Slots

It’s rare, but it does happen….Bondi has tiny tubes today. OK, they’re more like the occasion open close out, but it looked fun this morning. The grooming offshores were making it a little more organised than yesterday. It is still very cold. Smaller tomorrow but surfable for the next 7 days around here. :: uge

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Brass Monkeys

Yesterday was the coldest day in 21 years. It only reached 11.7 degrees. Today is warmer, can still feel it biting deep into the bones. Some people don’t feel the cold. Just take a look at Lee in the photo above. Stickers…morning stroll before sunrise at the North end where it was really windy. Wind […]

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Loaded

Bondi’s a ghost town in and out of the water. The cold has driven everyone away. It’s frosty down there…you can feel that it’s snowing in the mountains. The waves looked really good and empty. Not many interested at all. 3-4 foot, SE swell and WNW winds which will pick up today. A lot of […]

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Mild

Where did it all go? Overnight the swell ran off leaving barely any scraps. From 4 foot to 0 foot! Breathe…breathe…it’s coming back. In fact it will be too big tomorrow to surf around here. I would go for a long drive and chase locations that suit 6 foot dead south swell with offshore hooooowwwwliung […]

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Chilled Dip

It was a cold morning in Sydney. 9 degrees to be specific. If you wanna feel alive, go for a swim. You’ll feel great for the rest of the day. Swell was lingering this morning (2-3ft) from the dead south gravitating towards Bondi. We have a unusual sand bank setup at the moment from the […]

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Settled

It’s really calmed down a lot around here. The ocean has defaulted to it’s chilled state. Biggest wave I saw all morning was knee to waist high. It’s super clean and decent for a swim. This weekend a huge South swell is going to hit Sydney. I am talking 10 foot at magnets. Wind will […]

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Yeah, Naah

Last nights’ storms weren’t that bad. Bit of wind and rain. That’s all gone now. Think we were all on high alert after the big one. There is swell, it’s fresh (NE), it’s wonky and still working itself out. Hopefully the underlying South swell will kick a little for Bondi surfers. Is it pumping ? […]

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Bright

Things you need to know today: a) Gabs Medina just took out the Fiji Pro over Wilko in 10 foot surf. Wilko is having an awesome year. b) Bondi has waves, big ones, big ones that close out all the time (3-4 foot) c) We had quite a decent sunrise today. Not epic. 6/10 is […]

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Winter

It was only 9 degrees as I roamed around South Bondi. With the stiff offshore chill it felt colder. Bondi is best known for it’s packed peak summer days, but the reality is most of the time it’s like this in winter – empty. I like it. So quiet down there. Barely anyone swimming or […]

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Carnage

What is going on? What is going on? I go overseas for 12 days and Sydney blows up, literally? The photos I’ve seen just don’t look real. A 13 metre swell in town…whaaaaaat? Cape Fear runs with a psycho north swell (so dangerous on that direction), a huge water tank is lifted from the Icebergs […]

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Bon Voyage

I write to you from the middle of the treacherous Mentawai strait…yes, we’re heading home. The Ratu Motu chugs along at 13 knots heading for the mainland port of Padang. It’s silky smooth and our 3 storey/39 metre chunk of steel is barely rocking. Blessed. You’ve all read stories of Mentawais, it’s a well trodden path […]

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Isolation

We’ve been hiding out in a small pocket of the Mentawais for days and days, on our own. It’s been awesome. No humans for miles. So many waves to choose from and only 12 surfers on our boat to ride them. With a inbound monster swell, I would say that’ll change. My surf guide and […]

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A Good Day…

I am having a good day. Currently I’m on the 39 metre Ratu Motu parked up against one of the most beautiful islands on this planet. I’ve been here many times…it’s a favourite. A right hander wraps the island producing 300-400 metre rides. It’s really quite ridiculous. The stuff you dream of. Then the water is always […]

