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The Great Autumn, Part One: Weekend From Heaven
When the wind went offshore early on Saturday, everywhere south of Coffs went a bit nuts.
Photo: Steen Barnes @16images
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Offshore and Pumping. That’s what Surfline forecaster Ben Macartney told us would happen, and well, it did. This has to be one of the great autumns, especially in central and southern NSW. Things just keep falling into place. The past weekend just made the point for us in most emphatic fashion.
Not everywhere was this full on, but you hunt what you hunt. Hayden Blair in the belly of the thing, Solander. Photo: Hayley Alderton
Staff
On March 6, 2021, one of the bigger swells in years hit the east coast of New South Wales, Australia. When it comes to waves of serious consequence, it could be said that Australians have an excess of people who are willing to put themselves in the spot. It’s not an easy thing looking over a ledge and pulling the trigger is something your brain screams at you not to do but if you’re someone like, say, Ryan Hipwood, your brain’s voice has been tempered by years of experience. Still, though, Hippo called the day “one of the most intimidating swell events he’d ever surfed.” Which is saying a lot, considering that Hipwood has surfed a lot of terrifying swell events.