"No photograph or video is worth your life."
Tropical Cyclone Alfred has somehow still not made landfall, on Australia’s eastern coast, but is now expected to either late Friday night or early Saturday morning. The potentially wildly destructive category 2 is the first to kiss the coast south of Brisbane since 1974 though has already almost claimed beloved champion surfer Mick Fanning’s eyeball.
Yes, Queensland and Gold Coast surfers have been going bananas as perfect righthanders lighting up the Superbank and then Instagram. Jeff Weatherall, local surfer, explained to his confused British cousins at the BBC, “This is what we look forward to. This is the fifth day straight – I’ve done nothing but eat, sleep, surf and do it again.”
Well, the Gold Coast City Council is not happy with the balance in Weatherall’s life and has threatened to impose whopping $16,000 fines on those who dared to cross the “Beach Closed” ropes.
A Gold Coast City spokesperson who preferred to remain anonymous in order to keep his cred told 9 News, “Although the large waves may be exciting to witness, we need everyone to stay well away from coastal areas for your own safety. No photograph or video is worth your life. Increasing winds will see conditions deteriorate further and conditions become more dangerous. We have seen several people involved in incidents because of the hazardous surf conditions including falls from rock walls and being swept out in the surf.”
Surf Life Saving Queensland lifesaving services manager Natalie Edwards, whose cred must be in the clear, added, “Now is not the time to head to the beach for a look, especially with young children who may be pulled out by the fast moving tides that are encroaching on walkways and areas that normally would be far from the water. Please don’t put at risk emergency services personnel because you want to venture out in these conditions.”
$16,000, Australian, is sitting at around $10,000 USD. Surf Ranch rents for $70,000ish USD which could be split amongst seven friends netting each 12ish waves.
Would you rather Kirra or Kelly?
Something to think about.