Surfing
Filmers@Large: Shipstern Bluff
Our Tasmanian devils show out as the island's most notorious slab roars to life.
3 min
Filmers@Large: Shipstern Bluff
Tasmania's meanest wave delivers on the hype when a mightily talked up swell comes to town.
Big waves around Australia usually have more girth than height, and the granddaddy of them all is found in Tasmania. Slabs like The Right and Cyclops may top Shipstern Bluff in pure shock and awe, but for consistency, difficulty (that step!) and a spectacular view (cliffs, backwash, cold water, etc.), it's hard to beat the wave formerly known as Fluffy Tonka.
First came Andy Campbell, who used to hike three hours to surf 10-foot waves alone. The Hobart crews followed, before Billabong famously deployed Laurie Towner, Andy Irons and Dave Rastovich for a shoot that went global. Suddenly, Shippies was the Apple Isle's number one drawcard.
These days, guys like Marti Paradisis and the Hollmer-Cross brothers have forged careers on the back of their award-winning efforts at 'Stern. Stu Gibson has gone from humble beginnings shooting his mates to one of the world's best young photographers, and others like Mark Mathews and Kelly Slater have their eagle eyes constantly trained on the southern ocean's winter charts.
Nobody studies the maps more closely than legendary filmmaker Tim Bonython, who is the first to fly in when 'Stern looks ready to rumble. Last week, in between his sessions at The Right and flying to Tahiti (stay tuned for the footage), Bonython shot locals Rudi Schwarz, Tyler Hollmer-Cross, James McKean and goofyfoot rider Danny Griffiths, while West Australian imports Jarryd Foster and Mick Corbett were more than happy to accept an invitation to attend.
Without further ado we invite you to sit back, hit play and enjoy the wild ride. This is a good one.
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