Aquabumps Surf Photography Bondi Beach Surf Report » Bondi

TRON

Uge — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 23:08:32 +0000

Today is the 1st day of summer – coulda fooled me. The southerlies have rolled into town and temperatures are back into the 15-20 range. The SE wind is howling 30 knots and the bay is full of white caps and sloshy foam. I didn’t see a single surfer out this morning – now that is saying something. Hopefully when it all dies back there will be some clean fun little waves to surf.

Last night was quite something down at Bondi. Fireworks, night surfing in Tron suits with LED surfboards that glow. Wow, only in Bondi. I swam out there to snap some shots of the ‘Tron’ surfers of the night. No we didn’t see any sharks (seems to be a frequently asked question after swimming at Bondi for 1.5 hrs in the night)

Seeya :: uge

Good times

Uge — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 23:46:35 +0000

Good times down the beach this morning. Good times. I had so much fun. The weather is freaky at the moment – either pouring and thunderstorms or summer heaven. Today the latter.

The waves are micro and around your kneecaps. The water is decent, 19. The banks are ok, 2 peaks with a fun shore break in the south with a steep slope.

By lunchtime I reckon the clouds will roll over bringing all manner of thunder bolts. It’s going to remain warm and muggy – like Bali. They say 30 degrees is the max.

I don’t think you will find waves today, tomorrow or the next. Enjoy the heat.

I am selling a little Aprilia Scooter on ebay, great for around the beaches. Will go super cheap.

Adios :: uge

Feedback

Uge — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 23:28:43 +0000

I have been down the beach three times already today…I’d like to come back to you with positive feedback, but I can’t.

It’s raining. A lot.

The 2-3 footers are junkie as hell. And then some.

1 guy out at south Bondi. He wasn’t doing much. If you wanna surf, the beach is all yours.

The weather will come good tomorrow, hopefully the surf will join the party.

These pictures were shot mostly yesterday, and 1 from today.

Enjoy :: Uge

Boo!

Uge — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 00:47:01 +0000

This morning went down a little something like this.

The wind woke me up, southerly storm hit overnight and I could see choppy water out the back. I prayed for waves.

Light was dancing behind broken morning cloud as I rolled down hill half asleep. I took a few snaps, some mega slow shutters, some just out the car window as I drove past.

I saw a couple of dudes out at Bondi – I waited 30 minutes for them to get a wave and saw nothing of interest.

Moved onto Bronte seeking some protection from the wind. Same, 2 dudes out, waited 30 minutes and one guy got a set – went straight (pictured) and then went in looking a little dissatisfied.

There are waves in the 2-3 foot vicinity but the 20 knot sou-easterly isn’t making things pretty.

Hey – Slam’s beach volleyball festival is on again this summer and it’s time to enter a team.

Ok – winds are much better tomorrow…bye for now, :: uge

basking in the sun

Uge — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 22:18:04 +0000

3 good reasons to hit the beach right now.

1) It is gonna be a fat 32 degrees
2) It is gonna rain for the rest of the week
3) It is just perfect down there right now, ok, some waves would be nice, but you can’t have everything

Waves will come Wed/Thursday.

Bye for now :: uge

Fine

Uge — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 23:51:47 +0000

Oh boy, from now until the weekend the weather is gonna be just perfect here in Sydney. I’m talking mid to late twenties, clear skies and gentle northerlies. A nice introduction into summer. It’s a bonus that there is also a little, flimsy, weak wave floppin’ into Bondi as well. I saw waves around shoulder to (very occasional) head high this morning. The banks aren’t great…sometimes the waves are good on a particular tide, then gone within an hour. Just keep an eye on it.

If you want to check what the sun is doing to your skin, the Sun Sense UV Photo Bus is down at Bondi Beach today. (Wed 19th Oct) I’m not sure I wanna see what’s going on with all the sun I get.

Have a good day, :: uge

The Lone Wolf

Uge — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 22:41:04 +0000

When I travel and tell people I live and surf in Bondi they have this look of pain on their face, usually followed by “bit crowded there init?”. This makes me think back to days like these. It’s 4-5 foot, kinda clean, overcast and 1 dude out. Ok, it’s not barrelling and far from perfect but who cares – it’s all yours. If the sun was out they’d be 50 people in the water. Oh yeah, the water is chilly too. But it looks like you’re all getting over your footie-long-weekend blues. The swell will drop a foot each day of this week. Northerly winds on Thursday. That’s about it.

