Finally, Bondi has shaken off its relentless onshore funk, delivering some clean waves this morning — first time in a while.
It was nice to see a bit of sunshine this morning, even if the surf remains junky and onshore. These short-period, random swell mixtures aren’t exactly easy on the eye, but that little rip bowl down south had the odd whackable chunk… and strangely, hardly anyone on it. Forecast says rain’s on the way — […]
Eugene Tan (::Uge) started taking photos when he was nine. He’s a self taught tinkerer, a constant experimenter and a relentless documenter who likes to shoot unassisted, mainly at sunrise. If conditions permit you’ll find :: Uge swimming with his camera or dangling out of helicopters, …constantly hunting for new angles on his favourite subjects.
Photography is a way for him to explore his first love, the beach. And since he lives at the beach, that means documenting his home, Bondi. He’s a beach bum. Most of the time he’s either on the beach shooting, digging holes in the sand with his kids or in the line up. And because :: Uge and his family live smack bang in the middle of Bondi, a stone’s throw from his Aquabumps Gallery, you’ll rarely find him further than 300 metres from the shoreline. Close enough to catch those magic Bondi moments when they happen, with his camera, his board or both.
Aquabumps started in 1999 back when the internet was brand new and social media didn’t even have a name. It began as a hobby … a photo a day from the beach emailed to mates. It grew organically. Twenty years later Aquabumps’ photographs are now seen by hundreds of thousands of people, daily.
The best of :: Uge’s work hangs in the Aquabumps Gallery 64 Hall Street Bondi Beach NSW 2026 Telephone 02 9130 7788 Australia. Yes, they can be shipped globally.
It was nice to see a bit of sunshine this morning, even if the surf remains junky and onshore. These short-period, random swell mixtures aren’t exactly easy on the eye, but that little rip bowl down south had the odd whackable chunk… and strangely, hardly anyone on it.
Forecast says rain’s on the way — yet to show its face — but I’m sure it’s lurking. Mild one today: 21 degrees, dipping to 16 overnight.
Tomorrow, the World Surf League Championship Tour event at Raglan kicks off on that fabled left point break — one of the rare lefts on tour. Haven’t been back to Raglan since 2012, but I’ve got a real soft spot for the joint. Chilled little town, and some of those back beaches can absolutely turn on smoking waves too.
:: uge
It was nice to see a bit of sunshine this morning, even if the surf remains junky and onshore. These short-period, random swell mixtures aren’t exactly easy on the eye, but that little rip bowl down south had the odd whackable chunk… and strangely, hardly anyone on it.
Forecast says rain’s on the way — yet to show its face — but I’m sure it’s lurking. Mild one today: 21 degrees, dipping to 16 overnight.
Tomorrow, the World Surf League Championship Tour event at Raglan kicks off on that fabled left point break — one of the rare lefts on tour. Haven’t been back to Raglan since 2012, but I’ve got a real soft spot for the joint. Chilled little town, and some of those back beaches can absolutely turn on smoking waves too.
:: uge
I’d be lying if I said these onshore 2-3 foot days don’t bore me, photographically. Add passing showers into the mix, and well… that’s a whole other layer of complexity to work with.
But I always tell myself — making something from the mundane is the challenge. It’s what keeps you sharp. Twenty-seven years in, and that hasn’t changed.
BUT.
TODAY is an archive day.
This summer I shot so much that hasn’t even been looked at since the moment of capture. So here we are – a classic grey onshore Bondi day – and I’m diving deep into crowded, sun-drenched, summery beaches. The stuff that makes you ache a little for that next cracker day.
: : — Uge
Back on Bondi duty and the forecast remains gloriously average.
Constant onshores are still hanging about, so if you’re chasing joy, you’ll need to sniff out a protected corner. Bondi’s got a weird little rip bowl down south that’s kinda fun if you squint. A few hopeful punters were out there having a crack, but set expectations somewhere between “low” and “why did I wax my board?”
Bronte around the corner was dishing up some fat burgers off the reef. Looked slow. Looked sleepy. We moved on.
Rain this morning has done a marvellous job of keeping the beaches beautifully empty.
Now, the important bit.
Our family Aquabumps SurfAid Bondi Cup team has raised $3,500 so far. Massive thanks to everyone who’s already chipped in. Proper legends.
I was just in remote Indonesia seeing some of the kindest communities where SurfAid does its work, and it’s a bloody worthy cause. Helping families access healthcare, clean water, nutrition and support where it’s genuinely needed.
We’ve only got a couple of weeks to go, so here’s the shake of the tin.
Donate over a hungie ($100) and I’ll throw your name in the draw to win a $1,500 Aquabumps artwork of your choosing.
Spike has also generously been volunteered for lawn mowing, car washing, odd jobs, and possibly emotional support.
Donate to Spike’s fundraiser by commenting SPIKE below and I’ll send you the link.
:: Uge
After a week in remote Indonesia, I’m back on the Bondi morning ritual.
Bondi was a full ghost town this morning. A tiny 6am rain squall must’ve absolutely killed motivation — not a swimmer, barely a surfer, and hardly a soul on the sand. Strange sight for this joint.
The surf? Onshore, a bit wobbly, waist to head-high dribble, with the odd corner if you’re keen (or desperate). One of those weeks ahead where it’ll be onshores, passing showers, and constant “is that rain or not?” confusion.
But while I’ve got your attention…
We’re in full fundraising mode for the SurfAid Cup.
My kids, my team, and I are paddling out to raise money for SurfAid — a charity close to our hearts. I was just on a remote Indonesian island where they work, and seeing life up there firsthand was a solid reminder of why what they do matters so much.
