Welcome back to our series titled “On Location” which explores surfing hotspots around the world through the lens of a photographer that is renowned for shooting that area.
Each photographer will share some of their favourite surfing and lifestyle shots from that spot. They will also be giving the back story behind their relationship with the place and share travel tips and advice to help anyone whose thinking of heading there.
In the second feature of the series, we caught up with Simon Williams aka Swilly, who is well and truly part of the furniture on the Gold Coast. He has put in thousands of hours on land and in the water, capturing some of the world’s best surfers on the Goldy for over 35 years after he originally moved from the UK to Australia.
Swilly is a contributor to our Tracks print store and you can purchase some of the images featured in this piece, as well as others, here.
What originally brought you to this location? Tell us a bit about your history and relationship with the area?
SW: I was like most Pomme’s, I travelled around Australia in ’86 and then worked on the Americas cup, then did Sydney, brought a mini mote and drove up the coast with my mate. On my way up, we stopped at the Goldy and got insane waves at Kirra and then went onto Noosa and further up to Cairns. I didn’t spend too long in Cairns as the lack of surf drove me mad so I came straight back down to the Goldy. Here I am, I met my wife within a year of being here and lived here now for 36 years and still absolutely love it.
How long have you been shooting here and what makes it so special for you?
SW: I’ve been shooting here ever since I arrived. There’s so many incredible set ups to shoot around the Gold Coast all the way from Straddy to D-Bah. There’s so many great waves and for me you’ve got one of the biggest concentrations of pro surfers you are ever likely to see. The talent pool is endless, past and future world champions, male and female. It makes it an incredible place to be a surf photographer and you have so many big surfboard brands based here too.
What are your favourite waves to shoot here and why?
SW: I love shooting Kirra when it breaks but it doesn’t work very much. Snapper is great, Burleigh and Straddy is amazing but I guess for a pound of potatoes and guaranteed work horse, it’s got to be great old faithful D-Bah. God knows I’ve spent fucking hours standing on that beach, probably spent years standing on that beach and swimming out there, but hey you got to love her.
What are your favourite things about the area and why?
SW: I love the hinterland, I love it, people go oh the sky rises its horrible, but hey we got beautiful beaches. Burleigh Heads is gorgeous, rainbow, Kirra, Snapper, they are all beautiful areas. I love walking on the beach in the morning down here, it’s absolutely stunning at this time of year. Some people may think I’m mad but I do genuinely love the Gold Coast.
Travel tips?
SW: Fly to Sydney, get yourself a car and drive all the way up to the Gold Coast. You can enjoy so many amazing stops along the way. When on the Goldy, you need a car as everything is fairly spread out. Public transport isn’t amazing but they are trying to put more of a tram system in. Broadbeach area is fantastic, there is so many phenomenal restaurants there.
What can people expect if they come on a surf trip here?
SW: Don’t expect to be surfing on your own, that is for sure. If you’re going to any of the named spots, you are going to get crowds. It can be frustrating but you just have to look at the quality of the waves. If you time it right though, maybe not the points but you can get sessions at D-Bah with not too many crew on it. But I’d recommend coming here for at least two weeks, if you get a bit of D-Bah, you get the points good and maybe a bit of Straddy, you’ll be in heaven.
To see more of Swilly’s images and to purchase them from our print store, click here.
