Watch: Josie Prendergrast // The Dew of Little Things

Stu Nettle (stunet)
Swellnet Dispatch

First impression upon being sent this clip is that filmmaker Nathan Oldfield has messed up his literary references.

However, a quick read of the accompanying text shows that I'm the ignorant one with the title coming from a line in 'The Prophet':

“For in the dew of little things, the heart finds its morning and is refreshed.”

Having followed Nathan on Instagram for a while I should've known better. In a medium that's known for its cheeseball platitudes, Oldfield stands alone with a library's worth of poignant quotes to augment his pics and videos.

Oldfield ain't monotheistic, the spiritual quotes come from all quarters: JC and the boys, King Soli, Moses, the bloke who wrote the Bhagavad Gita, even Pope Bruce Brown.

This clip of Josie Prendergrast was commissioned by The Surfers Journal who recently ran an article on the "social media panther" from Byron Bay. 

Says Nathan: "I've been shooting with Josie since she was young. She’s like a little sister to me. For me, documenting her surfing is all about celebrating subtlety and simplicity. It’s clean, uncomplicated, uncluttered surfing, where the moments in between are just as beautiful as the high notes."

Comments

peterb Saturday, 2 Nov 2019 at 07:45 pm new

Max’s granddaughter ?

stunet Saturday, 2 Nov 2019 at 08:10 pm new

It's not mentioned in the Surfers Journal article, the only familial relations referred to are Dad Mike and Phillipino Mum Ella, but Mike was from Byron so it's a safe bet she is.

bobh Saturday, 2 Nov 2019 at 11:46 pm new

Mike Prendergast/Max Pendergast.
Mike originally from the southside of Sydney .Been in Byron for many many years .

stunet Sunday, 3 Nov 2019 at 06:09 am new

Ahhh...cheers Bob.

velocityjohnno Saturday, 2 Nov 2019 at 08:44 pm new

When night or winter comes
I light a fire
And watch the flames rise and fall like waves.
I regret nothing

marcus w Sunday, 3 Nov 2019 at 06:58 am new

beauty and grace personified

bipola Sunday, 3 Nov 2019 at 09:02 am new

magic

panaitan Sunday, 3 Nov 2019 at 11:18 am new

Naaa, it's not magic when you get hit in the eye by a 10 foot log because they were not wearing a leg rope. It's just plain selfish and arrogant.

Terminal Sunday, 3 Nov 2019 at 11:54 am new

I suppose it's ok if surfing an empty beachie, but not cool in a busy lineup.

GuySmiley Sunday, 3 Nov 2019 at 01:36 pm new

nice

billie Sunday, 3 Nov 2019 at 03:59 pm new

Shes got the look, but it looks like she dropped her Sup paddle?!

bocirl Sunday, 3 Nov 2019 at 04:23 pm new

Stu, you’re all for leashes in busy lineups right.
Why are giving this video of irresponsible behaviour a run?

AndyM Sunday, 3 Nov 2019 at 04:25 pm new

"Social media panther" riding sans legrope?

And with some shots that are, you know, a bit questionable?

Pass.

Walk around G Sunday, 3 Nov 2019 at 05:30 pm new

Feeling the vibe and bliss of gliding across a soft Byron point is an amazing feeling, no doubt there....but why the close up of an attractive woman sporting a half g-banger/ or whatever it's called.... It was the blatent focus of this clip?

Equality for all.....? Nah, not really.... modern life is far too hypocritical/complicated for me, I don't evem know how I should feel anymore...

AndyM Sunday, 3 Nov 2019 at 05:48 pm new

"modern life is far too hypocritical/complicated for me, I don't evem know how I should feel anymore..."

Haha, I know how you feel!

Is it sexist, exploitative and manipulative?

Or is it *retch* empowerment, where, you know, a girl can objectify herself if she chooses to?

velocityjohnno Sunday, 3 Nov 2019 at 05:47 pm new

The point there has a beautiful visual appeal and it's quite fun to surf it on traditional log at that size, but I was wondering where the crowd was? You know all the other logs, SUPs, soft boards, groms, finless, throw in a kayak or so and maybe a goat boat

I liked the literary reference and took a look at Nathan's other film intros, very nice

Was it Thomas Campbell who (re)started this kind of surf genre with 'The Seedling'?

