Good Friday this year started like any other for Freshwater local and renowned ‘charger’ Tommy Myers. Heading out for an Easter weekend surf unaware he was about to paddle into the wave of his life (and into local folklore) after riding what is being called one of the biggest tube rides in Sydney. EVER.
Battling a sinus infection, Myers had every intention to play it safe on the day, but destiny had other plans. The Queenscliff Bombora delivered a rare wave with Myers in prime position. Navigating the bottom turn, he was thrust into the perfect line and held on to be spat out of the monstrous pit to rapturous applause on the headland and from his mates in the water.
“The stars just aligned. I didn’t expect it to happen, that’s for sure. I was digging my toes in and all I could hear was my mate ‘Jonesy’ (Sam Jones) screaming, I couldn’t see a thing.”
The moment was a real exclamation mark on a big wave surfing revival that has captured the imagination of the local community, and the surfing world is taking notice.
On Surfline’s Instagram account, Myers’ Good Friday bomb attracted comments from the likes of Kelly Slater, Nathan Florence, Shaun Thomson, and Tom Carroll just to name a few. Playing down the fanfare Myers found it all a bit surreal. “It’s not what we do it for but a few pats on the back always feel nice from a couple of your heroes and people that inspire you for sure.”
Surfers like Myers and his mate Sam Jones have been pushing the boundary during some incredible swells that have hit the peninsula in consecutive seasons. Most of the action has been featured around two local breaks: ‘Deadmans’ around from the Bower on Shelly Beach headland and the Queenscliff Bombora, the ‘Bombie’.
Whilst these two waves are no secret to generations of local surfers, the advancement of drone video technology and social media has these two breaks attaining a newfound global recognition.
“Historically, I think they’ve been super underrated. It obviously depends on who you talk to but Deadmans from a technical perspective requires the full skill set. It would be one of the trickiest waves to surf in the world, there is just a lot to navigate”.
Myers and Jones have surfed everywhere, locally and abroad, but the beauty of surfing some of the best waves of their lives in their own backyard has a unique appeal. “That’s what’s so special, you travel all around the world and end up getting the wave of your life somewhere where I can sit on the end of my bed at home and pretty much see that wave”.
Follow Tommy @tom_myers and Sam @jonceeeeena on socials to keep up to date with their charging exploits, as well as Aloha Manly’s @_waveofthewinter_ where $1,000 is up for grabs for this year’s Wave of the Winter. Sam won last year while Tommy’s monster Bombie barrel looks untouchable for now, and decades to come.
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