Caught Inside

I just watched the trailer to “Caught Inside”, a new film by director Adam Blaiklock…it’s about a surf charter gone wrong in a remote paradise. Kinda timely after sitting on a charter boat in Indonesia for the past weeks. Except we didn’t have beautiful girls running around our boat – well, ok maybe just Birdie. Launches this week. Watch Trailer Here

Adios :: ugios

The Emerald Coast

Uge — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 03:51:01 +0000

Just got off the plane and went for a dawdle down the beach. To put it plainly – it’s an AMAZING DAY outside. The water is a deep emerald colour, it’s offshore (and quite strong), there is a fun little mal riding 2 footer crumbling with the schoolies pack frothin – what more could you want? What’s with all the complaining about rain lately – What rain?

Indian Glass, an image I shot on Wednesday in Indonesia is proving very popular. I have to say I love that shot – one of my favs if not No.1. (Click here for Facebook users).

Have a good weekend, wthe Aquabumps Gallery is open 10am – 6pm alll weekend. We don’t have Indian Glass in stock but will be taking orders.

Seeya, ::uge

Fade

Rodriguez — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 01:12:30 +0000

This is a public announcement…when surfing, can we limit 1 surfer for each wave. I know this might come as a shock to many that surfed Bondi this morning. But yes, not every wave is a team wave. I don’t think I’ve seen so many drop-ins in such a short period of time ANY where in the world. I mean Waikiki will come close but they’re usually bikini clad goddesses who you’re calling in anyway…but wow…every single wave this morning had 4-5 people on it. So if you don’t have priority, as in someone is already on the wave you can’t paddle for it and try your luck on the next set. The funny thing is that the line-up was pretty much empty by 8:30. There is 12 hours of daylight!

There is a small swell still in town, it’s not a patch on yesterday. The sun is out and you can feel the bake. I have shorts on. How good is that?

Enough ramble

:: uge

Pumping

Rodriguez — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 02:08:11 +0000

I rolled down this hill this morning and was greeted by Geurbox pulling into a 4 foot Bondi barrel. That’s quite rare for Bondi. It’s cleaned up, winds offshore, sun is out, the swell is still here – oh boy, it’s a really good surf day. Now remember we’re heading into a summer weather pattern, typically smaller swells and huge flat spells – so I think today is a great opportunity to surf some of winter’s finest.
So many places would have good waves today. Hit it. It will be smaller tomorrow.

Health Kick. We all could do with more veges. Harris Farm now deliver to your along with your meats from ibutcher. $30 mixed boxes on offer – check it.

::uge

The summer bird

Rodriguez — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 01:15:02 +0000

I rolled down the beach this morning hoping that the inbound south swell had maybe come early. It hadn’t, the rain has set in and I shot 3 very ugly photographs from the front seat of my car. It’s only 1-1.5 foot. I’m not even gonna show you those 3 photos – they’re that bad.

I’m lucky enough to take a lot of photographs from helicopters. I am really into it. Most of the thousands of shots taken live on hard drives in my server room – never to be seen. Sometimes I trawl through them thinking I haven’t even been into that folder before. Well here’s a few outtakes from chopper rides over the past 4 years. Hopefully this will remind you, on a very grey, rainy, gloomy day, what’s just around the corner – yes kids, summer.

By now you all know we’ve launched a Bikini and Board short range with Speedo. They’ve gone nuts. Well tomorrow you can meet the face of Speedo, Miss Universe Australia Rachel Finch at the Bondi Sunburn store (178 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach) from 12 to 2. All welcome. There’s a mini bikini parade, the Rescue Boys etc…come long! I will be there holding the waters.

It’s gonna be big all weekend and favourable wins. Go surfing.

:: uge

Retro

Uge — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 00:14:23 +0000

It’s not looking very inviting out there. Rain, onshores and dribble – chilly too. Today is all about transition from the sunny northerlies to the south storm (which is drawing in a big swell for the weekend). Heads down, work hard and free up some time for tomorrow arvo and weekend when the surf picks up.

Bondi is home to some of the most expensive beach side real estate in Australia (don’t we all know it). It’s also home to some beautiful old retro buildings. Since the waves were pretty bad this morning I drove around and snapped a few.

They’ve run some rounds of the Quiky Pro New York in cross shore 3-4 foot. Wow that water looks BROWN over dere. The event is currently off (with the time gap), but you can normally see live stuff here.

Ok.

Bye for now.

