Swellnet Sessions

Swellnet Sessions

Pitching and Pinching

Sun 19 February 12:00am

An unidentified surfer sets his line at Off The Wall, pulls a classic frontside tube stance, then lets the wave unfold around him. The lip pitches and pinches, the wave spits, it grinds off another section and then old mate gets makes a clean exit. The barrel was long and deep and it almost looked easy.

Sequence by Jon Wright

Swellnet Sessions

Pitching and Pinching

Sun 19 February 12:00am

An unidentified surfer sets his line at Off The Wall, pulls a classic frontside tube stance, then lets the wave unfold around him. The lip pitches and pinches, the wave spits, it grinds off another section and then old mate gets makes a clean exit. The barrel was long and deep and it almost looked easy.

Sequence by Jon Wright

Swellnet Sessions

Late Charge

Wed 15 February 12:00am

It's a good time to be in Hawaii: the contests are well and truly over and the majority of the pros have left, the crowds are thinning, and the sand is cleared off the reefs that count. Best of all the swell is stil pumping.

Our man on the ground, Jack Dekort, has timed his stay well. He sent this slection through to us - photos taken during the past week on the North Shore.

Swellnet Sessions

Late Charge

Wed 15 February 12:00am

It's a good time to be in Hawaii: the contests are well and truly over and the majority of the pros have left, the crowds are thinning, and the sand is cleared off the reefs that count. Best of all the swell is stil pumping.

Our man on the ground, Jack Dekort, has timed his stay well. He sent this slection through to us - photos taken during the past week on the North Shore.

Swellnet Sessions

West Coast Summer

Tue 14 February 12:00am

Fair winds, a mix of size and direction, and consistency to boot...yeah, the south-west of WA is having one of its better summers for waves. Certainly it's been better than many other regions of Australia, such as SA and parts of Vicco.

Matt Cooper recently threw all shark fear aside and swam out at one of the local beachies to grab these shots. Surfers include Brett Hardy, Mitch Taylor and Ben Wilson.

Swellnet Sessions

West Coast Summer

Tue 14 February 12:00am

Fair winds, a mix of size and direction, and consistency to boot...yeah, the south-west of WA is having one of its better summers for waves. Certainly it's been better than many other regions of Australia, such as SA and parts of Vicco.

Matt Cooper recently threw all shark fear aside and swam out at one of the local beachies to grab these shots. Surfers include Brett Hardy, Mitch Taylor and Ben Wilson.

Swellnet Sessions

Taking Shape

Mon 13 February 12:00am

All the indicators are present: the billboards are going up; the swells are becoming more consistent; the sand is coming together; and the talent in the water - shown by pros, hot locals and tourists alike - is heating up. Yep, it's almost contest time in Coolangatta and the town is primed.

Brad Nielson recently sent us shots of D'bah as good as it gets and the Superbank reeling off some flawless sections.

Swellnet Sessions

Taking Shape

Mon 13 February 12:00am

All the indicators are present: the billboards are going up; the swells are becoming more consistent; the sand is coming together; and the talent in the water - shown by pros, hot locals and tourists alike - is heating up. Yep, it's almost contest time in Coolangatta and the town is primed.

Brad Nielson recently sent us shots of D'bah as good as it gets and the Superbank reeling off some flawless sections.

Swellnet Sessions

The Hang Loose Pro

Mon 13 February 12:00am

On the weekend young Brazilian, Miguel Pupo, won the Hang Loose Pro at Fernando de Noronha in Brazil. The Hang Loose was a PRIME event and the result rockets Pupo to the lead in the One World Ranking. Of greater interest than points - at least to spectators - was the incredible surf at the event. From 6'-8' offshore barrels on the first day the waves never dropped below 4' for the duration of the contest.

See the photos below or check this video.

Swellnet Sessions

The Hang Loose Pro

Mon 13 February 12:00am

On the weekend young Brazilian, Miguel Pupo, won the Hang Loose Pro at Fernando de Noronha in Brazil. The Hang Loose was a PRIME event and the result rockets Pupo to the lead in the One World Ranking. Of greater interest than points - at least to spectators - was the incredible surf at the event. From 6'-8' offshore barrels on the first day the waves never dropped below 4' for the duration of the contest.

See the photos below or check this video.

Swellnet Sessions

Summer on Simeulue Pt. 1

Thu 9 February 12:00am

Gold Coast photographer, Ryan Williams, escaped the northerly season by setting up base in Northern Sumatra for spring and summer. Working at Aura Surf Resort on Simeulue, Ryan has been photographing all the off-season swells with the last few weeks providing the best waves of his time there. Here's a selection of shots. We'll have another batch this afternoon.

All photos by Ryan.

Swellnet Sessions

Summer on Simeulue Pt. 1

Thu 9 February 12:00am

Gold Coast photographer, Ryan Williams, escaped the northerly season by setting up base in Northern Sumatra for spring and summer. Working at Aura Surf Resort on Simeulue, Ryan has been photographing all the off-season swells with the last few weeks providing the best waves of his time there. Here's a selection of shots. We'll have another batch this afternoon.

All photos by Ryan.

