Watch: Russell Bierke // Outer Edge Of Leisure

Craig Brokensha (Craig)
Reels

Russ and filmer Andrew Kaineder team up again to produce one of the best surf shorts of the year.

Amidst a boundless expanse of turbulent waves and remote seascapes, Russ emerges as a silhouette on the horizon, the tempestuous waters his canvas. Each wave is not a battleground to conquer, but an opportunity to be in tune with the rhythm of the ocean's pulse.

Contrasting B&W 16mm and Hi-Res cinematography, set to a unique solo drum scape 'Outer Edge of Leisure' takes you on a visual journey as Russ Bierke redefines his own idea of surfing as a leisure activity.

Comments

frog Tuesday, 12 Dec 2023 at 07:26 am new

Slab takeoffs:

The quick and the dead.
No place for old men.

Russel is always super deep and quick.

The slow motion and normal speed show his skill, commitment and guts well.

Bustard Tuesday, 12 Dec 2023 at 07:26 am new

Yeah…. But how does he go at 3 ft trestles with a mid arvo onshore….. that’s where real men and women are made

aaron61 Tuesday, 12 Dec 2023 at 10:17 am new

Felipe is not amused.

backyard Tuesday, 12 Dec 2023 at 10:37 am new

Yes, he's clearly not a professional athlete. He probably doesn't even own golf clubs.

Bustard Tuesday, 12 Dec 2023 at 10:57 am new

Or hasn't done a Collaboration with a global Furniture manufacturer to truly represent his Carbon Neutrality

Nuttynatty99 Tuesday, 12 Dec 2023 at 10:32 pm new

I’d love to be a fly on the wall when certain surfers see this ………..FT………..

Lanky Dean Wednesday, 13 Dec 2023 at 12:38 am new

Lots a tail turns in the flick.

memlasurf Saturday, 16 Dec 2023 at 10:01 am new

Bit late to the comments however had a giggle reading this. What I can't believe is Kelly is full of praise for FT and that he is a good family man, that he may be but the best in the world? I think he needs to look at this.

Lost1 Tuesday, 12 Dec 2023 at 07:36 am new

There should've been an artful silhouette of his gonads!

spaceman Tuesday, 12 Dec 2023 at 01:34 pm new

You'd need IMAX.

Robwilliams Tuesday, 12 Dec 2023 at 08:05 am new

beautifully booming.

Dave Drinkwater Tuesday, 12 Dec 2023 at 08:50 am new

The Dark Horse of the slab.
Top notch surfing and loved the production/Producing..
I want more..

PL Tuesday, 12 Dec 2023 at 10:06 am new

That was awesome

Gowsa Tuesday, 12 Dec 2023 at 10:21 am new

Great clip
Last wave was awesome.
Im giving it he made it.
(I know technically but C'mon)

old-dog Tuesday, 12 Dec 2023 at 10:32 am new

Wow, best clip ever, left the best till last. That big wave tube riding is next level.

freeride76 Tuesday, 12 Dec 2023 at 10:33 am new

Absolutely insane.

backyard Tuesday, 12 Dec 2023 at 10:54 am new

Most of what we see is by "filmers", this is cinema. Outstanding, shoot, edit and score.
I think Kurosawa would have enjoyed it.
Then there is Russell Bierke, spectacular in his silence.

Sprout Tuesday, 12 Dec 2023 at 01:48 pm new

"spectacular in his silence."
Absolutely. If only more people learnt to STFU, myself included.

Ash Tuesday, 12 Dec 2023 at 11:14 am new

Yep insane, he just kept going deeper on the last right, which is pretty insane indeed.
The fist Shippies wave, I had a hard time trying not to watch the lip, from beginning to end. And the drum track fitted and created the mood perfectly.

brett68 Tuesday, 12 Dec 2023 at 11:20 am new

Unreal clip
my favourite surfer in my favourite genre of surfing
the whole non-surfing world never has/never will hear of RB being such a low key quiet charger but put him in 100 heats against the world champ in those waves and Felipe wouldn't win one (might not even take off!)

R00ney Tuesday, 12 Dec 2023 at 11:35 am new

Fk, how good was that?
Killer edit...footage and soundtrack perfectly balanced for me.

Island Bay Tuesday, 12 Dec 2023 at 01:11 pm new

How to be deeply enthralled and feel completely inadequate at the same time :-)

At least there were a few waves that were relatable, otherwise on a totally different plane(t).

JackStance Tuesday, 12 Dec 2023 at 01:26 pm new

Best clip ever.
The surfing, the waves, the shooting, the editing.... the music!

Craig, I'd love to know who made the decision to get Maria Moles to do the music, as that's the person who's work I want to follow closely. Any chance you could find that out?