SurfAid helps families in remote surf communities with access to healthcare, clean water, sanitation, and better nutrition. Real help, where it’s genuinely needed.
Aquabumps has always been free. No subscriptions, no paywall — just daily waves, words, and salty nonsense for the past couple of decades. So if you’ve ever enjoyed this little ritual, we’d be hugely grateful for your support.
We’re trying to raise $20,000 and, as of right now… we’ve raised a somewhat embarrassing $500.
To make it interesting: donate over $100 and you’ll go in the draw to win a $1500 artwork of your choice from my gallery.
COMMENT “DONATE” and I’ll DM you the fundraising link.
Terima kasih.
:: uge
Last day. Spend $250, sort two gifts at once. Mother’s Day + Leif gift - done.
@aquabumpsgallery open now until 6pm at 64 Hall st Bondi
You may or may not have noticed my absence from your feed this week. We took a little outing to Indonesia — one of my favourite countries in the world. 🇮🇩
The remote beaches, the colours, the people, the food, the surf — all reasons we keep coming back, multiple times a year. Hell, I can even bang out a bit of crude Bahasa, tan up like a local, and feel right at home with a plate of nasi campur.
This is the only post from our stay, and to be honest, the waves haven’t really favoured us this trip. Just some wobbly peaks… but still surfing every day. Early season Indo. Later in the year, I’ll be doing my regular pilgrimage to the wave-rich islands around Sumatra.
But this week was still gold. Sunshine, colour, and 30 degrees every single day. ☀️
Mother’s Day is this Sunday 💐
To treat our mummas, we’re throwing in a FREE LEIF pack with every spend over $250 AUD in the gallery — online or in store.
(Aussie customers only, sorry.)
Offer ends Sunday at midnight.
Gift value: $65. Yes, 65... she’ll love it.
ALSO...
In just 3 weeks, my family and the Aquabumps crew will be surfing in the Bondi @SurfAid Cup, raising much-needed funds for people who smile all day long, but have so little.
I’m currently on an island where SurfAid’s work is very real — helping provide access to healthcare, clean water, sanitation, and better nutrition.
This is our only annual fundraising drive, and this year we’re aiming for $20K.
If you can spare a few bucks, it genuinely goes where it matters.
👇 COMMENT **DONATE** and I’ll DM you a link to our donations page.
Terima kasih 🙏
:: uge
A little extra love for Mum. 🌿 (its Mother’s Day May 10)
Spend $250AUD+ at Aquabumps Gallery between May 1–10, and we’ll add a complimentary Leif x Aquabumps Hand Wash Duo Lite to your order — valued at $65AUD, yours free. Mum will love it!
Limited to the first 50 Australian orders. Don’t miss it. (Sorry, AU customers only)
www.aquabumps.com
#MothersDay #Aquabumps #ForHer #LeifXAquabumps @aquabumpsgallery
Bondi wasn’t playing this morning, so we loaded up the crew and rolled south to Maroubra. East and north swells get a little extra love down there.
Surfing NSW Regionals is this weekend, so every hot dog in the postcode was out at first light — scoping banks, sharpening game plans, doing the thing.
Post overnight rain, sunshine flooded. Salt on skin, warmth on face, one of those mornings that just pulls you outside…
Snapper warm-ups are looking spicy — long, running tubes and a comp that’s shaping up to be an absolute ripper. Love it when it turns on up there…
💬 COMMENT “QUEENSLAND” and we’ll send you a link to our bestevs shots of the Goldie.
Adios :: ugios
Today’s shredders:
@joshku @hunter_norburn09 @tantaipansbondi @jettan20 @tommy_mackay09 @jacobmhazan
P.S. that big ship sitting in close? Laying cable. Wild.
One of those simply beautiful mornings worth slowing down for. At sunrise there was a little bump—surfable—but it was quick to close out.
I went for a long swim. I’ll always choose to swim and shoot if I have the time and the conditions are right. It was sublime—warm, calm, and invigorating. Max 22 on land, I’d guess 21–22 in the brine.
Snapper is back on the big stage, with the World Surf League Championship Tour rolling into Coolangatta for the Gold Coast Pro, May 1–11. The forecast is looking good.
Have a good day.
:: uge
There’s a particular quality of light in Bondi in late April. Low enough now that it comes in sideways at dawn — squeezing through the buildings of Ben Buckler. The ocean’s glassy and squeaky clean, but flat. Not a wave worth riding. The nor’easter will fix that this arvo, though only after a comfortable 22 degrees does its thing first.
Meanwhile, Margaret River delivered. George Pittar taking down Medina in the final — a Manly boy, his maiden CT win. Incredible. And Lakey Peterson reminding everyone she’s not done yet, too good for 21-year-old Brazilian Luana Silva and the women’s new guard.
Uge.
I thought it was going to be a little offshore — or at least very, very light — this morning, but nope. The onshore was in early, blowing 10 knots plus, and really deteriorating the wave quality.
Yes, the swell dropped a lot, which is a good thing, as it wasn’t so rogue… but it was still a junkyard! Everyone who surfed, or walked past me, didn’t have many nice things to say about the conditions. There was even a sea snake in the lineup!
Nonetheless, it was sunny and Friday — the Friday before a long weekend. PS: we’re closed Monday for Anzac Day. The weather looks good for the next three days off though — hooray!
The Margaret River Pro is plagued with onshore conditions too, with 20-foot faces on Tuesday. Twenty foot and onshore! Later in the week, it’ll finally turn offshore.
:: uge