:: uge

R i n s e

Uge — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 00:17:02 +0000

Howdy. Conditions were o-kaaay this morning. A huge wolf pack feasted on 1-2 footers. It was a little messy and weak – but as Bondi always is….it was surfable. Wave of the day rolled through at 7:34am – it was very impressive. It hit the bank just right, stood up and threw some lip. I waited for another one whilst swimming out there with my camera…but it never came… so I retreated to the shorey for a roll around. Looks like some rain approaching tomorrow with bigger but junkier waves…talk then.

:: uge

Red Rock

Uge — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 00:32:36 +0000

The beaches of Sydney have copped a pounding over the past couple of weeks. All the sand at South Bondi has been ripped off the beach and dragged back out to sea exposing a series of bright red rocks that I didn’t know existed.

Today is much calmer than recent times. The past 2 weeks it’s been a search for places that can hold the rogue swells….today is a tame 3-4 foot with offshore winds all day.

Apart from a bit of rain on Wednesday this week looks relatively fine, mostly within 2-3 foot range and offshore winds. Must be a nice big High sitting above us.

Yesterday Jordy Smith won J-bay for the 2nd time in a row on his home turf. The 23 year old defeated Aussie Mick Fanning in the final with junkie surf conditions at J-Bay. Watch the final here.

Have a great week, uge

Lucky Lefts

Uge — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 00:51:43 +0000

The swell has settled and now the northlies are blowing – all back to normal. It’s only small, (2 foot), but Bondi hosted some fun ones with 2 distinct banks in full operation earlier today. It looks like the good banks have survived the recent pounding can you believe it!

Enjoy the sunshine today as a low approaches Sydney tomorrow bringing rain for the rest of the week.

I just check the swell charts and there is a 12 second 26 foot ocean swell (not beach) approaching on Friday. SE origin with southerly winds. Is that a typo? Hope not.

General Pants have just opened up a huge store right near our Bondi gallery. It’s big. It’s good. Check it out

Adios :: uge

Night Surfing

Uge — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 00:15:45 +0000

One of the benefits of having a fully lit Ice Skating Rink right on the sands of Bondi is that you can shoot night surfing. The swell has been huge lately and fortunately Wal found a newly formed left shorey grinder that was all lit up – bang in the perfect spot in front of the skating rink. So off Perth and Wal go for a spooky surf last night under lights, paddling with their fingertips. Sharky? I’d say so. Good waves – definitely.

This morning the swell has backed off a little. By that I mean its only 6 foot (not the recent 8-10 foot). Just when you think it’s on the decline another dead south swell is backing it up for tomorrow. No joke. Another one. What a week.

:: uge

Offshore Claws

Uge — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 01:13:19 +0000

Rug up cause that wind has a chilly bite to it…enough complaining. There’s a small 2 footer at Bondi, quite infrequent as I think the 30-40 knot offshore is doing its best at pushing it back out to sea. It was even bigger last night – so let’s hope this wind backs off soon and the swell pick up – as predicted.

It’s currently 15 degrees, sunny, high tide 2pm, low tide 7:40am.

Go outside, sit in the sun.

::Uge

Light

Uge — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 00:43:17 +0000

Today and tomorrow are the smallest days of this week. It may even be completely flat tomorrow and was barely breaking at sunrise today. The highlight of the morning was the spectacular sunrise. Gold. A perfect setup… thin cloud strewn across Bondi from Ben Buckler…then a small gap along the horizon illuminating the curtain from below. Hope you saw it. It really was sumpin’.

Towards the end of the week you will see some fun south swell arrive – work hard until then.

Don’t forget the World Press Photo is on now (July 2 to 24 July 2011). I hear its great. State Library of New South Wales, Macquarie Street Sydney 2000 NSW.

Have a good Monday, :: uge

Ice Ice Bondi

Uge — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 02:17:33 +0000

Yep, you can now ice skate right on the sand of Bondi beach. The rink is up and running for the next 2 weeks as a part of the Bondi Winter Festival.

A nice little morning with fun 2-3 footers in the corner. The wind has gone offshore and a corner rip was puttin’ some chop on the faces. It’s not amazing, but fun if you haven’t surfed much this week. The weekend doesn’t look to flash with smaller 1-2 foot weak waves. Best wait until the end of next week where something is cooking.

McTavish are offering a 10% off for Aquabumps readers in their new online store. Check it

Aquabumps Gallery is open all weekend 10am to 6pm…151 Curlewis Street Bondi Beach. We have snuck in 23 copies of our award winning book, otherwise you have to wait until Sept 2011 for the second batch. Available in the gallery only.