Craig Tuesday, 12 Dec 2023 at 01:53 pm new

I'd say it was likely under Andrew's direction, maybe flick him a message on insta.. https://www.instagram.com/andrewkaineder/

A mention of the soundtrack in his story here as well.. https://www.instagram.com/stories/andrewkaineder/3255804118707085699/

JackStance Friday, 15 Dec 2023 at 09:24 am new

Thanks Craig, appreciated.

backyard Thursday, 14 Dec 2023 at 08:38 am new

Hi Jack. I didn't know her work - fantastic. I thought I was listening to some piece of Jack de Johnette that I didn't know.

JackStance Friday, 15 Dec 2023 at 09:25 am new

Hi Backyard, yes, grea to hear improvisation.

Check out Tassie duo Dogs of Pleasure.

wbat Tuesday, 12 Dec 2023 at 01:50 pm new

I'm with you. Best clip ever. That is insane. Surfing and filming.

Wow. Just fucking wow.

Thegrowingtrend.com Tuesday, 12 Dec 2023 at 01:58 pm new

surf or die

goofyfoot Tuesday, 12 Dec 2023 at 01:58 pm new

Hard to disagree with all of the above.
He’s such a talented lunatic.

Interesting to see the different ways Russ and Nathan Florence go about their careers.
I’d say Russ is every bit as good as Nathan in the waves they dominate in.
N Flo is all about pumping out the content, in your face, clips clips clips and Russ is much more quiet, a bit underground style, lets his surfing so the talking.
But easily as talented and fearless

Lanky Dean Wednesday, 13 Dec 2023 at 12:49 am new

I guess promotion is an sposors choice?
Those houses on the north shore are expensive.
Seems like every Northshore surfer has a YouTube I

Island Bay Tuesday, 12 Dec 2023 at 02:45 pm new

As good as N Florence is, I prefer RB's approach 100%

Craig Tuesday, 12 Dec 2023 at 02:47 pm new

Indeed, no hype, then comes out with waves and clips that beat anyone else's! Super humble as well, and it shows when footage like this is released.

batfink Wednesday, 13 Dec 2023 at 11:06 am new

I’m happy they’re both doing their thing. I watched a couple of clips last night, one a JOB from the last week or so, was just the best vision I’ve seen of how it is out at Pipe, big crowd tightly packed and the best of the best just picking off great ones. Then a Nat Florence one that was just ridiculous, huge rights from somewhere, and NF making one wave from so far back I couldn’t believe my eyes.

Been some special clips the last two weeks.

rj-davey Tuesday, 12 Dec 2023 at 02:50 pm new

I'm the last guy to complain about soundtracks, normally I could not care less. But I thought that was awful.

The surfing was spectacular. Russ would need 4" thick boards just to take the weight of his 'nads.

wallpaper Tuesday, 12 Dec 2023 at 04:34 pm new

No dickhead. You were the first one to complain about it.

Turn it down and put greenday or whatever crap you listen to on instead.

I personally thought it was brilliantly and dramatically interpreted.

https://www.mariamoles.com/

rj-davey Tuesday, 12 Dec 2023 at 05:23 pm new

each to their own fella

rooftop Tuesday, 12 Dec 2023 at 08:56 pm new

Indeed. Let's keep it civil.

eel Tuesday, 12 Dec 2023 at 06:41 pm new

That was the best clip I've seen in a long time. No bullshit talking. No stupid transitions. Just balls to the wall slabs for 14 minutes. Will watch again. And again.

Surfdude818 Tuesday, 12 Dec 2023 at 07:10 pm new

Have always been intrigued by this guy. Early on it looked like he was doing it for somebody else but that clip shows a whole new maturity. How does he paddle (physically - well ... mentally too) into these monsters?
Great clip, thanks.

harrycoopr Tuesday, 12 Dec 2023 at 07:44 pm new

Hey TB... This is how u do it ... Zero Narcissism.
I'd certainly take creative arttakes over cliquey circlejerks anyday!

simba Tuesday, 12 Dec 2023 at 08:27 pm new

Wow incredible waves ....and good to see the vid done a bit different from the rest

TommyTaliesin Tuesday, 12 Dec 2023 at 11:20 pm new

Incredible footage and brilliant soundtrack. So evocative.

soggydog Wednesday, 13 Dec 2023 at 01:08 am new

Read the comments and waited till I could watch it on the Tele at home…….epic.

soggydog Wednesday, 13 Dec 2023 at 01:08 am new

Read the comments and waited till I could watch it on the Tele at home…….epic.

