Brand: O’Neill
Collaboration with: Big Bad Bob Bain

O’Neill Said: 

You may, or may not have known, but 2019 marked the 25yr anniversary since the 1994 tsunami in East Java and G-LAND.

Earlier this year, survivors from the camp were invited back to a special ceremony organised by Bobby Radiasa and the Grajagan locals to honour the event and to respect those who lost their lives.

It was a very powerful moment for all that attended.

When the tsunami happened all those years ago, my only thought was,  how to get the fuck out from being trapped underwater and to see my family again.

To be able to go back this year and share this experience with survivors,  my son, and to ride barrels together, was powerful.

Our Thoughts:

Bob Bain was a surfer that always grabbed my attention growing up. Wild rail game, tube pig and then showed up having a mad time in all the Hot Tuna ads and Rusty movies. That one yellow spray on a Rusty board/movie had me psyched to surf as a grom. Oh, and that story about him out at Waimea, getting washed in then having a durrie (or thereabouts) is all time, ha.

When I heard about the Tsunami happening it was at a time when Hot Tuna had, argubaly, one of best (definitely funnest) teams around. Lovett, Munro, Dog, Bainy and more – they all got lit up during the Tsunami (including one of our favourite photos – Bosko). Kinda had me shook as a young grom thinking shit like that could happen, let alone survive it. The clip attached is a story about Bainy and his grom heading back on the 25h anniverssary. Watch it, enjoy it and go surf.

Been digging this campaign from O’Neill Oz, nice way to shine a light on some other stories that still reek of surf. The Beau Cram one was rad too.