Has Bells Been Brewing A Genuine CT Prodigy?

You’ve just slogged through your last year of school, you’re 18, on the brink of a pro surf career, and you’ve got a shitload of time to kill before the quey season starts. What the hell are you gonna do with yourself?

If your answer isn’t burnouts in a car park with your mates, it’s time to take a long, hard look at your life choices.

The opening and closing scenes of Willis Droomer’s new edit, Dusted, show a blue Falcon tearing up a car park, tyres screaming and spitting gravel — a subtle nod to Australia’s national identity.

“We ripped off the plates and just tried to throw some dust,” says Willis, the professional dirt-burner behind the wheel. “It’s what me and my mates do when we’re bored. Just a pass-time, I guess.”

Amid the dust, a raw, full-throttle edit rips through, V8 surfing blasting across the buried heart of Jan Juc, Victoria — home of iconic CT venue Bells and also some waves that would make a modern-day surf edit. 

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“People kind of get trapped in Vicco,” says Willis, reflecting on his home state. “A lot of surfers could’ve gone pro if they wanted to, but it’s just too easy to stick around, get good waves, and not have to chase them up in Queensland or do the grind. It’s really easy to become a hermit here, and after spending time elsewhere, you always end up comparing it to home — and you end up loving it more than anywhere else.”

Willis, already crowned the ISA world junior champ two years back, doesn’t plan on sticking around. “I’m just going to travel, put out good edits, and then get on the CT, eventually.” 

Though Willis tips his hat to his fellow Victorians — those who might’ve taken the stage but chose not to, it’s clear that few humans from the Surf Coast, for whatever reason, have ever had this much bounce.