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Ujan angin

Selmat Pagi. Even though the Mentawai Islands are only 150 kms off the coast of Indonesian Sumatra, it’s a different world out here. The volatile conditions of the Mentawai Strait have kept these people isolated from the modern world and they remain one of the most purest indigenous societies on the globe. The last few days […]

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: : Bad Eye

We’re having a stormy time here in the Mentawais, despite the glassy conditions depicted in today’s imagery. Last night a bad eye hit. 60 knots dragged two anchors and looted the boat. Probably the worst storm I’ve ever seen up here in 17 trips. Reminded me of the Wolf of Wall Street leaving Portofino…except we […]

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:: Ments

Most surfers have the Mentawais on their hit list. It’s just one of those magical places on earth. There’s 70 islands in the Mentawais hanging 150kms off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia.  Why is it so good? The waves are incredible here (consistently). There is just so many different reefs to surf and being on […]

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Zoom Vs Prime

The rogue wonder swell of yesterday has backed right off and it’s now quite manageable at most beaches (3 ft). I didn’t really see anything special to surf this morning – a lot of empty lineups though. Good day to snag a few for yourself. A lot of readers email us questions about camera gear […]

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Big

Well well well. A big swell has rocked up into town and its gone rogue. I was expecting decent sized waves, but not this big. I saw sets above 8 foot. So much water moving. So hard to find a decent one. So much wash through. Somewhere would be firing today. Sydneysiders love a good […]

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Fresh

We’ve got a fresh batch of dead south swell in town and it’s quite exciting. We haven’t seen size like this for a while now. I am really hoping it bashes those straight banks at Bondi into something fun. C’mon. Please. The swell will peak, hard, right now and then drop off into the afternoon. […]

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Stock Standard

Today is typical Autumn Bondi day. It all started with the Buddhist monks pounding the pavement (std). Then the sunshine came over Ben Buckler and illuminated some 2 foot leftovers. (How good was the weekend for surf?) The Tourists were up early…documenting everything with their phones and selfie sticks. Icebergs was full. Not a car […]

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Solar Marathon

We’re bang in the middle of a solar marathon (and swell drought). I hope you’re enjoying it (the sun bit that is – not the 1 footers). Sunday could even pass as a normal beach day (24). The swell forecast is meant to scoop up from 1 foot to 4 foot. I am a little […]

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Our ‘hood

We are pretty lucky around here. Got some damn nice clean beaches to wake up to. Take your pick, they’re all pretty decent and a short walk between. When the weather’s good everyone is up early enjoying the crisp mornings. Today was a little chillier than other days. Winter is just ’round the corner. Have […]

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Trickle

I was so happy to see a little trickle of swell this morning. It’s a sign of things to come. Bondi had waist to the odd chest high waves. It wasn’t pumping but it was fun. The sunrise this morning was quite monochrome. Once again it’s offshore, typical of Autumn. Next week I am making […]

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Ride

We’re getting very spoilt with the current weather conditions. I haven’t seen an onshore day in aaaaages. It will swing though…any day now. Today, offshore, tiny south swell with rideable crowded waves at Bondi. Go outside ’cause it’s 26 degrees. It’s amazing! :: uge

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Monk

This morning I saw a Buddhist Monk running along the broad walk in the latest pair of Ray Bans. So Bondi. Robe wafting in the breeze as he motored past. He was quite the Usain Bolt…as I didn’t get a chance to take a decent photo of him. He left me in his wake! This […]

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The Valley

Bondi is a popular joint. Not many suburbs have their own TV shows (note: several TV shows). Wherever I travel these days they know Bondi. They might not know it’s in Sydney. But they know Bondi. For 900 meters of sandy beach with sloppy close outs – it’s out there! I’d like to say people […]

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Expecting

I thought we would have some waves today. The internet told me so. It lied. Well, when I was down there at sunrise…it was tiny (and crowded). The amazing sunrise made up for it. How good was it? Didn’t look real. I am writing this at 10:39am. Surely that south swell has filled in now. […]

