No Sunshine on the Coast

Clarity momentarily shines through an ominous setting, as time stands still and Little Weeds surf finalist Nicholas McDonald hucks his fins above a Kings Beach chunk of wind swell. These are the turns of the moment – fins high, nose buried, stringer running perpendicular to lip. Boards are being waxed higher, and feet are being spread wider. Sure there’s nigh a boardshort or drip of sweat in sight, but there’s no denying the beauty of this winter waft.

Nick and Little Weeds photography winner Matty O’Brien sat around waiting for a break in the rain all day to snag this shot.

“When lucky enough to be blessed by a wind swell or the remnants of a ground swell, the Sunshine Coast can be fun and productive. This day was not. it was raining and the banks were hideous. Nick spent majority of the session screaming profanity, as did fellow Sunshine-Coaster Wade Goodall. Nick nailed this nice looking high-tail but unfortunately when I was trying to shoot the action in the bottom third of the frame I cut the base of the wave out of the picture.”

The framing may not be perfect, but in this case, therein lies the beauty. – Elliot Struck