm calling a succesfully threaded pit through the inside.

Swellnet Sessions

Operation Desert Storm

Sun 19 August 12:00am

Greg Long and Grant 'Twiggy' Baker are unlikely surf partners and not just because of their age difference. More than ten years seperates the big wave duo and they live more than 10,000 kilometres apart, Long in San Clemente, California, Twiggy in Durban, South Africa. Yet despite the distances in age and geography they've formed a formidable team, first as tow partners and now as sparring partners operating at the vangard of big wave paddle surfing.

Swellnet Sessions

Operation Desert Storm

Sun 19 August 12:00am

Greg Long and Grant 'Twiggy' Baker are unlikely surf partners and not just because of their age difference. More than ten years seperates the big wave duo and they live more than 10,000 kilometres apart, Long in San Clemente, California, Twiggy in Durban, South Africa. Yet despite the distances in age and geography they've formed a formidable team, first as tow partners and now as sparring partners operating at the vangard of big wave paddle surfing.

Swellnet Sessions

The 2012 Billabong Pico Alto

Gonzalo Barandiaran

Fri 17 August 12:00am

On Tuesday the second event of the Big Wave World Tour - the Billabong Pico Alto - went off in 20-25 foot waves near Lima, Peru. Pico Alto is a deep water wave 43 kilometres south of Lima and two kilometres offshore.

As the swell approached from the south competitors flew in from around the world including Australians Ben Wilkinson and Jeff Rowley, who rolled the dice as an alternate for the competition. The 5000 kilometre trip was worth it for Rowley who made the comp when another competitor failed to show. He also made the final placing sixth overall.

Swellnet Sessions

The 2012 Billabong Pico Alto

Gonzalo Barandiaran

Fri 17 August 12:00am

On Tuesday the second event of the Big Wave World Tour - the Billabong Pico Alto - went off in 20-25 foot waves near Lima, Peru. Pico Alto is a deep water wave 43 kilometres south of Lima and two kilometres offshore.

As the swell approached from the south competitors flew in from around the world including Australians Ben Wilkinson and Jeff Rowley, who rolled the dice as an alternate for the competition. The 5000 kilometre trip was worth it for Rowley who made the comp when another competitor failed to show. He also made the final placing sixth overall.

Swellnet Sessions

Five out of Four

Fri 17 August 12:00am

"July 2012 - Four days deep into our Maldives adventure and we have already surfed five sweet little lineups. It's been a surf marathon...four full-tilt days of nothing but surfing and eating.... I really can't believe my luck right now! Just had an epic sunset session to finish the day and saw my first ever 'green flash' sunset.

Swellnet Sessions

Five out of Four

Fri 17 August 12:00am

"July 2012 - Four days deep into our Maldives adventure and we have already surfed five sweet little lineups. It's been a surf marathon...four full-tilt days of nothing but surfing and eating.... I really can't believe my luck right now! Just had an epic sunset session to finish the day and saw my first ever 'green flash' sunset.

Swellnet Sessions

Yesterday Sunshine

Thu 16 August 12:00am

Usually you can forget chasing waves on the Sunshine Coast during winter, it's a time to hibernate not hunt. Long, flat spells being the order of the season.

This week, however, the coast awoke and shook its head to a mid-range swell so yesterday Jack Dekort went a'hunting. This is what he found.

Swellnet Sessions

Yesterday Sunshine

Thu 16 August 12:00am

Usually you can forget chasing waves on the Sunshine Coast during winter, it's a time to hibernate not hunt. Long, flat spells being the order of the season.

This week, however, the coast awoke and shook its head to a mid-range swell so yesterday Jack Dekort went a'hunting. This is what he found.

Swellnet Sessions

Sanga's 20th Farewell

Wed 15 August 12:00am

The sixth of August marked twenty years since Mark 'Sanga' Sainsbury passed away while surfing at Avoca Beach. To commemorate the occasion Avoca Boardriders put on a tag team event and BBQ. In attendance were many of Sanga's peers, a few ex-pros, hot locals, groms who never met him, and even Sanga's parents. The event was blessed with good swell, a great bank and even better weather.

John Brumfield took the photos, including the first image of Sanga taken at the 1985 Pro Junior - the year he won.

Swellnet Sessions

Sanga's 20th Farewell

Wed 15 August 12:00am

The sixth of August marked twenty years since Mark 'Sanga' Sainsbury passed away while surfing at Avoca Beach. To commemorate the occasion Avoca Boardriders put on a tag team event and BBQ. In attendance were many of Sanga's peers, a few ex-pros, hot locals, groms who never met him, and even Sanga's parents. The event was blessed with good swell, a great bank and even better weather.

John Brumfield took the photos, including the first image of Sanga taken at the 1985 Pro Junior - the year he won.

Swellnet Sessions

Jack and Matt

Charlie Straumeitis

Tue 14 August 12:00am

Matt Griggs is a meditation practitioner, a clean living citizen in a short-back-and-sides kinda way.

