Bede Durbidge Has Started Surfing Again

You can remember it clearly, right? Bede Durbidge, round three of the 2015 Billabong Pipe Masters, scratching into his opening ride, grabbing rail and falling out of the lip, straight over his outside rail and into the lava, before wearing an ugly, brutal lip. He surfaced, clearly in trouble, and was rushed off the beach. The diagnosis: A fractured pelvis… in two places.

This is what six months out of the water begins with. Photo: WSL/Laurent Masurel

“Definitely wasn’t the way I wanted to finish the season,” said Bede at the time. “I ended up fracturing my pelvis and displacing it. I’m going under the knife in a few hours to get plates put in the front and back. Thanks to the water patrol and doctors at the event for taking care of me. Also my wife, family and friends for all the support and love. What doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger.”

It’s been a tough six months of recovery for Bede. Being so violently cut down in his physical prime was obviously a tough spill to swallow. But, he’s made the most of his time; At the Snapper event, Bede coached John Florence to a quarters finish. And between intense rehabilitation, Mr Durbidge has been pouring (‘scuse the pun) time into Balter, the brewery he co-owns with Mick Fanning, Josh Kerr, and Joel Parkinson.

And after six months of physical therapy, entrepreneurship, offering tactical guidance, dark days and better days, Bede is finally back on the wax.

“After being out of action for nearly 6 months, I’m back surfing again,” he wrote on social platform/news channel, Instagram. “Well, standing up and cruising along, which I’m so grateful for. This 7’6 single fin (below) will be my board for the next few weeks then I’ll progress to something smaller. I can’t thank everyone enough that has helped me get back to where I am today. My wife, daughter, family, friends, sponsors, medical team, WSl, tour mates and all you people that have followed my recovery journey. Thanks for all amazing supportive messages along the way. They have helped push me everyday. I’m so grateful to be able to surf again and I’ll never take another surf for granted.”

How much sweeter is that Balter gonna taste after the first session back on a performance thruster?

Bede’s new whip… for now.