PCS PeterPan Sunday, 3 Nov 2019 at 07:22 pm new

Walk around G , you have a point mate . But ya have to choose your battles . Most battles like getting Loggers to wear legropes , or media to not focus on beautiful people we probably will never win .
Henry Rollins stated he wished he could remove his sexual desire , thus enabling him to be more productive .
I'm at a point now where I don't take anything too seriously , just getting some bangin waves and being good to family and friends .
Nice clip though .
Logs suck btw !

velocityjohnno Monday, 4 Nov 2019 at 11:15 am new

What Rollins is alluding to is called Bramacharya.

freeride76 Sunday, 3 Nov 2019 at 07:47 pm new

achingly cool babes riding leashes logs , thats Byron.
rage against it, I think a war won long time ago by insta panthers.

Enjoy the scenery and tell your kids never to turn their back on the line-up and head for the bottom if a log comes your way.

PCS PeterPan Sunday, 3 Nov 2019 at 08:18 pm new

freeride 76 , your bang on mate ! Just lay on the bottom till the danger has past , and always come up hands first , gotta look after the young' uns buddy !

bipola Sunday, 3 Nov 2019 at 08:34 pm new

i am bad dint notice she didn't have a leggy on i must pay attention

bipola Sunday, 3 Nov 2019 at 09:49 pm new

after watching it several times i think she is just a poser another sheep doing what every one else is

cmglsk Monday, 4 Nov 2019 at 05:49 am new

.

wbat Monday, 4 Nov 2019 at 08:07 am new

cool.

dandob Monday, 4 Nov 2019 at 05:24 pm new

Was that the same wave repeated 4 times?

Ape Anonymous Monday, 4 Nov 2019 at 06:32 pm new

Polka dot bikini, dry hair the whole session. Classic!

Eugene Green Monday, 4 Nov 2019 at 11:17 pm new

More injuries from surfboards with leggies attached than not. Maybe keep the points for the skilled surfers and let em choose to not wear a leggie. Kids and learners and swimmers can pick a spot to themselves on one of many long stretches of empty beach in the area.

Spuddups Wednesday, 6 Nov 2019 at 09:32 am new

That's probably because 99.9% of surfers wear legropes. How many injuries would there be If 99.9% of surfers didn't wear legropes? A hell of a lot more I'd say. Can you imagine a spot like Snapper Rocks with no one wearing leggies? Carnage.

Island Bay Wednesday, 6 Nov 2019 at 11:14 am new

Sudah rusak ini (what’s carnage in Bahasa?)

Spuddups Wednesday, 6 Nov 2019 at 01:54 pm new

It's been a while since I studied Bahasa at Uni, but from memory Kecelakaan is a great word. It means accident. Then there's malapetaka which I think translates to havoc. You just said "This is already broken."

Island Bay Wednesday, 6 Nov 2019 at 06:11 pm new

Exactly! As a response to you saying imagine what Snapper could be. Already carnage/broken.

Terminal Wednesday, 6 Nov 2019 at 12:43 pm new

I wouldn't have entertained that comment with a response, spuddups.

Spuddups Wednesday, 6 Nov 2019 at 01:54 pm new

Yeah, a rookie mistake. I couldn't help myself.

Remigogo Tuesday, 5 Nov 2019 at 11:37 pm new

Byron bay surf cam experiencing difficulties?

...Did she burn the lense?

spiggy topes Wednesday, 6 Nov 2019 at 12:27 am new

Yawn.

MidWestMonger Wednesday, 6 Nov 2019 at 02:24 pm new

Agree. Triple yawn for me. 1ft surf should have its website. Yawn.com

truebluebasher Wednesday, 6 Nov 2019 at 02:42 am new

It was an itsy bitsy teenie weenie reddish polka dot G-String
That wore out all her Drones & Go Pros today
It was an itsy bitsy teenie weenie reddish polka dot G-String
Her one wish is to be paid for her Surfing display.

'Same Polka Dots on a newer model so just calm down fellas!'
uh-oh ...pretty sure tbb just said 'fellas' > {*Hodad }

tango Wednesday, 6 Nov 2019 at 12:38 pm new

Logs and leg ropes....If it's 1ft like that, as long as they are OK with me snapping their fin out if the board hits me or my daughters and/or getting rather cross, then OK. If it's over a foot, it's not OK. It's just completely disrespectful to everyone else in the water.

As far as the togs go, if you're wearing that I can't fathom how you can expect anyone to avert their eyes.....it's all getting a bit silly.

toneranger Wednesday, 6 Nov 2019 at 05:53 pm new

Was that real speed

hamishbro Saturday, 9 Nov 2019 at 11:00 am new

What a Bay cliche. Utterly ridiculous.

ratty_wassa Saturday, 9 Nov 2019 at 05:20 pm new

Ah Josie. It’s always part surfing, part arse with her.

bipola Saturday, 9 Nov 2019 at 06:52 pm new

bummer eh.