SURFISH is an Australian surfing, camping and fishing film. We set off with hopes of reaching the Western Australian coastline. We chose this part of Australia due to there being world class left hand barrels whilst having large species of fish that I often don’t have the chance to catch.
Holly and I live on the East coast, and had thousands of kilometres of driving ahead of us to hopefully achieve our goals of great waves and great fish. After a long and precarious drive across the country. We made it to our destination. On the first day of arriving over West I managed to spear the fish of my dreams. A large Spanish Mackerel approached me whilst i was solo diving at sunset before heading back for our first night at camp. Somehow, I managed to land this fish and body surf it in through the reef pass.
After many weeks of small and flat days of waves we finally got to experience our first proper swell of the trip. I managed to score the longest barrel of my life. A wave that will forever be engrained in my brain.
On our off days we would watch large tuna and mackerel chase schools of baitfish in front of our camp. My friend Jared and I spent time modifying his drone to hopefully be able to reach these fish that were beyond our casting range. On three occasions we managed to hook fish using the drone. First attempt I got reefed. Second attempt we landed a small Longtail. And on the third attempt the fish we were dreaming of ate my lure. After a long fight I pulled in a large Longtail Tuna.
Through many collections of incredible moments, my memory is flooded with beautiful experiences that I will forever cherish and be grateful for.
Thank you Holly for being so dedicated to filming and editing our antics. None of this would have been possible without you.
Thank you to all the epic people we met along the way. Meeting new people is such a large part of the experience of travelling. It was so cool to see so many like minded people congregated in the same place.
And finally, thank you Salty Crew for supporting this film. It was great to test their equipment in diverse weather, always throwing challenges our way. I was stoked to have all my clothes withstand the harsh desert climate.
Highlights from surfing Black’s Beach during a big WNW swell on December 7, 2023. The Surfline report this morning was 8-12 feet. Jordy Collins got the wave of the day with his epic double barrel.
BALLITO, KWAZULU-NATAL, SOUTH AFRICA – JULY 1: Daniel Emslie of South Africa surfs in Heat 3 of the Round of 32 at the O’Neill SMTH Shapes Ballito Pro Junior on July 1, 2021 at Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. (Photo by Pierre Tostee/World Surf League).
Emerging Talents and World-Class Wildcards Prepare for World Junior Title Campaigns
Sky Brown gets wildcard and surfs representing GB.
Rising star Sierra Kerr (AUS) put on a showcase of progression and power at last year’s World Junior Championships. She will enter this year’s event ranked No. 1 for the Australia/Oceania region. Talia Swindal (USA), Kana Nakashio (JPN), Isabelle Nalu (BRA), and Louise Lepront (RSA) also lead their respective regions going into Oceanside. Swindal earned her first WSL Pro Junior Finals appearances during the 2023 season. She now looks to carry that momentum into the Qualifying Series and World Junior Championships.
“It’s insane just being able to be in the scene with everyone at the World Juniors, and if you win, you get to qualify for the Challenger Series,” said Swindal. “I’m just so excited to see how the waves are and compete. The way it all happened for me to qualify for World Juniors was insane, and I ended up winning the season. The goal for me was just to qualify for this event, but to win the rankings was extra special.”
Surf skate phenom and former British Olympic medalist Sky Brown has received a wildcard.
The Basque Country will be represented by sister duo, Europe’s No. 1Annette Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK) and No. 2 Janire Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK). The Extabarri sisters will look to keep the World Junior Championships title in Europe after Francisca Veselko (POR) earned a big win in 2023.
Nora Liotta (HAW) recently confirmed her spot as Hawaii/Tahiti Nui’s frontrunner in the World Junior Championships by placing third at the Haleiwa Pro.
“It means so much to make it to the World Junior Championships,” said Liotta. “I feel so grateful to be able to represent Maui and feel so much support from everyone there. I have so much more belief in myself and my abilities after this year, and it has helped me compete so much.”
GOLD COAST, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA – MAY 9: Sierra Kerr of Australia surfs in Heat 1 of the Round of 48 at the Boost Mobile Gold Coast Pro on May 9, 2023 at Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. (Photo by Cait Miers/World Surf League)
A stacked men’s field includes event wildcard and defending World Junior Champion, Jarvis Earle (AUS). Respective Pro Junior Regional victors Mitch Du Preez (RSA), Monnojo Yahagi (JPN), Harley Walters (AUS), Sam Piter(FRA), and Reed Platenius (CAN) all have their sight set on claiming their first World Junior Championships victory and etching their name into surfing history.
“It’s still hard for me to believe, it kind of just came as a shock to me, and when it finally sunk in, I realized I actually won the region,” said Platenius. “It’s just an honor to be in the event. It would mean everything for my country and my hometown to win it. I live in a small town, and to see the people who were kind of mentors, just good people, supporting me is amazing.”
WSL South America’s Pro Junior Regional victor, Ryan Kainalo (BRA), showed a glimpse of his capabilities at the 2022 World Junior Championships. Now, after another successful year on the QS and a wildcard into the Corona Saquarema Pro Challenger Series event Kainalo is back for more.
Shion Crawford (HAW) recently established himself as Hawaii/Tahiti Nui’s leading man, securing his spot in the World Junior Championships after finishing fourth at the Haleiwa Pro.
World-Class Talents and Wildcards In Attendance, Full Competitor List Announced
A plethora of world-class wildcards including 2024 Championship Tour (CT) rookie Alyssa Spencer (USA) and 2023 Challenger Series standouts Joel Vaughan (AUS), Erin Brooks (CAN), and Jett Schilling (USA) will all look to upset the competition. Wildcard selections were based on 2023 SAMBAZON World Junior Championships results, Challenger Series rankings, and QS rankings.
The J-Bay Open Country Feeling J-Bay Surf Classic was held at Supertubes, Jeffrey’s bay, East Cape, South Africa, on the newly formed ASP (WSL) World Tour.
Mark Occhilupo, an 18-year-old from Cronulla, NSW, won the event unleashing a backside attack that changed the game on tour and around the world.
His coach at the time, Derek Hynd exclaimed: “Those there to witness it left with the impression they weren’t just watching the best surfing ever—they were witnessing the best surfing that might ever be. In my notebook, I had to invent new codes for what he was doing.”
Occy sported his now-iconic pink, and blue short-sleeved Peak, was riding riding a thick, boxy, low rocker Rusty thruster, and was only a few weeks from stating his infamous quote, ““Now I want to get real and stop these American wankers”,” in Australia’s Tracks Magazine.
The mid-1980s was a time of a clash in generations on tour with Curren and Occy leading the new guard. Lifelong great sporting rivalries were being born amongst future world champs and the l level of surfing on tour was being transformed forever.
Beautifully understated, ‘Outer Edge of Leisure’ is the latest chapter of core surf cinematography featuring Russell Bierke by filmmaker Andrew Kaineder.
Amidst a boundless expanse of turbulent waves and remote seascapes, Bierke emerges as a silhouette on the horizon, the tempestuous waters his canvas. Each wave is not a battleground to conquer, but an opportunity to be in tune with the rhythm of the ocean’s pulse.
Contrasting black and white 16mm and Hi-Res cinematography, set to a unique solo drum scape ‘Outer Edge of Leisure’ takes you on a visual journey as Russell redefines his own idea of surfing as a leisure activity.