Bye :: uge

The Now

Uge — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 01:17:39 +0000

A few of my mates think it’s a bit odd that I get up at sunrise every day. Those same mates think the best time of the day is 3am at the White Revolver (yeah you creepy Birdman). 6:30am this morning was a good time of day to be down the beach. The best. It was reasonably warm for winter, the sky was doused saturated hues…not to forget a neat little 1-2 foot left/right bank was puttin’ fun ones on. Good times. However, a 30 knot westerly is going to howl this afternoon flanked with rain – so live the now.

Otis Carey

Who is Otis? Otis Carey is a 22 year old aerial junkie that has recently moved to Bondi from Coffs Harbour. He’s a proud indigenous surfer who you’d normally see grovelling in 1 footers in the middle of the beach. He can pull an air off nothing. I mean just the slightest ramp and you’ll see him orbiting, wings flappin’, mad mane of hair swinging, mid rotation. He rides for Insight (started in the warehouse packing boxes) and scored a wildcard into this year’s Boost Air Sho at Bondi where you saw him fin flashin’ his way to the finals.

Ok enough ramble. Back to work.

::Uge (yooj)

Swaddled

Uge — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 23:01:06 +0000

Last weekend was a great one for surfers. Solid swell on both days – if only it could be that good all the time.

As predicted the swell has backed off this morning, but there are still super fun 3 footers. I don’t think it will hang around for long…dwindling fast.

Tomorrow will be small again before, yep, another SE swell arrives. Nothing big, which best suits the Eastern suburbs banks.

Its 11 degrees right now, top of 19 and mostly sunny. Enjoy today as tomorrow will have rain.

Seeya :: uge

PS – just got back from the beach, 2nd shoot. Taj Burrow, Craig Ando, Sam Mac and Otis Carey all shredding Bondi around 11am. See pics on our Facebook page

Scraps

Uge — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 22:49:09 +0000

Surely you’ve filled your wave quotas on the weekend’s booming East swell – it really turned on last Saturday. This morning it has run out of gas and currently 2 foot (ish) around the corner (with 1 freak set pictured that broke above head high). Bondi was struggling to produce anything worth riding (protected from East swells)…but a nice morning to be down there nonetheless.

What’s that? Another swell hitting later in the week – yep. This one is going to be a dead south swell.

Have a great week. ::Uge

PS – if you know of any Magento Ecommerce design/dev genius people that are decent in Sydney hit me back. Me looking.

EEEs

Uge — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 01:42:24 +0000

Hard day to get any decent shots of surfing. The winds are still howling (E), like the past 3 days. Only 2-3 guys out at North Bondi – man they’re keen. It was a junkyard out there. Everywhere else was deserted. The best wave I saw all morning was caught by body surfer, Lee with his little homemade pod/chopping board. Ripping.

Best wait until these nemesis east winds subside – Friday. East (E) swell here for days and days.

Have a nice day, maybe drop into Surfection Mosman and pick up a wettie in their sale, :: (E)ug(E)n(E)

hello

Uge — Fri, 27 May 2011 03:34:25 +0000

Sorry about the late update…time snuck away.

Well finally the weather has cleared, the onshores subsided and a neat SSE swell is pumping into the bay. It’s only 2-3 foot…much smaller than previous days, but super fun. The morning sun was out, blaring, soaking everything in tones of orange. The water was exceptional – has to be something like 21…felt like summer in – definitely winter out as you dash for the car.

South swell all weekend, 3-4 footers – yes!

We here at the Aquabumps Gallery are open 10am to 6pm all weekend long. Come see.

::Uge

Pitter Patter

Uge — Wed, 25 May 2011 23:39:27 +0000

I sat in the car park for 30 minutes this morning, heater cranking, windscreen wipers going mad. No bootie camps, no surfers, no joggers, nothing but rain and a sloppy 3-4 foot. Hang on, one guy was surfing Bronte…but he wasn’t getting’ much. I would have shot Bondi should someone have paddled out…it actually looked like you’d get the odd wave, on your own of course. Before all the hard core Body surfers/swimmers email in, saying they were out – onya buddies – but I didn’t see you!

To light up your day I thought I’d show you some pics of my recent Hawaiian sojourn. I have around 30 gig from my last trip, and I’ve barely been through them all. Hawaii rocks. Far out the waves are good there. Heavy.

Creepy Julian is having a wetsuit sale at Surfection Mosman. Go pick up a new steamer for winter.

