Jacob Sheehan, blasting the tail out

Bedlam

Bondi is a crazy place, but it’s particularly crazy on a Friday around sunrise (6:30 a.m.). There was just so much activity down there this morning—keep in mind, it’s a small beach, only 900 metres long—so we’re packed in tight. 9am – a completely different story, and back to the quiet times – feels like […]

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Beautiful morning down at Bondi! Go swim, avoid the rip

The Early High

What a morning! Optimal temperatures in and out of the water, while the bay was glassy and windless—for a moment at sunrise. There was an enormous early morning crowd again. The lineup was jammed, ice bathers were packed, and Bergs was full as Bondi was in high gear. Did you miss it? It’s too late […]

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Bondi, 7am, shredding.

Better.

Yesterday wasn’t right, but it significantly improved today (at Sunrise). It’s calmed down a lot, and now we have some diamonds in the rough. Don’t be fooled—there are still plenty of closeouts—but one in six was running at sunrise, and you’ve got a nice little pocket to flaunt your skills in the golden light. As […]

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Bondi broken skies around 7am

Giant Folds

Big swells are wasted around here. We don’t have the proper infrastructure to make it break in a rideable fashion when it gets over head-high. Such a shame, ’cause there’s virtually NO wind and conditions are optimal. Somewhere with a reef would be cooking right now. It’s a dead south swell at 180 degrees, so […]

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Bondi Beach, peak summer

Birds Eye

It’s big and getting bigger. It’s windy – howling onshore!After a five-minute ride, I’ve concluded it’s not a beach day—a write-off, a day inside. Tomorrow will be triple head high, and winds will be variable, so I am sure some reefs down south will be cooking for the hell-riders. I hope this hefty swell pounds […]

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Hell yeah. A different kinda Sting Ray

Activation

There was so much going on at Bondi this morning. All the tourists are walking around thinking – why is everyone up so damn early! Aussies are weirdos. The waves were not very interesting, especially on the morning lower tides. Perhaps a log during higher tides (middle of the day). The skies are filled with […]

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Bondi breakthrough. 6:30am,

Last day of Summer

It’s the last day of summer (boo!), and we’re finishing it in stereotypical fashion – NE winds, 35 degrees and a tiny swell. It was a super warm morning with a MASSIVE sunrise crowd. So many people from overseas enjoying the morning vibes. Morning low tides created a little exposed sandbar, good for swimmers and […]

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Underwater exploration, Bondi 6:40am

Dark Water

Under dark and gloomy skies, clean waves broke in the waist-to-chest vicinity. It’s a south swell, so it’s biggest at Bondi but also the most crowded. Big numbers littered the entire beach at sunrise as most waves closed out straight. More tide would be helpful. High tide: 11:11 amLow tide: 5:28 pmMax Temp. Land: 28 […]

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Love the lines of the South Curl Curl Rock Pool

Northern Beaches

Sydney’s city beaches are divided by the deepest harbour in the world. As the crow flies, there’s nothing in it – it’s all relatively close and a short ferry ride to either side. By car, wow, on a busy, sunny day, it’s an hour, schlepping bumper to bumper to cross the bridge. It’s a different […]

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Hello Bondi! Sunrise this morning.

Good morning

It was a sensational morning in Sydney, with pink bits scattered across our dawn skies. The water was warm as two footers broke straight. Under the surface, the clarity was decent – recently, the northerlies have brought an unwelcome green-brown murk. Winds are currently very gentle and from the west. The southerly will arrive any […]

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The stage is set, big weekend coming up in Bondi

Grande

Bondi is gearing up for a party this weekend as 15,000 people hit the beach for the annual Pride party. This morning was a good prelude as the beach was absolutely packed at 6 am. I overheard a British tourist say, “What on earth is going on geezer? I mean, it’s 6am; why is everyone […]

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Striking a section, Bondi 6:30am

murky waters*

The rips were on turbo, and the water was a worrying green-brown. Post-rain swims are always a bit dodge. It took me a few goes to get back to the beach, wearing flippers – ramp 2 rip is lethal. Today is brilliantly warm and humid, and it is my Ma’s birthday! Waves were tidy this […]

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Freddy Carmody, one of the best surfers on Bondi Beach

Sublime in da brine

It was freakishly warm and comfortable in the brine this morning. Usually, I’m hesitant to swim after so much rain, but today, it was just too damn seductive! It must have been 24 degrees at sunrise. I swam happily in the rips, mouth closed, for an hour—the rip between ramp 2 & 3 was HECTIC. […]

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