Watch: Desert Hilton
It's been 23 years since Jack McCoy loaded up the vans and pointed them north out of Perth for the second and last Billabong Challenge. Just one score and three years ago, but the surfing world has changed so much it feels like more.
This should lead onto a cliched line about how much the desert hasn't changed, been the same since time immemorial etc, but I just can't be arsed writing it.
Anyway, this is a sequel of sorts as it features the return of Shane Dorian and Occy - who was in the middle of his lost years the first time around - and they're joined by the magnificent Jack Robinson, another WA local in Shaun Manners, Kai Hing, and Laura Enever.
At eleven minutes long it's worth pausing what you're doing for a quick burst of desert therapy.
Comments
How's Occy's maths? Classic.
It's eight hours, mate.
Did they not get any of Laura making any at tombies?
Looks like she made a couple LD - STAB has an interview with Dorian about the trip and last picture is of Laura. Whether or not that's the tombies section she's on i'm not sure....
Occy's funny at the end :) He's the JT of surfing, you can't help but like him.
I suspect not Lostdoggy but that's cooking Tombies so she definitely gave it a nudge in my books.
No arguments there.
A pro-contest advert? Gotta love propaganda ;-)
To right Ape
Where's the "fill-a-bong challenge" winner when you need him?? Camel, we need you!!!!
That is some amazing surfing esp Jack! He makes it look like it's not heavy? Now imagine the whole WSL circus there with all their infrastructure. So out of place. Now lets leave it as is and quietly forget about this area. Just need to have a mega goat sacrifice.
Just dont mention the new mobile phone tower or the fact they stayed in $300 a nite “glamping “ accom not the caravan shown. Sell it Bong.
I was wondering if anyone would mention the glamping. Were you there whilst they were there EG ?
Wow........great surfing great music!!!!!!!!!!
Well done rippers!
Gee we are lucky to have Occy - epic character.
Massive props to Laura - charging and a first timer up there.
What a surfer Jack Robinson is - farken hell.
Shame there was so much Bong crap trying to make it out to be hardcore.
first songs an amper
The Warumpi band. The best surf music ever.
Ive said it before and ill say it again, Jack Robbo has to be related to the Irons bros, he's fuckin incredible
They need Jack Mccoy again!
Was transported back in time to 1996 watching that. Miss that second boil. Tombies has to be by far the best wave in Oz eh. So many moods as well. When it’s small it’s acfuall a pretty cruisy wave when it’s big ya couldn’t find a joint heavier
That was so good, great surfing, great music! Like being a grom again and watching Jack's NW footage. Barrels and big backhand hacks, so nice, what WA is about. Nice Occy rail carves too.
Now for that cliche - The Desert, like the LandCruiser, has hardly changed.