Jack Irvin is a long-haired bohemian, an artist and musician he sprays his boards with Slayer insignia.

What they share is a fondness for knee deep reefs and a finely honed tube sense. They put this to use on Monday when the large weekend swell in Sydney dropped enough to allow entry into this unnamed wave near Cronulla.

All photos Charlie Straumeitis.

Swellnet Sessions

Jack and Matt

Charlie Straumeitis

Tue 14 August 12:00am

Matt Griggs is a meditation practitioner, a clean living citizen in a short-back-and-sides kinda way.

Jack Irvin is a long-haired bohemian, an artist and musician he sprays his boards with Slayer insignia.

What they share is a fondness for knee deep reefs and a finely honed tube sense. They put this to use on Monday when the large weekend swell in Sydney dropped enough to allow entry into this unnamed wave near Cronulla.

All photos Charlie Straumeitis.

Swellnet Sessions

Back on Deck

Mon 13 August 12:00am

For the past few months Kerry Down's contributions to Swellnet have come from behind the camera. Laid low with an injury he's hooked up with Ace Buchan for some great sessions as well as the odd bit of swimming at this place. He's back on deck now though, swapped the camera for surfboard and paddled straight to the inside.

Swellnet Sessions

Back on Deck

Mon 13 August 12:00am

For the past few months Kerry Down's contributions to Swellnet have come from behind the camera. Laid low with an injury he's hooked up with Ace Buchan for some great sessions as well as the odd bit of swimming at this place. He's back on deck now though, swapped the camera for surfboard and paddled straight to the inside.

Swellnet Sessions

Classic Lines

Fri 10 August 12:00am

For the most part it's been a slow old winter on the Surf Coast, good swells having been sporadic at best. The last three weeks, however, have provided some of the better surf of the season and help make up for a poor early Winter.

Swellnet Sessions

Classic Lines

Fri 10 August 12:00am

For the most part it's been a slow old winter on the Surf Coast, good swells having been sporadic at best. The last three weeks, however, have provided some of the better surf of the season and help make up for a poor early Winter.

Swellnet Sessions

Rip Curl Cup: Pumping Padang and a podium proposal

Fri 10 August 12:00am

After a full day of pumping barrels it came down to the last two minutes of the Rip Curl Cup at Padang Padang. Californian, Chris Ward, needing an 8.50 to win, took off on his last wave and got barrelled to the channel scoring perfect 10's across the board.

After being chaired up the beach and accepting his trophy Ward then bent his knee and popped the question to his unsuspecting girlfriend. She accepted.

Rip Curl Cup Results: 1st Chris Ward (USA) 17.5 and a wife 2nd Mega Semadhi (Bali) 15.6 3rd Ry Craike (Aus) 9.25 4th Dede Suryana (Java) 9.20

Swellnet Sessions

Rip Curl Cup: Pumping Padang and a podium proposal

Fri 10 August 12:00am

After a full day of pumping barrels it came down to the last two minutes of the Rip Curl Cup at Padang Padang. Californian, Chris Ward, needing an 8.50 to win, took off on his last wave and got barrelled to the channel scoring perfect 10's across the board.

After being chaired up the beach and accepting his trophy Ward then bent his knee and popped the question to his unsuspecting girlfriend. She accepted.

Rip Curl Cup Results: 1st Chris Ward (USA) 17.5 and a wife 2nd Mega Semadhi (Bali) 15.6 3rd Ry Craike (Aus) 9.25 4th Dede Suryana (Java) 9.20

Swellnet Sessions

Kind of Blue

Thu 9 August 12:00am

Clear blue skies, old school lines.

Eli Curry (on the yellow board) puts his single fin into time tested positions on a breathless day east of Melbourne.

All photos by Brennon Reusch.

Swellnet Sessions

Kind of Blue

Thu 9 August 12:00am

Clear blue skies, old school lines.

Eli Curry (on the yellow board) puts his single fin into time tested positions on a breathless day east of Melbourne.

All photos by Brennon Reusch.

Swellnet Sessions

Maldives In Style

Thu 9 August 12:00am

Words and photos by Joel Coleman of Saltmotion Gallery.

I recently had the good fortune to spend a week on board the Carpe Vita in the Maldives. This is the kind of charter that can ensure diehard surfers get that totally surfed out feeling every day, while at the same time making sure your non-surfing partner or lower level frother has everything at hand to keep them happy.

Swellnet Sessions

Maldives In Style

Thu 9 August 12:00am

Words and photos by Joel Coleman of Saltmotion Gallery.

I recently had the good fortune to spend a week on board the Carpe Vita in the Maldives. This is the kind of charter that can ensure diehard surfers get that totally surfed out feeling every day, while at the same time making sure your non-surfing partner or lower level frother has everything at hand to keep them happy.