Sydney Surf Pro 2022 - Wrap Up - Part 1

Monday 16th - Morning Session

The rough plan was to get up early during the week, get a parking space in Manly and get in the water before sunrise. Hopefully to get some shots, of the pro surfers in the competition area, before the competition starts.

I was parked up early in Queencliff, first light was starting to show on the horizon and it looked like out was going to be a good day (in recent Sydney terms that means it wasn't raining!). The gamble of taking a day of leave looked like it would pay off.

I checked the bank in the competition zone, and it was well attended by what looked like professional surfers on a variety of craft. At least there were waves, small waves and some light offshore winds. I had already prepped my housing and camera to maximise the water time, so I wasn't long before I was feeling the cool and crisp sand between my toes.

Unlike the CT event at Narrabeen in 2021, there were no other water photographers in the line up already, which surprised me. However, not long after I got into the water Mark Morgan turned up. A Queenscliff resident, local legend and one of the finest lensmen around - and all round nice guy too. I bumped into local slab charger, Anne dos Santos, she had a wildcard into the CS event and was getting in some time on the bank, of course and had to ask her about the session at deadman's - if you've not seen the footage, it's pretty Sketchy and impressive at the same time. I stayed as long as I could, and eventually we were give the instructions to clear the zone ahead of the competition running for the day. I swam south, but the high tide was killing most of the banks except the one in the competition zone and so the morning was done. Time for coffee and to watch the early rounds featuring local longboarders Tully White and Declan Wyton.

Monday 16th - Afternoon

After a short break and some lunch, I returned to Manly for an afternoon session and tried my luck at Queenscliff again. American QS surfer Jett Schilling was out, but the small waves were making it hard. There were a couple of longboarders out, one being Keoki Saguibo , who left shortly after I got there. Keoki is the Editor and Director of Photography for Lost Not Found Mag which is a new surfing magazine from Hawaii, shipped worldwide but only available at select surf shops, which happens to include Freshwaters own Keel Surf & Supply. (Drop in and pick up a copy).

With not many good surfer out, I tried the area south of the competition area to see what was going on. I spotted a few short boarders and longboarders surfing a left and right on the edge of the zone. When I got out, I could see Caelan and Tom Payne trading waves between the like of Frederico Moraiis and a solid crew of the ladies CS competitors.

As it was getting late, probably the last heat of the day, a few more longboards turned up to surf this bank. Augusto Olinto, Edouard Delpero and Lindsay Steinriede. I spent some time getting a shots of Edouard and Lindsay (which haven't made it here) before calling it a day.

The extra bonus for the day, was meeting Tommy Pieruki on the walk back to my car. Tommy, a surf photographer from Hawaii, has fast become, a photographer of note in the longboard world. You have probably seen his covershots on Pacific Longboarder Magazine. It was a pleasure to meet him, shake his hand and have a quick yarn.

Tuesday 17th

Tully and Declan had both made it through to the next round, so there was a certain buzz around the local crew. I woke up early and followed Mondays pattern, camera ready and a quick change. There was barely surf, but still a few people out, so worth a swim. Daniel G was in the water, getting shots for Chloe Calmon and Zoé Grospiron part of #teamwaxhead

The higher tide was swallowing up what little swell was hitting the bank, and the waves were slowing down between the sets. I had a full day of work ahead, including playing catchup for the previous days leave, so left after an hour or so. I kept a eye on the next rounds through the webcast.