Watch: Vantage Points // Russell Bierke & Andrew Kaineder

Craig Brokensha (Craig)
Reels

The latest episode from O'Neill's series 'Vantage Points' is a short film by Andrew Kaineder showcasing Russell Bierke’s latest and craziest waves. It’s a mix of hi-fi cinematography, low-fi lifestyle, and photographic stills while being backed by a suspenseful and moody original psych-rock score. Andrew used abstract imagery and mixed media of nature and landscapes to help break up the edit.

Special attention has to be paid Russ' first wave at 1:10, as critical as it gets.

Comments

thermalben Tuesday, 29 Jun 2021 at 10:59 am new

Bloody hell, that first wave is off the hook.

surfstarved Tuesday, 29 Jun 2021 at 11:01 am new

Holy shit, that first wave!

crg Tuesday, 29 Jun 2021 at 11:18 am new

That’s as good as it gets.
How much better is it seeing the few seconds before the wave...I’m trying to imagine myself in the water seeing how ridiculously hard the water is drawing up the wave as it double/triples up and steps out. And then swinging and going!
Yeah...nah...
Russ you’re a madman.

lampy Tuesday, 29 Jun 2021 at 11:23 am new

Some amazing waves there. It’s always good to watch Russ. So talented

waterhen Tuesday, 29 Jun 2021 at 11:24 am new

you can do that stuff easy if you are a jaws master

Sprout Tuesday, 29 Jun 2021 at 11:28 am new

He has to be the closest any surfer's got to matching bodyboarders making insane slabs. Stretching the boundary on what's possible for sure, total madness.

mattlock Tuesday, 29 Jun 2021 at 11:32 am new

Faaaark. Great stuff.

Island Bay Tuesday, 29 Jun 2021 at 12:12 pm new

He's on (from?) a different planet.

sean killen Tuesday, 29 Jun 2021 at 12:12 pm new

That open wave was best start to any movie I’ve seen.. sssssick

gunther Tuesday, 29 Jun 2021 at 12:24 pm new

Balls

OHV500 Tuesday, 29 Jun 2021 at 01:27 pm new

Awesome seeing the paddle ins and the entire wave. Music suited the waves and the edit. Best I've seen in ages, IMO.

Tim Bonython Tuesday, 29 Jun 2021 at 01:37 pm new

FAN-BLOODY-TASTIC... footage, music, edit. And the surfing is pretty darn good too!!
5 stars!!!

wbat Tuesday, 29 Jun 2021 at 01:41 pm new

that guy is seriously talented. Wow. To know you can make a few of those waves which allows you to paddle in to them is just off the hook.

Bob Sacamano Tuesday, 29 Jun 2021 at 02:09 pm new

Madman! The edit does the surfing justice. Oneill and Russ seem to be a good combo.

conrico Tuesday, 29 Jun 2021 at 02:28 pm new

That first drop. How?!!

NDC Tuesday, 29 Jun 2021 at 02:33 pm new

Plums!

surfstarved Tuesday, 29 Jun 2021 at 03:22 pm new

They say you've got to pay to play, but fucking hell, I reckon Russ has paid more than his fair share, just with the wipeouts in this edit alone.

t-rex Tuesday, 29 Jun 2021 at 03:26 pm new

He makes it look so easy so much time. He has a comfort in heavy water that is so amazing to watch

mrkook Tuesday, 29 Jun 2021 at 05:29 pm new

I get so excited whenever there is a new Russ vid - and this is just spectacular. Phenomenal commitment and talent, its like he has found his own line out there that other mere mortals just cant keep up with. Epic, keep it coming!

vbaaccess Tuesday, 29 Jun 2021 at 06:08 pm new

Balls! Serious consequences when things go wrong! You could easily drown, get hit by your board or hit the bottom. You need to trust your abilities to take on these two dangerous waves. Hats off to Russell.

ringmaster Tuesday, 29 Jun 2021 at 06:17 pm new

Insane!

How that slender little fella is still in one piece is anyone's guess.

Cat like reflexes / balls of steel probably help.

Spuddups Tuesday, 29 Jun 2021 at 06:32 pm new

Top drawer stuff. The WOZ are spending millions making something nobody wants to watch. They should be taking notes.

Balbero Tuesday, 29 Jun 2021 at 06:40 pm new

WTF, it's like he goes the one's (waves) that no other cunt's want. a privilege to watch this legend in the making. Cheers swellnet.

H2O Tuesday, 29 Jun 2021 at 08:30 pm new

Just sensational!

goofyfoot Tuesday, 29 Jun 2021 at 08:52 pm new

Read the comments before I watched the film and safe to say I wasn’t disappointed.
Amazing stuff. Again. Fuck he’s incredible

wally Tuesday, 29 Jun 2021 at 09:02 pm new

Good vid. The music was particularly effective. By Electric Sheep Music. I get the impression it was composed specifically for the film. Top effort

frog Tuesday, 29 Jun 2021 at 09:47 pm new

But but but.... there were no virtue signalling messages, jet ski assisted shoulder hopping, instagram address water marks for lots of influencers for us all to follow or any sharkas. These guys are just not on the program.

