Watch: The Terror Vault // Part 1 - Cape Solander

Stu Nettle (stunet)
Reels

Tim Bonython's been productive during his COVID downtime, though not filming new swells, as he'd prefer, but sorting through years of old footage and compiling it into a new series: The Terror Vault.

It's not the glory rides he's chosen to highlight, but the opposite, the rides where the wave has its way and the surfer ends up like a bug on the windscreen.

Part 1 is Cape Solander, which, even when it's perfect, is a roll of the dice. For every completed ride - and Tim includes a few in here, see Mark Mathews, Jug, and Mooney who all make it to the channel - there's many more that cop a gruesome swatting.

Comments

JackStance Saturday, 2 May 2020 at 08:49 am new

I appreciate life is horses for courses, but, for me:

that is one of the best clips I've ever seen.

ringmaster Saturday, 2 May 2020 at 10:21 am new

Fucken Mental!!!

mikehunt207 Saturday, 2 May 2020 at 10:45 am new

Faaasrk!! Helmet anyone? Thanks again Tim

Charlie Brown Saturday, 2 May 2020 at 11:06 am new

I'm a goofy-footed mal rider. Very keen to hit this spot soon.

Halfscousehalf… Sunday, 3 May 2020 at 08:03 am new

Yeah I bet you’re chomping at the bit.....

Optimist Saturday, 2 May 2020 at 12:38 pm new

I found myself leaning into the wall next to me while watching this. Then afterward I needed a bex and a lie down.

crg Saturday, 2 May 2020 at 01:45 pm new

I remember watching that Red Bull comp and absolutely thinking someone was going to die.

Brian from Brissy Saturday, 2 May 2020 at 02:15 pm new

That fella on the jetski with dean Bowen.... is that matt Howard?

Walk around G Saturday, 2 May 2020 at 06:01 pm new

Or was it DH.........AGAIN! ;)

Justint Saturday, 2 May 2020 at 03:16 pm new

Mental wave. If you do actually make the barrel it seems the onlu way out is to get flung into the air with the backwash and get a mega slap on your back for the effort

wax-on-danielson Saturday, 2 May 2020 at 03:51 pm new

Does superman out of the barrel count as a make?

Denyer Monday, 4 May 2020 at 10:30 am new

I think it should be considered a make at this wave.

Mac Snaps Saturday, 2 May 2020 at 04:20 pm new

Death by Backwash

blackers Saturday, 2 May 2020 at 04:37 pm new

Oh man. That multi step on that wave near the end was just cruel. Bloke makes it over all those hazards only to be caught in the flats and smashed by the lip right on the boil rock. Fun to watch, thanks for sharing Tim.

wbat Saturday, 2 May 2020 at 05:20 pm new

That was amazing. Crazy stuff.

Shaun Hanson Saturday, 2 May 2020 at 05:32 pm new

Fuk a dead horse batman !! ...all that bendin the wrong way on those wipeouts them fellas are goona hurt come fifty ...im in awe of there comitment ...

Westofthelake Saturday, 2 May 2020 at 05:47 pm new

Wow that was mental.
So much so I watched it again,
and snapped a couple of snips.

https://i.ibb.co/p081DQd/wipeout7.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/syTdw2N/wipeout6.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/2qvbpmP/Wipeout5.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/XzPFHF0/Wipeout4.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/dtSBNbF/wipeout3.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/vmz5yHp/wipeout2.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/7CVZJD3/wipeout1.jpg

PS - really liked the music, whoever it was

Denyer Monday, 4 May 2020 at 10:31 am new

I remember watching that one on the live stream of Ritchie Vas copping the lip to the back and thought that he was definitely dead.

GOBS1979 Saturday, 2 May 2020 at 06:21 pm new

Ooohhhh My Faaaaaak!
Now that was thrilling just watching it .
Looking at those snips, this is the new take on "Doin Airs".
If you want to surf these waves then you have to be able to pull off these airs without killing yourself!
No Helmets!! Insane!!
I would don the helmet, neck brace. hockey face mask, cricket balls box, skateboard knee and shoulder Pads, Double inflatable vest, Webbed paddle gloves, and a wing suit for when I get shot out of the barrel! AND thats only for driving the jet ski!!

zenagain Saturday, 2 May 2020 at 10:24 pm new

What? No mouth guard?

