Storyteller, producer, presenter
Yallingup, Western Australia
When I was backpacking in my twenties I gave out business cards that let people know I was a Writer, Rambler & Roamer. Little has changed.
I’m one half of Saltwater Media Co. Scotty Bauer mans the guns, I try to steer us in the right direction.
When not working for SWMCo I’m an editorial consultant at Red Bull and regular contributor to Stab.
I have produced television at Guru Productions and made magazines at Australia’s Surfing Life. After seven years at ASL, including three as editor, in 2013 I ventured into the freelance world. I have been telling people’s stories ever since.
I’ve commentated surfing and hosted events around the world for 15 years. From copywriting to editorial and producing to presenting I am always keen for new work or to talk about potential work, and I’d love to hear from you.
Recent Work
Home Run
Gage Roads Brew Co commissioned Scotty Bauer and I to document the 2024 Margaret River Pro through the lens of competitors Jack Robinson, Jacob Willcox and Bronte Macaulay as they flew the flag for their hometown.
Sunday Times Magazine
When Jacob Willcox finally qualified for surfing’s Championship Tour after a decade of near misses the Margaret River local found it a relief more than a cause for celebration. The Sunday Times Magazine disagreed, and commissioned a profile on Jacob to commemorate his achievement, and gave the resulting story the cover, to ice the cake.
Gage Roads
From Single Fin To Side Track And All Pints In Between details Gage Roads Brew Co’s growth from a West Australian microbrewery to national success story, complete with their very own surf team. I interviewed Gage Roads Executive Director Aaron Heary and part owner and full blown star Jack Robinson in compiling this piece for Stab.
Student Voice
Recently sat down with the student podcast team at Perth’s Scotch College to talk about what exactly it is that I do for a job. Interesting topic as I’m never too sure myself, but hopefully this chat sheds a little light on my career. If it encourages just one future accountant to try something different then it was well worth the time.
Mick Fanning: Down The Line
A cool idea Red Bull had to record a conversation with Mick in the aftermath of a cyclone swell and turn the call into something a little different. I got Mick on line one then worked with an editor on the video release.
The Solo
Just over 3000 people have completed the 19.7km Rottnest Channel Swim Association solo (11,000 have climbed Mt Everest...) and they all have a story to tell. This is mine.
Nothing work related, definitely no video, just 1800 words I wrote to keep one of the best days of my life with me forever.
Destination WA
Destination WA is a popular local television program that showcases the best parts of Western Australia. I produced this story, where presenter Angie Ayres met with Kaneang elder Billy Riley to talk about growing up in Kojonup, and the work the Kodja Place Cultural Centre is doing to tell the honest truth about the local indigenous history.
Harbord Hotel
When Sydney’s Harbord Hotel relaunched earlier this year they wanted a suitable video to tell their tale. A friend at De Republica on the Northern Beaches got in touch to ask if I’d like to research and script it all, and the results turned out better than we ever could have hoped. After hunting high and low for the ideal character to do the voiceover we found him hidden in full sight… behind the bar pulling pints! How good.
Becoming Bronson
This 22-minute Red Bull production introduces the world to Sumbawan future star Bronson Meydi. Shot and directed by Scotty Hammonds with assistance from Nathan Lawrence, I produced the project and wrote and narrated the script, as well as penning the web story.
Coopers Odyssey
I recently spent 10 days bouncing around the north-west with 20 cartons of Coopers Pacific Pale Ale and a team of tremendous humans in the winter of 2021, producing this 13-minute tribute to life in the desert. Four-thousand kilometres later we’d camped out in wild weather, found a few rare waves, and generally had a marvellous time in the middle of nowhere.
No Contest
No Contest is a behind the scenes look at the locations visited by the World Surf League’s Championship Tour, produced by Red Bull. My original concept, No Contest is now onto its fifth season and has become one of the most popular series in surfing.
In 2021, when the regular American host couldn’t fly to Australia, I was asked to host, write and produce the West Australian episode, a challenge I gladly took on.
Stab In The Dark
In 2020, as the global pandemic locked down the planet, I was was asked to produce Stab In The Dark with Taj Burrow, a four episode surfboard road test filmed in my hometown of Yallingup, WA. Through six wintery weeks of shooting I quarterbacked Taj, two camera ops, one water cinematographer and one photographer; ran the budget; dealt with sponsor requests; and most importantly liaised with the crew at Stab, from the company founders to their video editors and graphic designers.
As Stab’s flagship annual production this lives behind a paywall, but I can provide links to view all episodes upon request.
Surf 100
Surf 100 is a 100-minute surfing exposition hosted by Stab, pre-recorded then broadcast and commentated as if live, all judged by an online audience.
As the live producer I wrangled four surfers, two water patrollers and their jet skis, two water cinematographers, two audio engineers, a water photographer, a drone camera operator, four fixed camera ops and a roving camera op, liaised with the contest director, and acted as the sideline commentator. An amazingly complex day ended up a huge success, the end product something everyone involved was incredibly proud of. Again this is behind Stab’s paywall, can provide a link upon request.
Chasing The Shot
In 2019 a precocious teenage Australian photographer called Leroy Bellet pitched me an audacious concept. Six months of grinding and travel later we released this incredible addition to Red Bull’s highly acclaimed Chasing The Shot series, filmed by Leroy, Tyge Landa and friends, produced and scripted by me, and edited by Hype Republic in Sydney.
Leroy left jaws on the floor towing-in to monstrous waves behind some of the world’s best surfers, putting his body on the line to capture some of the most insane water footage and photography ever seen, and landing the cover of Surfing World magazine along the way for good measure.
Range Rover
In 2017 Range Rover were looking to showcase their latest ambassador, professional surfer Sally Fitzgibbons. What better way than a day exploring in the Wild West? Alongside the talented crew at Content Kitchen I recruited water cinematographer Rick Rifici, scouted locations, and helped deliver this beautiful edit.
The Other Guys
In 2017 and 2018 I was lucky enough to co-host The Other Guys, a Red Bull pirate commentary channel that ran as a counterpoint to the regular broadcast at the legendary Volcom Pipe Pro in Hawaii. A daily, live three-hour show, we interviewed the world’s best surfers in a far more relaxed setting than the usual commentary boxes and press conferences.
After growing too big we were eventually cancelled out of fear that we were cannibalising the main event stream; a compliment we were happy to take.
Broome Sessions
Waves in Broome? You’re kidding! This eight-minute outback adventure came together on the back of a wayward cyclone and some hectic last-minute planning. Two surfers, a photographer, a videographer, a whole host of hilarious locals and a couple of stray crocs were all it took to pull together one of the more unlikely surfing edits you’ll ever see.
