The Weekly Bugle
A look into the weeds of the world’s surfing week with Andy Irons, Jeremy Jones, Outlaw Oceans and a shark frenzy.
AI Forever
I don’t always buy into the surfing and nostalgia trend, but when it comes to footage of Andy Irons surfing, it always gets me where it hurts. The massive roll-in wave at Pipeline, which led to the iconic bottom turn shot featuring the “Rising Sun” spray, is particularly timeless. Though Jack Robinson, riding a replica of Andy’s board this winter in Hawaii provides a nice reboot. Oh and for more Andy, click for a previous animated Bugle featuring me, Andy, his wife and Napoleon Dynamite.
Surf and Snow
Here’s a question. Who the fuck enjoys watching professional surfers snowboard? Even the greatest surfer tends to be bang-average snowboarders, so what’s the point? In any case, what about iconic snowboarders riding pow on a surfboard? In theory, sounds terrible. But when it's Jeremy Jones (on a Chis Christenson 6’10”)? Yes, please!
The Outlaw Ocean Podcast
The Outlaw Ocean Podcast is a seven-part series that explores a gritty and lawless realm rarely seen, populated by traffickers and smugglers, pirates and mercenaries, wreck thieves and repo men, vigilante conservationists and elusive poachers, seabound abortion providers, clandestine oil dumpers, shackled slaves and cast-adrift stowaways. It’s illuminating, depressing, exciting, sobering and important.
Chris Burkard’s Secret Store
“It would feel hypocritical to say things like, “Oh, you need progression in your life, or you need to live outside your comfort zone, yada yada yada yada,” when I was living in the place I grew up, with a studio, and comfortable life business.” That was Chris Burkard chatting to me last year, just after he had moved his family lock-stock-and-barrel to Iceland. “But when that place became uninspiring and it started to become comfortable, it was time for change. So that's what I'm doing over here. I'm like trying to practise what I preach.” Part of that is opening a new studio and shop. The catch? He doesn’t tell you where it is, or when it's open.
Breitling Book Of Surfing
Did I mention I wrote a book? Yeah, maybe a few times. Well, The Breitling Book of Surfing is out now and on sale. 256 pages, class imagery and some fresh insights into the likes of surfers like Kelly Slater, Steph Gilmore and Mikey February. Plus and a look into waves and communities as far off as Uruguay, Rome, Athens and the Baltic Sea.
Shark Frenzy
I’d imagine this is not a favourite site of Foster and Pacific Palms surfers, but @midcoast.aerial has been pumping out incredible drone imagery for years. Tuncurry, with its great shories and fables right-hander The Bar, and being protected from southerlies is a local surfer stomping ground. Now Tuncurry means “plenty of fish” in the local Worimi language, and with plenty fish, come plenty of sharks. The champagne water, blue skies, and offshore winds add to the beauty. The number of great whites adds to the drama.