Lanky Dean Wednesday, 13 Dec 2023 at 01:11 am new

According to the new bigwave rule book he didn't make that last wave.

harrycoopr Wednesday, 13 Dec 2023 at 10:26 am new

Yeah why didn't he just aim for the pinch... pussy.

Sprout Wednesday, 13 Dec 2023 at 10:51 am new

Hahaha mate I reckon he could have made it if he did.

Bustard Wednesday, 13 Dec 2023 at 05:16 am new

CT Surfer : “ Doc I think I have glandular fever, there’s this swelling in my throat “

DR : “ No no precious one, your balls have puckered so far they are now protruding from your neck, stop watching Russell Bierke clips “

mr mick Wednesday, 13 Dec 2023 at 11:54 am new

Don’t give up your day job!!

Bustard Wednesday, 13 Dec 2023 at 04:17 pm new

I’d strongly suggest you give up the day job that makes you so miserable that you feel you can have a go at people on what is typically a pretty light hearted chat site

mr mick Wednesday, 13 Dec 2023 at 06:06 pm new

I know your comment was said in a light hearted manner, but so was mine. Not having a go, just a little dig that I was advising you not to pursue a comedy career. That’s the Aussie banter I grew up with. Oh and retired & definitely not miserable.

scrotina Wednesday, 13 Dec 2023 at 01:52 pm new

underwhelming so far. way too much super slomo, and now im watching him surf a fat walled point break. he still surfs it better than i would, but the attraction of russ is the slab charging - plenty of better point surfers to watch online if i wanted to

Craig Wednesday, 13 Dec 2023 at 01:54 pm new

Wait for it..

HaleOhana Wednesday, 13 Dec 2023 at 04:03 pm new

Slab lord

oliver.ricci Wednesday, 13 Dec 2023 at 04:05 pm new

you definitely couldn't get any more pitted than that

Lanky Dean Wednesday, 13 Dec 2023 at 05:10 pm new

This film deserves viewing on the big screen.
Congrats, how hectic!

wbat Wednesday, 13 Dec 2023 at 05:54 pm new

Just wondering, does Russ train much? I reckon his body must take a pounding.

harrycoopr Wednesday, 13 Dec 2023 at 08:36 pm new

He reminds me of a blonde Gumby so he's probably pretty flexible

Kham Thursday, 14 Dec 2023 at 10:03 am new

He is a total beast.

mrkook Thursday, 14 Dec 2023 at 11:34 am new

Just watched that on the big screen. What a legend, and a masterpiece of film. His approach to the waves and his profession are second to none.

rooftop Thursday, 14 Dec 2023 at 01:55 pm new

That was great. Stunning visuals, high quality, original music.

It's a surf film rather than simply surf footage.

southernraw Thursday, 14 Dec 2023 at 11:28 pm new

Damn. That was something else.
Insane!

Bucket Friday, 15 Dec 2023 at 01:52 pm new

Self belief and commitment oozes out of this clip. He seems so relaxed given where he is and what he is doing - no panic in his moves or positioning, just “goes with the flow”. This clip, and Nathan Florence on the foam ball at the same Irish break, are the clips of the year for me.

Refriedbeans Friday, 15 Dec 2023 at 04:38 pm new

Well said Craig. To see someone surf with that much obvious respect for the ocean and to interact with it that way, to have that kind of relationship with it. Awe inspiring.
In an age of the show pony this is such a breathe of fresh air.

northeasterly Friday, 15 Dec 2023 at 04:55 pm new

Incredible clip.

mattlock Saturday, 16 Dec 2023 at 10:57 am new

All round awesomeness.
That sesh at the Cliffs was insane.

Stupot Saturday, 16 Dec 2023 at 12:54 pm new

Yep, I enjoyed it, but I would recommend watching the clip on your big screen TV for full effect. The drum only sound track was "good different", also better on a good sound system, not really suited to your pathetic phone or tablet speakers.

Sprout Sunday, 17 Dec 2023 at 11:25 am new

https://d14fqx6aetz9ka.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/15132719/S1130027.jpg

andy-mac Sunday, 17 Dec 2023 at 01:17 pm new

Incredible image!
Finally got around to watching this, worth the wait!

seeds Sunday, 17 Dec 2023 at 11:30 am new

Crazy. With that coming in on him he’s focused on the section ahead. Zoom in on his face

Bungan33 Tuesday, 19 Dec 2023 at 08:31 pm new

Best thing ive seen in years...
That take off at 9:45 - I suddenly realised I was holding my breath....
Loved the soundtrack, the visuals, the mix, the light....awesome.

spenda Wednesday, 20 Dec 2023 at 02:22 pm new

His take off at 11:30, did he lift his back leg off the board? to untangle his leash? Incredible.