“It was really tidal, and once the tide started
to go out you’d be really paddling the whole
time, so it was a couple of us guys, we were
lucky that we had some Hawaiian boards
there. I was lucky enough to be surfing on
a 7 footer out there, a 7’2’’ when it was 6
foot and above. I could get into the waves
early enough, and all these other guys would
paddle out and go ‘well I’ve got me 6’4’’ gun’
and I’d go ‘oh you’re kidding mate’ - so much
water movement, it was quite thick as well, it
was unreal!
against the wall, but it used to get pretty big
in there - it was surprising. It was good back
then and not many boogieboarders took it on,
they’d get sucked out the back. It was pretty
much the Southport crew and it was more of
a locals spot, like a take off spot, compared
with South Straddie. With South Straddie
anyone can go there now, and it hasn’t got
the culture of a take off spot where it’s very
limited to a few heavier locals. It was a pretty
iconic wave when you look back at it, I guess
it broke for what, about 5 years.”
“A few times it was big there and it was pretty
dodgy, and we’d be kind of sitting right out
in the middle of the seaway channel trying to
catch 8 to 10 footers ... the barrels were more
And what about now, how are you going
with shaping and life as a surfer on the
Gold Coast?
“Oh yeah you know, it’s fantastic, especially
Munga in the slot and hooking it under the lip - back in the 90s the seaway had an oldstyle pecking order. Rarely did you paddle out and just take a wave // Photo Wilba