Surfing
Surfing
No joke, the 50 Year Storm just hit Bells Beach
The biggest surf Victoria has seen in a very, very long time pounds the historic cliffs...
This past week, Victorian surfers woke on Saturday morning to the largest swell their coastline has seen in years. In fact, for many it was quite possibly the largest they’ve ever seen the reefs around Torquay breaking.
Well-renowned local photographer Ed Sloane quickly realised what he was witnessing, and didn’t waste any time pulling out the camera. Let him take you on a journey through the swell that will go down in history…
Not where you want to be...
© Ed Sloane
The crowd looking on in awe at Winkipop
© Ed Sloane
A brisk offshore, a straight line, a terrified man
© Ed Sloane
One of the largest sets of the swell
© Ed Sloane
“After a two week run of pretty much perfect surf, this pulse, on top of an already active sea, sent many weary Victorian surfers searching for novelty waves and protected bays. Those that enjoy the big stuff however had it in spades across the Bells/Winki stretch, as well as further down the coast.
“Despite the swell being pretty raw, light offshore winds kept it clean and rideable, making for spectacular viewing from the carparks. The cliffs were lined with hundreds of people throughout the day and there was no shortage of action. Making it out basically involved timing it right, no matter how adept you are in the ocean. There were many experienced Bells/Winki veterans who didn’t make it out on their first attempt (for some even a second and third). Not for a lack of fitness, but rather fast moving currents and huge volumes of water. A handful of unlucky surfers were swept across the notoriously shallow ‘button’ (see in gallery) and luckily came out unharmed.
“Mid-morning was the peak of the swell with a set that feathered on the outer reef (basically the horizon) and swept through the lineup hundreds of meters out from the usual takeoff zone. That set basically closed out the entire bay and cleaned up everyone who was surfing. It broke way out off the button and ran through to Winki. Estimates range from 10ft – 15ft, but honestly it was hard to gauge the size of that set, owing to the fact that nobody was even near it to give a sense of scale.
“By the afternoon the swell had calmed down a little and there we're more opportunities for surfers to make it out. The following day it had dissipated a lot, however with better winds it was ruler-edge and most of the usual spots were firing, again. The run has continued into this week with barely a day for respite.
"It’s shaping up as one of the best months ever across the Torquay stretch, and this particular swell… well, it’s one that will go down in the history books.”
