Watch: The O'Riginals // Transmutation

Stu Nettle (stunet)
Reels

Here's the latest offering from O'Neill in their O'Riginals series, again shining a light on Lachie Rombouts. This time following a harrowing summer bushfire season.

"‘Transmutation’ is a celebration of growth. The 2019 - 20 Australian bushfire season as of 9 March 2020 burnt an estimated 18.6 million hectares and destroyed over 2779 homes. Lachie Rombouts lives on the south coast of NSW, which was one of the greatest affected areas.

Lachie chose to “leave money for happiness” many moons ago. Surfing through the bushfire season not only helped him avoid a familiar darkness , but it brought clarity towards a common goal.

He is doing what he can to help and has planted new vegetation for local elders and homes in these decimated areas."

“Transmutation” - Lalah Delia

Grapes must be crushed to make wine,
Diamonds from under pressure,
Olives are pressed to release oil,
Seeds grow in darkness,
Whenever you feel crushed, under pressure, pressed, or in darkness,
you’re in a powerful place of transformation / transmutation.

Comments

Spuddups Friday, 17 Apr 2020 at 10:04 am new

It’s cool seeing those burnt trees sprouting back.

Bungan33 Friday, 17 Apr 2020 at 11:25 am new

Just made me ache to head on a surf trip....curse you Covid-19....

Ape Anonymous Friday, 17 Apr 2020 at 11:30 am new

Nice to see some length getting used in all sorts of conditions. Surfing can be fun? You can take different lines? Who woulda thunk it!?

Darkness... yes. Buddhists speak of the void/emptiness/formless realm as a place to view habits -karma colliding with conditions. Is there free will? Can we use it to build compassion and kindness? How does one break the endless cycle of dukkha?

NDC Friday, 17 Apr 2020 at 12:51 pm new

Nice clip
Intriuging (sp?) character
Charges in big surf, don't know how they muster the courage at that scale
Hope he's OK... wonder sometimes if too much introspection is unhelpful - think i make that mistake sometimes, wonder if he might as well

Nigeisblessed Friday, 17 Apr 2020 at 01:08 pm new

Some of those backhand take offs are insane! Kinda get the feel he'd happily paddle out on his own in those big waves, doesn't need anyone to see him do it. could be wrong, just a feelin'

Island Bay Friday, 17 Apr 2020 at 01:35 pm new

Love this O'Neill series. Not a bum note among them. And it's great to see LR's different approach.

Can you only surf xxxxx Bombie huge, or would hacks like me have a chance on smaller days?

blackers Friday, 17 Apr 2020 at 03:00 pm new

Ace. How he manages to wrangle that beast of a board through barrels both big and small is nothing short of amazing. Looks like he is having fun too!

nextswell Friday, 17 Apr 2020 at 03:10 pm new

Love that grab rail stance. Have an 8’6 gun that I’ve been surfing a lot in head high waves on a quiet beachie. Generates good speed but you also get that glide you don’t get from a shorter board. That bombie, is next level though. Anyone know the board? 12fter he used at Avalon for the 2016 east coast low swell?

69longboarder Friday, 17 Apr 2020 at 09:58 pm new

He was hanging off the side of that sled as mach as riding it.
Couldnt do that on a short board.
Great clip. Alternate craft.
Love it !

Fatso Saturday, 18 Apr 2020 at 01:46 pm new

Cool stuff...the comments re - wrangling that board are on it. On another note, I realise the photogs need them for their work, but the boats scattered around that bombie remind me of litter on the roadside

Philip Dewick Saturday, 18 Apr 2020 at 05:06 pm new

Great surfing. And I've just added a new (new for me!) band to my playlist "Pist Idiots". Loved that second song ("Leave It at That").

PabloM Monday, 20 Apr 2020 at 08:55 am new

Charger

tango Monday, 20 Apr 2020 at 10:28 pm new

Early entry for the win, but I'm buggered if I know how he held on for a few of those waves. Surfing a big board like that is waaaay more difficult than it looks.