A nine-time Australian longboard champion has been filmed high-flying amid huge waves generated by Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
Damian Coulter was among those to brave the elements at Alexandra Headland on Wednesday, when he caught some huge waves before soaring skywards.
“It was one of those days that was just incredible,” he said.
“I haven’t seen waves like that for years: it was sensational. It had that raw energy of a cyclone. She was full-tilt pumping so it was bloody good.
“I paddled out and there were heaps of people on the hill and it was crazy, everyone was hooting and yelling.
“I got a got a couple of really good bombs and then I got that one.”
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He was riding a nine-foot longboard and wowed the crowd before making a spectacular dismount, filmed by his girlfriend Ruth.
“It was unreal. I could see the wave was going to close out and for some reason I felt like flying through the air,” he said.
“I thought ‘I wonder if someone got a photo of that?’.
“It didn’t hurt, it was just a bit of fun.”
Authorities have warned people against going into the ocean as TC Alfred bears down on the state’s southeast.
Mr Coulter, who has won multiple national and state longboard titles and competed on the professional circuit, said very experienced surfers could cope with the conditions but others were taking unnecessary risks.
“You’ve got to know what you’re doing,” he said.
“I’ve lived at Alexandra Headland for over 45 years, so I know the break.
“And I’ve surfed some big cyclone swells. I absolutely love it: the bigger the better.
“But over the last few days, I’ve seen a lot of people wash up over the rocks, which is not good.
“A lot of people paddle out and I can tell by their paddling style that they’re not fit enough and I’m like ‘Oh my god, what are these people thinking?’.
“It’s 100 per cent for experienced surfers only. Others can put themselves and possibly others in danger.”
District Superintendent Craig Hawkins said he was “concerned” that people were taking risks near and in the ocean.
“Provided those people are experienced, that’s a personal decision but we ask people to use good judgement,” he said.
“All beaches are closed.”
For more information see getready.qld.gov.au, disaster.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au and disaster.noosa.qld.gov.au.
