by Franck Gazzola | May 17, 2012 | Daily Updates
It's on again today. Thanks to a light west wind, the everlasting swell is probably the cleanest it has been all week. Wave size has backed off just enough, at about 3-4ft, for Bondi to be surf-able again. And couldn't you tell that the fun has been spread amongst the beaches. At 8am Bronte had a crowd of only 20 or so in the line up, compared to the last few days with 40 – 50 competing for a slice of the action.
The sand at Bondi seems to be a little straight, meaning it is breaking really fast. Occasionally one would stand up nicely and peel left or right. Seek and you will find! On the drive home Bronte still looked pretty good as well, so there are a few options out there today for you all.
I haven't stopped dreaming of my recent Maldivian escape and my imaginings of the warm waters and clean waves have been boosted by a fun video clip put together by some of the boys from our trip. They are a talented creative bunch and their footage will take you away from your office for a few tropical minutes. View it here.
Enjoy! Brad.
by Franck Gazzola | May 16, 2012 | Daily Updates
With the swell still up out of the south, at around the 4 – 5ft mark, and the sun shining, aiming for a top temp of 20, you should try and get in today. Once again I found myself at Bronte this morning where it was a bit fat and wonkie. However, if you were in the right spot at the right time you could have scored yourself a nice little slab for breakfast – just like Bronte grom Ethan Davis did.
It was an entertaining shoot this morning as I was kept very amused by some of the funniest stacks I've seen in a while. The painful realization was clear on the poor guys' faces that they had wasted a great wave, one that they'd battled so hard to get. Ah well, better luck next time guys! Keep your chin up, as it happens to all of us. Check this out.
Tomorrow and Friday are looking the goods with the same conditions but the swell will back off slightly. It's a good chance to redeem yourselves fellas!
Cheers – Brad
by Franck Gazzola | May 15, 2012 | Daily Updates
I know I keep saying it, but how good is this time of year! It’s absolutely pumping again! I’m going crazy sitting here in front of the computer, trying to get this out to you guys while my new 6’2’’ is screaming at me “hurry up you fool, it could go onshore at any moment!!!”.
If you are looking for a wave, there are plenty available. Bronte is probably the spot around here with some nice solid 6 foot wedging peaks behind the reef. You may have to risk a jump off the baths to get out there though, as there aren’t many breaks in the sets. The Bra is your other option with a few hollow rights in the middle and a fair bit smaller and manageable.
You may have already seen this on the news – Hawaii’s Garrett McNamara has won the Billabong XXL Biggest Wave Award for a wave ridden off Portugal. Size varies according to who you talk to with some saying 78 feet, while others say 90. Personally, I think it’s a fat burger of a wave and nothing on what he or others have ridden previously at Jaws in Maui, which is a ‘real’ wave! Still, you wouldn’t catch me out there. Click HERE for a look.
Billy
by Franck Gazzola | May 14, 2012 | Daily Updates
Most Eastern Beaches' surfers would have known there was going to be a delivery of Big Macs this morning – cold chilly ones out of the south. On sunrise the swell was manageable with a few guys scoring some nice rides but within an hour it picked up making the rock jump scary and dangerous, while sending broken boards and battered souls back to the beach. It is solid and not for the faint hearted today. I saw some 6 to 8 footers at Bronte.
The swell will peak this afternoon and will slowly fall away leaving us with fun sized waves for the rest of the week. Hope you have some good rubber because that SW wind is fresh and will be lurking for the rest of the week.
This morning's conditions were in stark contrast to what I became happily used to over in the Maldives. Even though I had to leave the perfect weather and waves behind, I'm glad to be back at home and once again sharing the local froth!
We must be close to that first dumping of snow down on the snow fields. STM at Bondi Junction has everything you need from rental gear to the top end stuff for those quick weekends away in the white powdery stuff.
Stay warm – Brad.
by Franck Gazzola | May 11, 2012 | Daily Updates
Wow! It was a beautiful sunrise this morning. I was forced to watch it from the Fire Station as I was on night shift last night. I grabbed a quick shot from the yard but wish I had been at the beach for it.
The surf has finally dropped but it's still warm after yesterday’s hottest May day in 70 years. It was beautiful and sunny this morning, until the sky went black around 8:30 ruining my late update photo session. I managed to jag a couple of pics before the sun went away. One of a very jetlagged Perth Standlick, who just returned from the 6 Star Prime Nike Lowers Pro in California and was out surfing Bronte with his pro surfer mate, Chris Friend from the Sunshine Coast.
We certainly run into some interesting people while out shooting our daily reports. A group of very retro looking blokes were out surfing and hanging on the beach at Bronte while I was there. It turned out they’re a band – The Otchkies. They hail from the Northern Rivers area on the NSW North Coast. They had just driven down through the night and stopped at Bronte for a wake up surf before trying to find some accommodation and settle in before starting their Sydney gigs tomorrow night. They class their music as ‘subterranean psychedelia’. Here is their facebook PAGE which has the venue details to see them if you feel inclined.
With all this cloud, I’m not sure if it will make the predicted record breaking 29 degree mark today but it’s still going to be a lot warmer than tomorrow will be. Enjoy it while you can.
To all the Mums, ‘Happy Mother’s Day’ for Sunday. Our Bronte gallery will be open on the weekend in case you need a last minute gift. Have a great weekend everyone! See you all next week.
Billy
Recent Comments