Day four. Wildlife day. A turtle invaded the boat during my eggs benedict breakfast, and then, incredibly, I finally caught a fish. I went to throw it back and our new pal Curiosity the crocodile came out from under the boat for a peep. She was ten feet long, but when I tried to hook her as well she gave me the slip.
I got whipped up the reef from behind the Supra boat and did something like a floater for 2-300 yards along the top
After breakfast we built a massive kicker for tomorrow when we’re planning to jump the end of a giant sand spit that pops up beside Montgomery Reef. It was constructed on time, on budget, and without a hitch. They say Rome wasn’t built in a day but I wasn’t on that job. (Actually the crew jumped in when they realised how useless we were. So we took them wakesurfing as a reward. The captain was ripping.)
Today has the highest tides of the trip – 12 metres – so when the tide started to expose the reef again we had to hustle. I got whipped up the reef from behind the Supra boat and did something like a floater for 2-300 yards along the top. Surfers have it too easy, they’d have crushed any move Mick Fanning has ever done. Mick, I’m coming for your world titles.
Still, the boat’s going 35mph, and you’re whipping off it as well, so you’re flying – falling would smash you up. You have to ride straight up the steepest part of the reef, like going up a small waterfall, which feels wrong.
After that Grubby found a step-down where the reef spillway turned into a pool halfway down. He tried a three-shuv but he ate it and tore up his shoe.
On sunset we busted out the chopper, and it was like the biggest toy party for millionaires. There was a Red Bull jet ski, the Supra boat, us filming from the air, two outboards, the 26-metre multi-mil Great Escape catamaran and the Red super-tech camera on the reef. Twenty two people going flat out.
Oh, and JD yelled “WHIP ME THROUGH!” halfway through a wake run, flew into the metal tunnel between the catamaran hulls and popped out the other end. You could hear the hooting for miles.
Oh, and Grubb wakesurfed the 26-metre cat.
We retired to the boat for a sick highlight reel and a colossal drinking game of iPod Catchphrase. I learned this: JD is a liability, but Parks and Grubb are like two men with a single mind. They’re deeply and disturbingly connected in some profound, suspicious and alarming way.
Don’t trust them.
Related Content:
- The Sanders Files - Day 1
- The Sanders Files - Day 2
- The Sanders Files - Day 3
- The Sanders Files Gallery
Red Bull Photofiles
Red Bull Photofiles
Red Bull Photofiles
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