MomentsMoments
He’s been surfing it for
a good six years and in
all kinds of swell heights
and directions.
But that doesn’t stop the
West Australian plumber
from getting butterflies in
his stomach as he suits up
in the carpark. Even during
this session, which took
place at about the same
time the world’s best were
left grovelling in lackluster
conditions at Cloudbreak.
“I still get nervous every
single time I head down.
Even that day when it was a
bit smaller but so perfect,”
Brad said.
“I don’t believe anyone if
they say they’re not scared
out there. It not a wave you
stuff around on.
“It’s just got so many
different faces. You can
never guess what it’s going
to be like. You sort of adapt
to it, but you still have the
fear factor. The is what
pushes me to do it.”
But looking at this
image of Brad, taken during
a clean Southwesterly
groundswell just last
month, it’s hard to imagine
any fear in the 26-year-old’s
eyes. Local photographer
Kim Feast agrees, saying
that Brad has one of the
more relaxed approaches
out of all the regulars.
“To watch Brad out
there is really impressive,”
Feasty said.
“He has so much control.
There’s only a few people
that will stall for the pit out
there. He is on another level
of ability compared to 90 percent of the guys out there.”
And it’s not just at his local
slab that Brad is pushing
himself. After sliding into
some jaw dropping waves at
places like Shipsterns and
Ours, the 26-year-old has
picked up some new stickers
on his board and is eager to
face some new challenges.
To help achieve those
challenges, he has taken up
training inside the boxing
ring with none other
than Danny “The Green
Machine” Green.
“I’ve been having a lot
of fun paddling at big point
breaks. I really want to push
that aspect,” he said.
“I’m not heavy into the
training. But I definitely
like to work on what’s not
feeling correct. As well as
working my breathing.”
When asked if he would
ever considering paddling
into a monster at The Right,
Brad remains coy.
“It’s funny, every session
for the past three years I
find myself sitting in the
lineup and thinking about
paddling,” he said.
“I’ve seen Lewy Finnegan
[ local bodyboarder] paddle
some massive ones out there.
“I don’t know if I want to
do it, I always think about
it. But the risk probably
outweighs the reward.”
Paddle or no paddle, the
risk certainly paid off in
spades for Brad on this day
and we’ve got a feeling a few
more sessions floating in
the lineup might see some
more risks go down. Watch
this space!WORDS BY MICHAEL SAUNDERS
PHOTO BY: FEASTDRIVEN BY FEAR
Brad Norris knows The Right like the back of his hand.