I was chatting with Matt Trigger about our team and why we were at Lorne Point—the home of great surfers like Gail Couper, Wayne Lynch, Warren Powell, and the eventual winner of this comp, Greg Brown. Matt reminded me of the dramas I had at Bells earlier that morning when they sent the Senior Men out into wild 10 to 12-foot waves. On a shorter board, I followed Rod Brooks and Alan Atkins out from high in the corner at Rincon. Their longer guns saw both of them just punch through, while I was swept down towards Winkipop.

The problem on this particular day was the fact that the storm surf had a strong westerly direction, causing it to strike just as big across the whole bay. Bells Beach may not register in the hollow wave category, but it's right up there for power and volume. Fittingly, Bob McTavish in his biography Stoked acknowledges his worst-ever wipeout occurring on one of these giant masses of water. The only wave on the Peninsula that has any resemblance is Cape Schanck on a big day.

I was slammed and tossed around like a cork before surfacing. Spotting another monster about to unload, I took another deep breath. Coming up for the third time, I had a few more seconds where I noticed I was on a path to destruction—right where one of Victoria’s greatest surfers, John Pawson, had tragically died. I was in a state of sheer panic but wisely chose to try and ride the whitewater into the corner. Missing the jagged rocks by only a metre or two, I have never been so glad to be rag-dolled onto the shore. Immediately, the Vic Titles were deemed too dangerous at Bells, and in a giant posse, we descended on the tranquil waves rolling into a picturesque Lorne Point.

The Lineup (Pictured from left to right):

1. Brian “Scratch” Archibald: A good, solid surfer now living in France.

2. Matt Trigger: At 15, before getting hooked on sailboarding.

3. Phil Coates: Dual Vic Open Champ and still thriving on red cordial.

4. Simon Forward: Our current shaper. At 13, he was the youngest grom on our team—an inspiring surfer with power to burn. He also did a pre-season with St Kilda and captained the Hastings premiership team.

5. Gary “Bazza” Burns: A regular Open finalist.

6. Chris Edgington: At 14, a junior team rider from Mornington (which was kinda rare). He now lives on the Gold Coast.

7. Phil “Mr. Contest” Trigger: Always in the mix.

8. Simon Rice: A kneeboarder who worked with the Bros, then became a partner in the Peninsula Surf Centre, and is now at Byron Bay. (Update: As of 2025, he is working occasionally at Point Leo).

9. Simon Trigger: At 14, he had some good moves and now manages the Sorrento store. He probably should have been a motor mechanic!

10. Stu McLean: A passionate surfer who is currently ripping on a S.U.P.

11. Robbie McCartney: One of the best watermen in Victoria for eons and a great servant for Surfing Victoria.

12. Brian Forward: A good footballer and long-time surfer before injuries took their toll.

13. Christian Clarke: The real deal—a no-fear surfer with talent to burn. I wish I was that good!

14. Ian Portingale: Our first team rider, a superb competitor, and Dual Vic Open Champ.

15. Chris “Gremlin” Garrett: At 14, he developed into a superb surfer and shaper on Phillip Island.

16. Gail Couper: A legendary surfer in Australian and world surfing titles. Her trophy cabinet boasts 10 Bells titles, which recently prompted a few complimentary comments from Kelly Slater.

17. Triggs (Bells Beach Survivor, 1987): Modelling Billabong’s multi-coloured cord jacket. Given the current circumstances, it might be a good time to reintroduce this cash converter and watch those shares skyrocket upwards!