Remigogo Tuesday, 29 Jun 2021 at 09:52 pm new

Is that a problem?

frog Wednesday, 30 Jun 2021 at 08:05 am new

Well it is a problem if you want to get on Ultimate Surfer and hang out with ELO - "a world-class media executive with a profound personal connection to the sport of surfing" at the tub to talk about body waxing, the transformational power of SUP riding and how to monetise surfing to people who did not even know "surfing was a thing". Who doesn't want that?

Thrush Trumpet Tuesday, 29 Jun 2021 at 09:57 pm new

Any ideas on rough board dimensions/volumes old mate uses to scrap into those nuggets?

SI Wednesday, 30 Jun 2021 at 11:20 am new

For dimensions etc, Just contact Kirk, his old man at Kirk Bierke surfboards… very cool dude to chat with and one of the most reliable guys I’ve ever dealt with. A true workhorse that knows his art! He can deliver boards anywhere in Australia…

tango Tuesday, 29 Jun 2021 at 09:59 pm new

Yeah, nah, that was shite.....too much commitment. I'd much rather watch Gabby punt in 2ft shore breaks.

Remigogo Tuesday, 29 Jun 2021 at 10:06 pm new

That is some serious commitment isn't it?

And if there is at least one thing drones are good for.. that vision as the sun goes down.

JackStance Wednesday, 30 Jun 2021 at 07:57 am new

best clip overall in a long time.

respect to all.

Gowsa Thursday, 1 Jul 2021 at 03:36 pm new

Great background Music to Boot.

frog Wednesday, 30 Jun 2021 at 08:12 am new

Great clip. Watched with the sound on this time - even better. Russ would be doing this even without a camera.

campbell Wednesday, 30 Jun 2021 at 09:45 am new

Epic!
Wonder what the numbers on that board are, volume but not that long looking

eat-your-vegies Wednesday, 30 Jun 2021 at 10:12 am new

Let me score that first wave for ya

Let me see

Good take off
Local Boardriders level floater to head dip to belly flop
Incomplete

Island Bay Wednesday, 30 Jun 2021 at 10:26 am new

Does anyone else take off behind the step at Shippies? Incredible skills.

mrkook Wednesday, 30 Jun 2021 at 12:10 pm new

I reckon he has created his own line out there that no one else can follow. He is in a league of his own.

tommy southcoast Wednesday, 30 Jun 2021 at 12:09 pm new

One thing that still doesn't make sense to me is how his board has enough volume to keep those big ol balls of his afloat????

Bungan33 Wednesday, 30 Jun 2021 at 03:07 pm new

Is good. Very good.
I was trying to think of superlatives that hadn't been taken. But the cat-like reference takes my money. Not balls or muscle or other male-infused adjectives....but a cat that just dances on water.

bluediamond Wednesday, 30 Jun 2021 at 03:47 pm new

Ridiculous. Crazy how low he stays to the board throughout the drop on that mad big one. Legend.

yvdreh Thursday, 1 Jul 2021 at 06:17 am new

What the fuck!

R00ney Friday, 2 Jul 2021 at 09:08 am new

Is that Russ dickin'around on the Tele at the start?
15 otta 10 if he's got anything to do with the sound, otherwise, only an 11.

Top shelf shit.

mbuckis Friday, 2 Jul 2021 at 07:01 pm new

Whats the name of the band playing? Want to look them up online sounded wicked

science Monday, 5 Jul 2021 at 08:35 am new

that was sick

OHBILLY Monday, 5 Jul 2021 at 11:20 am new

In a world where we are overloaded with 'clips' and 'vlogs' and all the other crap that surfers think is good viewing, this is the most refreshing vid I have seen in a long time. I get the same feeling watching this that I used to get as a grom watching Sabotaj, Fanning the Fire etc.

batfink Monday, 5 Jul 2021 at 01:56 pm new

Ok. The rock off was enough to make me shit myself. Dramatic opening!

The music, just first class, fitted perfectly.

The surfing - well, if there is a better, big slab, paddle in rider in the world, I don’t think I’ve heard of him or her. The lines, he has just re-thought what is possible out there. That last wave, looked like that huge cloudbreak session from 2011 or 2012.

When he turns to paddle for a wave everybody else out there is just paddling to get over the thing, and he’s so deep. Mind altering.

batfink Monday, 5 Jul 2021 at 02:05 pm new

Geez there’s a lot to take in for such a short clip. Just watched it a second time, think I need to have a sleep now.

t-diddy Wednesday, 7 Jul 2021 at 12:52 am new

fukn siiiiicccc!