Stephanie Gilmore drops in a SUP Stand up Paddle boarder Feb 2015 Snapper Rocks Gold Coast Australia

March 10, 2015

Stephanie Gilmore drops in a SUP Stand up Paddle boarder Feb 2015 Snapper Rocks Gold Coast Australia

Cyclone Swells and fun to be had at my home Snapper Rock Gold Coast QLD. Swell on the surf report was 4-6 ft. Water is warm and no wetsuit required. Only a wet shirt for sun protection. Definitely white for summer as the sun here on the Gold Coast is so strong. Any other colour and you will be too hot. Black for winter.

This is the first time I went to take photos of surfing, with my new toy a Nikon. As I'm short sighted I couldn't tell which girl surfer I had taken photos of. Wow I was surprised when I got home and realized it was Stephanie Gilmore the 6 x world champion womens's surfer.

Let me give you the run down of these pics. It was a big day. I surfed on the high tide where the waves are easy to take off and more forgiving. Then as lunchtime approached and low tide. I thought perfect I'll head to Snapper Rocks. It always amazes me how people can be in shallow water thigh deep and a few metres away, you have surfers catching waves.

Look at the girls walking out as Steph catches a wave. This wave and takeoff is super fast so you have to angle you board down the line and take off quickly, jumping to your feet as fast as possible. Its fast and down the line waves can break for up to a kilometre in distance. These waves seem like a dream perfect just rolling in one after another. When the swell is up and the conditions are right, people fly in form all over Australia and the world. When you catch one it just makes your day. You have to remember there are alot of people in the line up. Just one; just one perfect; amazing long wave will make your day! :)

On this day it was seriously crowded at Snapper and Steph took the chance to catch the wave. This SUP is very skilled to be out on low tide with Snapper at 6 ft.