Russell Bierke

When it comes to big-wave surfing, often, that urge isn’t something learned. It’s a hunger that reveals itself early. Take Russell Bierke, for example. Some years back, Kelly Slater was sampling some secret Aussie slab, struggling to figure out its steps and moods. A then-13-year-old Russell Bierke showed up to the session—and instantly had the wave dialed, “putting decades-worth of my experience to shame” as Slater described. Now, a fierce competitor on the Big Wave World Tour—owning it at Shipstern’s Bluff anytime the right [frightening] swell slips into that corner of Tazzy—Jamie Mitchell sat down with Mr. Bierke to talk about waves of consequence.

0:00: Intro, COVID situation in Australia, Russell’s Dad’s story into big waves, Russell’s backstory/connections to Hawaii

9:55: Russell growing up around his dad shaping, Getting into bigger waves as a kid bc of Dad, Local inspirations in big surf, Russell’s Underground crew, Big wave surfing culture on South Coast

17:05: Hawaii trips and Victoria, Aus trips in big surf, Why there’s not a lot of well-known Aussies in big waves

24:45: Russell’s wipeout in Jaws Comp, Russell’s favorite waves in Australia, Shippies, Paddling The Right, Dangers of The Right

31:19: Success in big wave events, His best wave at Shippies, Pro surfing as a goal, Getting on Big Wave World Tour, O’Neill sponsorship

40:40: The session with Kelly Slater, Gnarly wipeout/freak accident at secret big wave, Recovering from that session, Russell’s training routine

55:15: Dad as his shaper, Positioning at Jaws, What he rides at Jaws, Nazare session/wipeout

1:09:21: What he’d like to see accomplished in pro big wave surfing, Thoughts on big wave webcasts, Russell’s 5-to-Finish Questions