After what’s been a pretty dismal summer in terms of surf for Sydney and the rest of NSW, part of Australia’s East Coast finally lit up for a number of days at the start of April due to a large SSE swell that formed as part of a strong low pressure that built through the Tasman.
The swell began to slowly show its teeth on Sunday and Monday with well overhead surf across Sydney beach breaks. Monday evening even saw a crew of local grommies try and take on Deadmans which was big enough to break, but not currently at a size deemed suitable for most.
However, surfers woke on Tuesday 1 April to XL conditions, this was no April fool’s joke. Despite the increase in swell, it was still plagued with a strong SSW wind which meant that a number of spots were too messy. The centre of the action was once again fixed on Deadmans, an aptly named slab given its evil step in the wave, close proximity to the cliff and ability to give surfers free chiropractic adjustments. Hundreds lined the cliffs as a crew of Northern Beaches locals, as well as those who’d made a rare trip across the harbor bridge, gave it a good crack. Deadmans is equal part scary, and equal part entertaining if you’re a spectator from above. The likes of Sam Jones, Winter Vincent and Lex O’Connor all put on a show.
The highlight of the session came from Max Mcguigan, who after successfully navigating the step on his backhand, came round the corner and looked to set up a tube, only to get caught too high in the lip and end up turning into a part time base jumper as he fell a few stories and got detonated by the white water.
Elsewhere, Jordy Lawler and a couple of others gave North Narrabeen a crack which looked more like the inside shorebreak at Nazare. South of the harbour bridge, a crew of Eastern Suburbs lifeguards and grommies paddled out to Ben Buckler off of North Bondi for a few elevator drops.
Further down South Dylan Longbottom took a crew of his team riders to tow a wav he calls ‘silly buggers’. He also gave QS rippers Dakoda Walters and Oscar Berry their first ever experience of being towed into some giant surf.
As Wednesday came around, so did the winds as they swung straight offshore and dropped significantly which opened up a number of other opportunities. The likes of Tom Carroll and Ace Buchan swooped into some big walls at North Avalon. Another crew gave the bombie crack at Narrabeen and people were towing in behind the Long Reef headland. Deadman’s continued to provide entertainment too.
By the time we got to Thursday, the surf had dropped to a much more manageable size. However, Cape Solander aka Ours lit up and created some menacing slabs which a host of crew got involved in – a fitting end to a solid run of swell.
Click below to check some more of our favourite shots from the swell.
