In the early hours of June 3rd 1994, a 7.2 richter scale earthquake occurred deep underwater in the Java Trench. Some 40 minutes later, a powerful tsunami charged its way at approx 300 kilometres an hour towards the Indonesian coast. It hit with extreme force, in the dead of night, while no one was expecting it. At this moment, Rob Bain and fellow surfers at G-Land were fast asleep and Rob’s son Billy, a two yr old toddler at the time, was peacefully tucked up in bed on the northern beaches of Sydney. What unfolded at G-Land, became a sheer fight for survival and one that has left an impact on all those that were there.
“When the tsunami happened all those years ago, my only thought was, how to get the f#@k 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,” says Bainy.
This year marked the 25th year anniversary of the Grajagan tsunami and a few surfing survivors came back to attend a special ceremony held at Bobbys camp.This is a brief capture of a father and sons trip, who came to pay their respects to those who passed and to ride the rolling left barrels of G-Land together.
Filmed by Peter Baker and Nick Colclough.
Edited by Josh Simpson.
Archive images – Peter Boskovich & John Betts
Music – The Moonlight Cowboys.
Song – Shit part of a nice Town
