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Hawaiian Born, Aussie Raised, What Exactly Makes Big Wave Hellman Russell Bierke Tick?
Bryan Benattou
Over the last few years Russell Bierke has done an amazing job carving out a reputation for himself as a soft-spoken, hard-charging hellman that takes on some of the most unforgiving waves in the world, particularly mutant death slabs across Australia.
In 2016, at only 18-years-old, Bierke raised the collective eyebrows of the surf world after winning the Red Bull Cape Fear specialty event, which saw five-story tall waves hammer the Sydney coast. The event still goes down as one of the most intense and entertaining competitions in big wave history.
Since then, Bierke's made his mark on the WSL Big Wave Tour with solid results at Pea'hi and Nazaré in 2018 and 2019. Over the past five years, we've seen the trophies, highlights and wipeouts, but few really know his story.
In this latest edit by Andrew Kaineder and O'Neill, you'll come to learn that Bierke's soul lies in chasing what is yet to be discovered on the rugged Australian coastline. He spends most of his time off the beaten path, at waves made possible only in his old faithful Land Cruiser.
Russell Bierke
In another collaboration with filmmaker Andrew Kaineder, Bierke keeps things real, charging death slabs to some psych-rock in Australia.
The Australian big-wave surfer seriously injured his arm during a recent swell, with the cut narrowly missing an artery.
Big Wave Award paddle week, Keala Kennelly breaks down her Wipeout of the Year, and Sky Brown heroically back on a surfboard.
It takes serious courage and commitment to scratch into waves like these.
2020 Men's Paddle Nominee: Russell Bierke at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on December 12, 2019. Photos by Erik Aeder, Adman Carbajal, Aaron Lynton
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