Blacks Point - The Surf and the Art

They travelled all night to get there. Johnno, Ben and Chris are Adelaide surfers keen on boogy boarding. On this day they're out to conquer Black's Point, north of Elliston on the West Coast. And it's not for the faint-hearted, the heavy swell builds into mammoth waves that crash heavily onto a rugged reef.

But those obvious dangers are not all surfers have to worry about. It's just weeks since tragedy struck here when a teenager was taken by a great white shark, the first attack since surfing began in the area. Even the locals, who are used to sharing the water with gentler species, stayed away for a while. But the break is just too good and these Adelaide surfers give it a good go.

"The verdict?"

"Good, yeah? Good"

The guys have visited many of the State's best surfing spots and this one too, gets a big tick. It's a pretty crazy wave, it's heaps shallow and looks pretty deep behind the reef. The spectacular scenery at Black's is nothing unusual along the West Coast, hundreds of kilometres of rugged cliffs spill into an ocean teeming with marine and bird life.

Few places in the would could boast coastline so pristine, untouched by industry or over-population. And despite the well publicised dangers, it is scenes like this which have been an inspiration for Port Lincoln surfer, Hamish Crook. His passion for the Wild Wild West Coast has been captured on canvas. Earlier this year, we showed you some of his oil and acrylic works which were on show at the Arteyrea Gallery at Port Lincoln.

Hamish grew up on the west coast and has watched the waves roll in for years. And many at Black's Point. You've got all that huge miles and miles of ocean out there. They compare it to Hawaii.

And with a bit of surfing of a different kind, you can see examples of his works on a special website www.southcam.com.au

And if you like what you see, prints of his work are available from Urban Cow in From Street, the Artists Abode at Semaphore and from the Port Lincoln Information Centre. And if you are travelling on the Flinders Highway and want to view some of the surfing action first hand, Black's Point is five kilometres north of Elliston.