After the August mega-swell at Teahupoo, the large red blobs in the South Pacific tracking northeast toward Tahiti last week had a number of the world’s big-wave gearing up for a rematch with the infamous left-hander.

However, by late in the week, the forecast had been downgraded from mutant and life-threatening to treacherously beautiful.  

“It definitely wasn’t as big as we were hoping,” said filmmaker Tim Bonython, who headed over with Dylan Cram and Karl Attkins to intercept the swell. “We were a little disappointed with the size, but it was really paradise - the sun was out and the winds were offshore all day.” 

While it wasn’t big enough to warrant towing, there were still plenty of beatings and board-breakages going down over the three days of action.

Simon Thornton nearly broke his back and will be stuck at home for the next three –to-four weeks after getting sucked over the falls.

“He didn’t even hit the bottom,” reports Tim, “that was just from the force of the water moving around”.

Vetea David also got some crackers on his standup paddle board.

Check back Monday for video of all the action…