Every shot a winner.

They say the ground has been moving this winter in Perth. The foundations of limestone shacks in Cottesloe, Scarborough, and other beachfront 'burbs have been shaking under the best season for swell in living memory.

This morning's Wave of the Day caption was 'Another way to a happy Monday' and that could apply to this gallery of photos.

"July was firing, of that there is no doubt." Thus begins the July Maldives Report - with photos!

Last weekend the West Oz coast was hit by the biggest swell of the year so far. After a day of incredible waves in Perth Mike Maxted packed up the Cessna and flew south over the coastline. 

Dawn revealed corduroy lines stretching to the horizon as a field of surfers witnessed Padang Padang as good as it gets with solid 6-8 feet bombs raging in against fierce tradewind conditions.

Six to eight foot barrels exploded onto razor sharp reef for the Teahupoo Trials yesterday. Tuamata Puhetini and Nathan Hedge finished 1st and 2nd respectively to win wildcards into the prestigious Billabong Pro Tahiti. But with the reward came the risk — Kevin Bourez, younger brother of Michel Bourez, suffered an horrific wipeout, going head first into the reef.

Whilst the surfing world has collectively focused on Taj Burrow and Mark Mathews' recent quest for innervision at The Right, the same session was attended by a bevy of local and travelling surfers who also scored some filthy barrels.

A lonely trip to a lonely island somewhere in the Indian Ocean.

Check these frames from Round 1 of the Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang, courtesy expat-Australian-now-Indonesian photographer Mick Curley.