You hell-man.

(btw funny)

ps- cool screen grabs above Westy- captured it well.

Bnkref Saturday, 2 May 2020 at 07:37 pm new

That beating at 6:20 must be one of the worst of all time.

Rabbits68 Saturday, 2 May 2020 at 11:10 pm new

Epic clip TB. Amazing commitment from all those surfers.

Man v Ocean. Truly incredible how resilient the human body can be.

Halfscousehalf… Sunday, 3 May 2020 at 08:02 am new

Fear not cape solander local, after watching that I’ve decided that I would never contemplate to surf there.....

simba Sunday, 3 May 2020 at 08:21 am new

Has anyone died there?...........Cant believe some of those wipeouts,i was cringing just watching.......

innatube Monday, 4 May 2020 at 08:07 am new

Absolutely epic!

thermalben Monday, 4 May 2020 at 10:16 am new

I can't recall the last time I watched a surf clip that had me shuddering so much.

stunet Monday, 4 May 2020 at 10:34 am new

Backwash, yeah?

zenagain Monday, 4 May 2020 at 10:54 am new

Did SN do a piece on that fellow? Didn't he get really messed up? Broken ribs, water in his lungs?

I seem to recall something about that.

Either way, pretty gnarly.

stunet Monday, 4 May 2020 at 10:58 am new

Yeah, broke his ribs.

t-diddy Monday, 4 May 2020 at 03:50 pm new

that's just fukt! Does Tim always use a 'If you like Limp Bizkit...' playlist?

Remigogo Tuesday, 5 May 2020 at 01:44 pm new

You would be feeling a bit limp eating your biscuit after if you were one of that lot.

Well except if you're Mark Matthews of course.

surfstarved Monday, 4 May 2020 at 04:43 pm new

No longer Ours - I'm dubbing it Yours, or Theirs, or Anybody's-Other-Than-Mine.

Ben Harding Tuesday, 5 May 2020 at 01:13 pm new

haha, ken-oath!

dylza Monday, 4 May 2020 at 09:05 pm new

Stop f#cking up great surf footage with absolutely woeful music soundtrack selections. Either pick something bloody cool and a bit different or just play the original raw sound of IT Happening sheeeeeeze .... Mr Bonython - if you've read this far.

Johan Wohlleben Tuesday, 5 May 2020 at 10:00 pm new

Crazy, those guys are nuts and no fear-no way they’ll find the loose screws in Botany Bay anytime soon. Charging!

jfs Thursday, 7 May 2020 at 11:35 am new

Amazing courage and skill displayed. Any reports of injuries ? if not why not ? How are they spared from being lacerated on the reef or rocks as nearly all came to grief. How awesome would it to be there live ( watching ! )

stunet Thursday, 7 May 2020 at 04:22 pm new

At least one broken back, few broken limbs, many broken bones, and countless lacerations.

The worry isn't so much the proximity of the rock platform - as even when you're close it's hard to hit it becasue of the wash bouncing around - but impacts with the bottom from blown drops. It's shallow where the wave breaks, and close to dry about twenty feet closer in where a barely concealed rock shelf waits for any unlucky punter.

Gowest Thursday, 7 May 2020 at 03:34 pm new

Pure eeevil.... hardly a fun surf?!

tonks Thursday, 7 May 2020 at 04:36 pm new

True fucken legends!Absolutely epic footage.Reckon they might be a bit,no a lot sore afterwards!Adios Amigos.

batfink Sunday, 10 May 2020 at 11:37 am new

Surfing as punishment for crimes unknown. Hats off to anyone crazy enough, but you won’t see me challenging out there. Crazy shit.

Thegrowingtrend.com Monday, 11 May 2020 at 07:54 am new

My blow up paddle board would fit in to those monster barrels

Blowin Monday, 11 May 2020 at 08:28 am new

Does the board bend to accommodate the curve of the wave if you don’t inflate it to maximum pressure ?

11ft inflatable SUP at 10 PSI into 6 foot Solander sounds like a Great Leap Forward for humanity.