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Serve Chilled

After a chilly start to the morning the sun is now doing some good work warming us all up. Water is still amazingly warm. Was 12 degrees at sunrise on the beach! I rolled down the beach will little expectations of surf. Forecast was 1-2 foot NE swell – which is pretty much useless at […]

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Salty Bits

As predicted… yesterdays grey skies parted and we continue with a sunshine marathon. Change always brings coloured skies – did you see that sunset last night – mental! Waves are limping in. Tiny NE swell barely providing any substantial push for surf vehicles. I opted for a swim with my trusty 50mm. Ah yes, 10 […]

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Pitter patter

Aquabumps HQ is an old mechanics workshop in Bondi Beach. The old tin roof sounds like a machine gun when she’s raining a lot. It’s gonna rain all day I hear – but clear up for tomorrow. The rest of the week is going to be fantastic. So…on this rainy Monday, crank the work out […]

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Chalkie

5th nice morning in a row, especially at the beach. Even better when the sky is full of colour. Hope you got down there. Small swell, mostly from the south. Bit of fun to be had. Over the weekend the swell will switch back to a ENE direction. Maroubra Big Wave freak Mark Mathews returned […]

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Treats

Repeat of yesterday – just more swell. Looks like south swell to me. Aren’t we lucky? The left had a few…sets head high if you wait long enough. Good little pulse. What a day! :: uge

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Primo

Whole lotta Bondi goodness going on this morning. Super clean morning, crisp clear air, no waves and no wind. If I could package this morning up for you…we’d sell out. It’s classic Bondi. You’re not too late to get your Mother some Aquabumps artwork for this Sunday (Mother’s Day). We have plenty of stock in […]

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Clear

How about them clear skies huh? Again…cool early, then when the sun starts to pump – it’s joy! There was a bump in swell today. A left in the corner provided maximum enjoyment…for a short window. Looked pretty small when I last looked (1-2 ft). I have absolutely nothing else to report today – oh […]

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Bloom

What started off a tad chilly has now bloomed into a magical day. Not bad aye? It’s lunchtime. Go lay on the grass and soak it up. Waves – tiny. (but a bump coming later tonight) Wind – nup. Sun – heaps. Hair – yeah looks good! Today’s Aquabumps was shot with a new camera…the […]

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Manly

Just for something different I stumbled over The Bridge to the beach side haven of Manly. It’s good on these tiny ENE swell which are neglected by Bondi. Still…it was only 1-2 foot over there. I imagine Bondi was 6 inches. Sensational Friday morning with perfectly warm water and an abundance of sunshine. The very […]

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My Apology

Ahem…just clearing my throat. I think I owe you a huge apology. The wide spread chaos and panic stimulated by yesterday’s Aquabumps incorrect editorial has finally calmed down. The street riots have dissipated. The burning cars have been extinguished. I’ve learned my lesson. MOTHERS DAY IS MAY 8. MOTHERS DAY IS MAY 8. MOTHERS DAY […]

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Horus

Well, well well…what a pleasant morning. No wind, ENE swell and perfectly sunny. Can’t complain about that combo. Do you know Mother’s Day is coming? sccrreech. (that’s that sound of a record needle scratching, again, real loud and annoying). Yes. Sunday the 8th. Well, here is a blokes guide to stress free Mother’s day shopping: […]

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Dawn Dip

You could feel the chill in the air this morning. It’s coming…colder times. The water remains warm though. Small swell from the SE 2-3 footers. Low tide this morning so the banks were protruding and closing out most waves at Bondi. Few little runners – I’d guess it would be better on the higher tides. […]

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Yo

Hey. Hows ya morning? How many coffees you had? Did you get down the beach before the smotherly struck? All 20 knots of it? Hope so. She’s on the blower now…but it was a pleasant morning before that. Tiny waves. That’s cool. This wind should kick up a 4 footers tomorrow. Please Huey. Please. Even […]

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