Swellnet Sessions

By now you should all know Kirra has been a revelation the past week. The old beauty has been breaking the best it has since last century with blistering speed runs off the top of Big Groyne. And here's to hoping she's back for good.

On Wednesday photographer Grant Davis tweaked his shutter speed to eye-watering effect, capturing the utter speed of Kirra.

There's not a surfboard to be seen in this gallery nor a wave being ridden either. Yet it's no oversight and we make no apology for running them. Willem Ungermann takes us below the waterline and inside the wave in a series of beautifully evocative photographs.

More action from last week's East Coast Low...

Although the next swell is upon us and everywhere from Noosa to Narooma is pumping we couldn't pass over these shots from Matt Dunbar. They were taken at a bommie on the NSW South Coast where the oversized swell was draining the reef and causing sudden sea level adjustments. The gaping grey hole testament to the violence of the wave.

To see more of Matt's work click here.

Don't say Kirra is back, there's been too many false starts. Twenty metre speed runs caught on film and uploaded to YouTube, the images belying the 1:100 success ratio. Still images underneath headlines proclaiming her return as the outer bank - the bane of modern Kirra - is kept conveniently out of frame.

Don't say Kirra is back, because the powers that be will believe you and spend no more on improvements. Each time the words are uttered they're relayed to Gold Coast City Council who believe no further work is needed. The Bring Back Kirra crew stymied by the claim.

Here's hoping the old adage that a picture tells a thousand words is true cos I've got no words to write about today's competition. Didn't watch a second of it. Long weekend holiday, you see. It's pretty small where I am. Cold and wet too. Looks much better in these photos. The end.

To read a full recap, written all professional-like, click here.