Russell Bierke becomes the champion of 2016 Red Bull Cape Fear

The event ran like no other in surfing history. A week of wild weather in Sydney saw Cape Solander maxed out on day one, with many competitors claiming it was far-and-away the biggest the infamous break has ever been surfed.

The surfers were aware of the risks that came with paddling out, yet deemed it worth the reward. A unanimous surfer vote saw the contest kick-off in barely surfable 12-foot [3.66m] barrels and from the first horn all 16 invitees were ready to charge, take risks, pull in and lay it all on the line.

While much talk was generated about the general safety of the conditions, the most affected, yet most comfortable, folk were the surfers. Over the course of four heats and a final there was only one injury, at the end of the very first heat, and the water patrol were more than capable of keeping the situation safe for everyone involved.

Justen "Jughead" Allport, confident after a number of solid tube rides saw him take the lead, pulled into a monster near the end of the opening heat. The wave turned inside out, thashing Allport underwater before eventually relenting and allowing him to surface with a gash at the back of his head and a tweaked shoulder. Allport was taken to hospital where he was assessed and soon cleared to go home.

Back at the event site this morning Allport confirmed all was well, he was just feeling a little bit sore.

“The boys out there were so good," said Allport about the water patrol. "All the Pro Guarding guys did an amazing job, especially Ryan Hipwood who was driving a jet ski and towing us surfers in. I can’t thank him enough, he was first there and I was pretty pumped when all of the boys had my back.” 

Today saw waves cleaner and more manageable than yesterday's monstrosities, and paddling was added back into the roster.

Unsurprisingly, scores were higher, with more tubes threaded and wipeouts just as spectacular, but slightly less life-threatening. At one point the sun came out and for a second you could almost have considered that Cape Fear looked pleasant.

Then Laurie Towner got washed up on the rocks and Kirk Flintoff and Perth Standlick were launched 10 feet in the air by backwash, and you remembered pretty quickly that this was no place for the average surfer.

And at the end of four heats it came down to four men: locals James "Rooster" Adams and Koby Abberton, Gold Coaster Ryan Hipwood and Bierke.

Morning standouts Abberton and Hipwood picked up where they left off, while Adams suffered a couple of tough wipeouts and a couple of screamers, but it was Bierke who seized the opportunity to make a name for himself.

Opening up the tow portion of his final with a pair of incredible nines, victory was all but assured. When the set of the day reared its head, Bierke demonstrated the poise of a veteran, fading where most would gun for the shoulder, driving deeper and further from the safety of the channel in pursuit of points.

The wave finally surrended to gravity and as a thick, mean lip spilled over him, Bierke held his line and his nerve and flew into the deeper water with a perfect 10 to ice his Cape Fear cake. 

What an incredible effort from the young gun. Congratulations Russell, what a show!

By Chris Binns

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