Jordy Smith, Winkipop, Australia

Waves for the Rip Curl Pro, Bells Beach were, from a contest-director’s perspective, dreamy. Swell before the event began was relatively non-existent, but during the days leading up to the finals it consistently pulsed and crescendo’d on finals day with what some commentators were calling 10-foot sets. And as soon as the event ended and the circus disappeared, so too did the waves. While most pros vacated the town, some stuck around. Yesterday a retro session went down with Matty Wilko and Dean Brady – Dean on a twin-fin and Wilko on a single-fin wearing a white head-band. Jordy Smith however, pictured here, stuck to his conventional short-board and torched a few airs like the one you see here, making the scene a little more eclectic. In an age where different grab-variations are worshipped (by us), it’s good to see a big, clean, hands-free spin every now and then.