Swellnet Sessions

Summer on Simeulue Pt. 2

Thu 9 February 12:00am

Here's Part 2 of Ryan Williams latest batch of shots from Simeulue in Northern Sumatra. To view Part 1 click here.

Swellnet Sessions

Summer on Simeulue Pt. 2

Thu 9 February 12:00am

Here's Part 2 of Ryan Williams latest batch of shots from Simeulue in Northern Sumatra. To view Part 1 click here.

Swellnet Sessions

East meets South

Craig Brokensha

Tue 7 February 12:00am

Yesterday in Sydney surfers woke to a mid-size east swell breaking under flawless offshore conditions. Within an hour of sunrise, however, a gusty southerly change shut down many of the options and sent surfers scurrying. There are a few spots in Sydney that respond to a straight east swell and southerly wind, Manly being one of them. From Queenscliff in the north to Winki in the south the swell/wind combo proved a good mix for locals and travellers alike.

Swellnet forecaster and part-time photographer, Craig Brokensha, caught some of the action.

Swellnet Sessions

East meets South

Craig Brokensha

Tue 7 February 12:00am

Yesterday in Sydney surfers woke to a mid-size east swell breaking under flawless offshore conditions. Within an hour of sunrise, however, a gusty southerly change shut down many of the options and sent surfers scurrying. There are a few spots in Sydney that respond to a straight east swell and southerly wind, Manly being one of them. From Queenscliff in the north to Winki in the south the swell/wind combo proved a good mix for locals and travellers alike.

Swellnet forecaster and part-time photographer, Craig Brokensha, caught some of the action.

Swellnet Sessions

Pipeline this morning

Tue 7 February 12:00am

Pipe surfers had just a small window of opportunity to fill their quota this morning. According to Swellnet photographer, Jack Dekort, morning wind conditions were close to perfect with just a light offshore puffing. For a few hours Pipeline pumped with Kelly Slater, amongst many others, putting on a great display of surfing on his quad. It was a short-lived session, however, with the wind swinging onshore around lunch.

Here's Jack's shots, taken while the wind was offshore and the session in full swing.

Swellnet Sessions

Pipeline this morning

Tue 7 February 12:00am

Pipe surfers had just a small window of opportunity to fill their quota this morning. According to Swellnet photographer, Jack Dekort, morning wind conditions were close to perfect with just a light offshore puffing. For a few hours Pipeline pumped with Kelly Slater, amongst many others, putting on a great display of surfing on his quad. It was a short-lived session, however, with the wind swinging onshore around lunch.

Here's Jack's shots, taken while the wind was offshore and the session in full swing.

Swellnet Sessions

Under Prying Eyes

Shayne Nienaber

Mon 6 February 12:00am

After a fair soaking in January the clouds finally parted over the Gold Coast in early February. Subsequently the sun came out, the brown water turned blue and the time was ripe for water shots on the points. Shayne Nienaber swam out to Burlieigh to sample the action from up close.

Swellnet Sessions

Under Prying Eyes

Shayne Nienaber

Mon 6 February 12:00am

After a fair soaking in January the clouds finally parted over the Gold Coast in early February. Subsequently the sun came out, the brown water turned blue and the time was ripe for water shots on the points. Shayne Nienaber swam out to Burlieigh to sample the action from up close.

Swellnet Sessions

John John Florence wins the Volcom Pipeline Pro

volcom/bielmann

Thu 2 February 12:00am

For those who didn't tune into the Volcom webcast John John Florence beat Jamie O'Brien in a final for the ages. Sitting on 19.40 points it seemed JOB only had to count down the clock to win. Kai Barger was his closest competitor on 18.20. Then, with five minutes remaining John John scored a ten pointer at Pipe to get within striking range. From that point on JOB tailed him around the line-up sitting shoulder to shoulder to stop the young fella getting anther wave. A set came through wiith around 30 seconds on the clock, John John sprint paddled to break free then spun late on a bomb.

Swellnet Sessions

John John Florence wins the Volcom Pipeline Pro

volcom/bielmann

Thu 2 February 12:00am

For those who didn't tune into the Volcom webcast John John Florence beat Jamie O'Brien in a final for the ages. Sitting on 19.40 points it seemed JOB only had to count down the clock to win. Kai Barger was his closest competitor on 18.20. Then, with five minutes remaining John John scored a ten pointer at Pipe to get within striking range. From that point on JOB tailed him around the line-up sitting shoulder to shoulder to stop the young fella getting anther wave. A set came through wiith around 30 seconds on the clock, John John sprint paddled to break free then spun late on a bomb.

Swellnet Sessions

Margs up close

Wed 1 February 12:00am

As far as summers go West Oz is having a cracker. While there's been nothing huge they've been copping plenty of mid-range swell with good conditions to boot.

Last week our Margaret River reporter, Calvin Best, swum out to his local to photograph a few of the lads at close range. In typical style the natives are riding longer boards, taking off late and laying a bucketload of rail.

Swellnet Sessions

Margs up close

Wed 1 February 12:00am

As far as summers go West Oz is having a cracker. While there's been nothing huge they've been copping plenty of mid-range swell with good conditions to boot.

Last week our Margaret River reporter, Calvin Best, swum out to his local to photograph a few of the lads at close range. In typical style the natives are riding longer boards, taking off late and laying a bucketload of rail.