Mitch Crews, a search for silver linings in Yamba, NSW

You don’t always score on a strike mission and them’s the breaks. For all the advances in technology and forecasts and whatever else, fact remains that the big salty lake doesn’t care about plans. So, when Mitch Crews (pictured) and photog pal Matt O’Brien, as well as new gun Eli Steele, left Mitch’s place on the Gold Coast at 5am and headed for Yamba, they didn’t know how things were gonna pan out. Marvel at the tale of woe, as told by Mr O’Brien! “We arrived at 7am to find the swell was at a good size but the wind was too west,” says Matt. “We checked a point but the swell was too south for it. A local told us about another spot that loves a south swell, so we drove back up the highway to find that it had the worst banks ever. It was now 11am. After much deliberation, we decided to head back to Yamba since the wind was now dead south and great for punts. Once back there we discovered the swell had dropped immensely and the banks had turned to shit. They boys were rattled but determined to make the most of the situation, so they headed out to hunt for ramps.” And this is where we find Mr Crews throwing a backside hurl with much class, straight into that dead south wind. But, this was one of very few opportunities. “The session was short lived,” continues Matt. “And with moral now at an all time low, we made the call to head back up to Ballina. Ballina sucked, but Mitch went out anyway. After that session it was around 5pm and Eli and I cracked the shits and drove home. What was supposed to be a fun and productive trip down south for three days turned into one long day of shit talking and driving.” And that’s the way it goes. But, good news is that Mitch is currently filming for a Rockstar Energy video project, which you’ll see on Stab real soon. It’ll be slicker than your average web clip and dripping with enthusiastic sizzle. Keep those peepers peeled. – Elliot Struck