Eli Steele, Wurtulla, Sunshine Coast

Heard of Eli Steele? Probably not. And photog Matt O’Brien is furious about it! “Dude, it’s so fucked how a kid who surfs this good isn’t even on the radar,” he says. Eli, y’see, won the Australian under-18 national champs last year. He has long, red hair and surfs a lot like a young Nate Tyler. “I’d never even shot with him until yesterday,” says Matt. “But now that he’s got my attention I’m going to make it my goal to get this kid on paper.” Looking at this shot, it’s easy to understand Matt’s stance. It was taken at Eli’s local spot, Wurtulla on the Sunshine Coast, on first light this very AM. And, it’s as good a stalefish as you’ll likely see.