Unlocked: Russell Bierke’s SEOTY ‘Snapped’ Noa Deane + Conjured Demonic Screams At The Opening Prem In Milton

“There’s a lot of people that surf pretty big, solid waves, but not many people treat it like a fucking play pen,” opens Noa Deane, a bloke who’ll also swing on waves that will turn you into a meat crayon. He explains that at the conclusion of the opening prem in Milton, people were left speechless, shaking their heads.

“I was just yelling man. Everyone was just yelling nonstop. I’ve never heard that many people screaming at every wave in a clip. Afterwards cunts were just shaking their heads. I think they were just a bit snapped.”

Raising the bar from Bezerke and Flowstate is a tough ask. For years Russell Bierke has pushed the limits of what’s possible in the paddle scene in Oz. In the BSIES, Andrew Kaineder spoke at length to how Russ’ approach to a South Coast bombie set the blueprint of attacking big pits backside for years to come. 

“What sets Russ apart from a lot of people is that he surfs 12-15 ft waves like they’re six, which is just fucked,” says Noz. “He takes off where he wants to and gets super deep and rides it more than just surviving it. He’s the best at everything to do with big waves. He’s crazy at slabs and obviously Jaws and shit where you’ve got to get pitted. He’s nuts out there too. Not many people have the heavy pit waves dialed and also have that big paddle in stuff dialed. Maybe Nathan Florence actually. Most people are happy with getting one wave that’s fucked up and just hanging their hat up. Russ does this stuff all year.”

Since moving to the South Coast two years ago, Noa has gotten to know Russell rather well. He holds him in very high regard. “You’d always think that someone that goes that hard should have some sort of ego, but he doesn’t have any. He’s got time for everyone and loves having a few beers with the lads. He’s just a real humble, nice dude.”

I have a feeling the beginning and end sections of ‘The Outermost Edge of Leisure’ will be culturally significant in surfing for years to come. I’ve never seen anything close to it.

Noa concludes, “For towing to be gnarly these days, it has to be absolutely cooked. But that stuff was just ridiculous. Chrissy B’s shit is so sick that slow. You’re never really going to use something that slow unless it’s that amazing. Then the stuff in Ireland, there’s about four waves in a row that you’re like ‘surely this is the ender’ but it just keeps on giving. The way he treats that last one… it’s way too big to be taking off where he did, then he’s fully knifing it on the shockey and gets spewed out the end. I’ve never heard that many people screaming at every wave in a clip. So wild.”

Watch all the 2023 SEOTY entries here.