Taj Burrow, Whale Beach backside drift, NSW

Classic autumn days sweep the coast of Australia right now. Blue skies, mellow sea breeze and a pulsing little east groundswell. Taj Burrow, who is basing himself in Bondi, bolted to Whale Beach on Sydney’s northern beaches, chasing left wedges with wind puffing into em. He surfed with South African surfers, Shaun Joubert, Travis Logie and local web commentator Ronnie Blakey. What’s Taj like about Sydney, since he spends so much time here? “Good coffee and good restaurants, plus I really like surfing with my east coast pals,” he says.

No one talks about TB in 2012 without talking about the boards he rides, since he left his Firewire contract in January. Yesterday, he was testing out a 5’10” from Chilli, one of 18 PU boards he’s currently twitching around on. He’s been riding Bradleys, Chilli’s and most visibly (and successfully), riding Mayhems. He took out the Snapper final on a 5’9 1/2″ Biolos, one of four he rode during the event ranging from 5’9 1/2″ to 5’10 1/2″.

Today, readying himself for Bells, Biolos lit up Taj’s email with his intent for his Bells quiver: “My least favourite part of your repertoire is the long roundhouses. I wanna make those gnarlier, more rail in the water and I think I know how.”

Classic Biolos: honest, sharp, accurate.

Photo: John Respondek.