Good bye :: uge

Morning Bullet Points

Uge — Thu, 19 May 2011 23:07:00 +0000

It’s a fine morning, small waves, sun and warmth – got it going on.
The swell has dropped, been cranking all week – had to end – now 2 foot.
A lot of people woke dis morning and went down the beach. Packed.
It’s going to be a delightful 22 degrees today (after the fog clears)
It’s Friday today – there is NO swell on the radar for quite some time (ok, Next wed you will surf again – breath)
Our gallery is open all weekend 10am to 6pm…but you already knew that. (151 Curlewis Street Bondi, still lost?)
Have a good weekend, looks fine for most. Be outdoors.

Seeya, :: uge

The green hornet

Uge — Sun, 15 May 2011 23:40:33 +0000

People often ask me about the funny stuff I see on my early morning meanderings. Funny stuff is pretty much on tap down at Bondi. For example, at 7am this morning whilst I was shooting/basking in morning light, a gentleman ran past me wearing nothing but, what looked like, bright green undies. Odd. The outfit came complete with Crocs for jogging, a (bulgy) bumbag strategically positioned over the jewels and a walkman blaring 80s tunes. Oh, did I say it’s 6.8 degrees this morning and probably colder in the shade? Before all our northern hemi readers hit reply and tell me that 6.8 degrees is a summers day up there, and you cook snaggers on your car bonnet in such weather, 6.8 for Sydney – IS COLD. So who was this green hornet? Was it you Jamie Verco? Most importantly, the green hornet was a happy man…enjoying the fruits of a stunning morning. Onya champ.

Back to the surf. It’s good, real good. 3-4 foot, clean, crispy and uncrowded. In fact Bondi had only 3 people out. Enough said.

Peter Eastway is a damn good landscape photographer, teacher and nice guy. His Antarctica exhibition opens this Thursday at the Gaffa Gallery, 281 Clarence Street Sydney CBD. See

Ok, I know you’re busy, it’s Monday :: uge

P.S. the Aquabumps gallery is now open every Monday, that’s today for those that had a big weekend (yep, 7 days a week 10am to 6pm) t :02 9130 7788

should’a been here yesterday

Uge — Mon, 09 May 2011 02:00:23 +0000

Sounds like most have filled their wave quotas up over the weekend. Wasn’t it a good one for surfers? Well today showed promise at 6:00am and then the southerly blast hit around 7 a.m. – destroying your hope of a uncrowded Monday morning surf. Good day to stay indoors and get busy (at work).

There is going to be swell all week. Not often I can say that. Gotta love this time of year. The winds are strong though, 25 knots later today. Tomorrow similar, but Wednesday it should kick around to the grooming northerlies. Best sit tight until then.

The Aquabumps Gallery is open today! Yep, 151 Curlewis Street Bondi Beach t:9130 7788. We’re trialling opening 7 days a week and normally shut on Mondays. Come on in! Oh, we’ve also got a part time role going at the Aquabumps Gallery working Friday/Saturday/Sunday. It’s a gallery role (not sun tanning and shooting with me on the beach – that job has gone) > View job description <

Adios, ugios

Le Bumps

Uge — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 00:59:36 +0000

That was a real nice weekend. I was impressed to see waves on Saturday at Bondi…fun ones (nothing on Sunday). The water has been SO clear and warm lately. Perfect weather. Can’t get much better than that.

Today Bondi had the odd 2 foot freak set, but mostly 1 footers dribbled into the corner (with no push). You’ll need a real long board, SUP or just your goggles for a lap of the bay.

This week should pan out like this…tomorrow 4pm a new south swell will arrive (3ftrs). Wednesday the swell will still be here and the sunshine will dominate. Smaller on Thursday, but still perfectly sunny 24.

The Summary :: Surf on Tuesday/Wed…lay on beach wed/thurs with the good weather…work on Friday afternoon (for 3 hrs) when the showers arrive (yeah right I hear you say…sounds good though)

Good bye, :: uge

Some dayz

Uge — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 23:24:56 +0000

Some days it’s quite hard to come up with 7 entertaining images for this blog. Today is one of THOSE days.

There was no sunrise this morning as clouds’n’rain smothered the 1st light. Intermittent rain can also make it tricky to shoot – it pays to have the sanctuary of your car close by. The bad weather also scares off most morning people, so the line-up is empty…no one really jogging or doing much. Ok I lie, a guy is fishing.

A good day to be indoors, and do some work from that office cubicle. Be good now.

:: uge

PS – we managed to crack a story on Channel 7 sunrise and news last night. There’s a whole heap of new people reading today…WELCOME. Lets hope there’s some colour for tomorrow’s sunrise.