A Chat With Ollie Henry, The Guy Jack Robinson Tried To Bribe For Surf100’s Best Wave

Did you watch Surf100 at North Point on Friday? Pretty damn good wasn’t it? If you didn’t, then you should go and watch it on demand here. Anyway, while Jack Robinson took out first place by less than 10-points, it wasn’t him who snagged the ‘wave of the day’. That title belongs to the lesser known Ollie Henry; a 19-year old from Dunsborough in West Oz.

Paddling out, Ollie knew there was some sort of comp on and he got out there just before Jack, Kael, Jay, and Jacob entered the lineup. On a 6’4″ Rusty step-up his plan was always to drop anchor and wait for a good one. Not necessarily with the intention of stealing the show, rather the intention of just getting a good one at North Point; it’s not often it’s that good and relatively uncrowded.

Below is a chat with Ollie about the day, as well as what else he’s been up to since Surf100 was filmed a handful of weeks ago.

Stab: Ollie, how have you been? Surfing much?

Ollie Henry: Been surfing a bit. I just got back home the other day after surfing Gnaraloo.

Oh, sick, how was it?

Kind of big and gurgly and a bit rogue. I was kind of shitting myself.

It’s coming into spring now and that’s usually a good time of year over in WA. Now that I say that though it’ll probably be a shit season.

So, about the comp, were you waiting out the back before the ‘heat’ started?

I paddled out at sort of the same time as the boys did. From the very start I was just sitting out the back waiting until ‘that’ wave came. 

Did you know Surf100 was happening?

I knew they were trying to do it, but I didn’t know when it started and exactly how it worked. I knew Jack wanted that wave for the heat though. He ‘d had so many good waves but he still wanted that one so bad. Robbo has had way better waves than that out at North Point though, the way he was speaking about it after was as if it was the best wave to have ever come through [laughs]. 

What did you think about the $300 offer a few second before the wave rolled in?

[laughs] he kind of low-balled me hey! I didn’t think anything of it. If he said a grand, maybe I would’ve considered it, but I think I still would’ve gone. I sort of think I was in a better position for it too…

I was loving the banter after it though, especially with them all mic’d up.  

What would you pay for a crack at this wave?

Photography

Kim Feast

Do you think it’s the best wave you’ve had at North Point?

It was definitely the biggest wave I’ve had out there. I wasn’t that deep or anything on it though, so I could’ve rode it better. I’ve had smaller waves that were maybe better, but this was the best wave I was on. 

I haven’t surfed proper North Point that often, so it was good to get one. 

Was your tactic just to sit and wait for a good one?

Well, I had a bigger board and wanted to get set waves, so I thought I’d just drop anchor.

Did you get another waves after that one?

I got one other little shit wave and called it. That bomb was my first wave of the day! [laughs]. I was worried about blowing it and then Robbo going “you should’ve just taken the money!”

What’s the plans for the rest of the year?

Trying to get another clip together but that depends on the waves we get. If it’s pumping and I surf well, should be done soon, if not then it might be a few more months or next year. Been riding the boog a little as well [laughs]. When it’s been really offshore and small, sometimes it’s more fun to surf a little novelty on the boog than standing up.