Karl Attkins is a 24 year old Avalon Beach NSW local. Like most groms on Sydney’s Northern Beaches he was in the water at a young age, frothing on everything surf related. He is known for his down-to-earth and happy-go-lucky character in and out of the water. So it came as no surprise really to his mates, that he would do something like surf naked in the ice-cold waters of the southern tip of Tasmania, let alone surf naked in a place that is sharkey and known for some of the biggest waves on the planet.

Tim Bonython has known Karl for about 7 years. Watching his surfing evolve as he has grown up hanging out in the same breaks and wanting to charge local waves. One day Tim and Karl sat down for a chat about how he wanted to get out there in the big wave arena and how it could fit in with what Tim does as a film maker. Tim says “Karl was just on the same page as me so I decided to take him down to Shipsterns with Dean Bowen and I knew straight away he had what it takes to play this game.”

Tim continues “His first 2 waves were really nasty wipe outs but the third wave, it was just an amazing barrel. He was riding the tube with his hands out and a massive smile on his face. We knew he suited the big wave format, he makes it look great and that’s what we want to see on the screen.”

“Since that first trip I’ve always let him know when we are doing trips. Whenever he comes away with us he always gets good moments and looks great on camera. I’m so keen to see what he brings to the table next.”

Tim says the Shipsterns trip that features in the ASMF with Karl naked surfing “was a great moment, he has nothing to hide down there (laughs).

As part of one of the 4 movies in the amaysim Australian Surf Movie Festival presented by GoPro – The Journey – Karl features down at Shipsterns with Kelly Slater. His appearance adds a refreshing, LOL scene compared with the gnarly, heavy waves and wipe-outs. We couldn’t let this interview go unseen because really, we would all secretly love to surf naked…right!?

Tim Bonython Productions (TBP): What is your background in surfing? Any heroes?
Karl Attkins (KA): I grew up in North Avalon, and still live here today, I started surfing when I was 5 years old, as I got older I started competing in junior competitions until I was 21, competing in small waves was never really my thing, and most of the comps where in really average waves, my heroes change on a daily basis depends on what I have seen or been watching, today it is Mick fanning.

TBP: When was your first BIG wave and where was it?
KA: My first real big wave was in Tasmania at ship sterns, I was about 18, I went along for a trip and didn’t really know what I was getting myself into , since that day I have been hooked!

TBP: What are you best known for in the water?
KA: I guess surfing big waves, maybe now its surfing naked, I don’t know

TBP: Where is the craziest wave you have surfed? What’s it like?
KA: Shipsterns has to be one of the craziest waves in the world, and I have been lucky enough to get some good waves out there,  it holds massive  waves, its a big barrel , its freezing cold, its in the middle of now where, and it has a step in the wave that in very unique, its a very challenging wave, its like no other place in the world .

TBP: In the latest ASMF ‘the journey’ you surf in the buff down at Shipsterns Bluff… its pretty funny! what made you want to do that in the cold waters of Tasmania, and in front of Kelly, never mind the shrinkage factor?
KA: It kinda just happened, I had no intention to do it, it wasn’t planned or anything , it just happened, my best mate Dylan Cram was next to me in the boat, someone mentioned surfing it naked and he said ‘Karl do it’ and I thought I’d give it ago.Honestly, I like being naked, and I like surfing big waves, so combining the two made for a lot of fun,
and for Kelly, I guess he was just lucky to be there to watch me go over the falls naked, ha!

TBP: For all those who have wanted to surf in the buff but haven’t had the balls and wondered what it’s like…Did you suffer any nude related injuries, like wax sticking?
KA:  No injuries, I guess I was pretty lucky, it could have turned out real bad, but it didn’t. surfing naked is fun, I recommended it to every one, whether its 2 foot or 20 foot its a great experience worth doing. Go surfing naked, do a floater on a wave and try not to smile, you’ll find it very hard , ha! Being naked in general is fun I guess.

TBP: Will we be seeing you nude surfing again or it’s now ticked off the list?
KA: I guess the chances are pretty high, i have nothing planned, but if I feel the time is right, well yeah ill get naked again.

TBP: What’s the best part about traveling to chase the super swells?
KA: I enjoy all of it ,the spontaneity, you never know whats coming, you have to be on your toes , ready at all times, books flights last minute , get every thing organised, and before you know it your on a plane really scared and hoping that the swell will arrive and everything goes well, and if it does, the plane ride home is so good, knowing that all your hard work and training has come together and you just got to surf some of the best waves in the world.

TBP: Worst wipe out… describe what goes through your head as you see yourself going down…
KA: Have had a lot of wipe outs, nothing to serious, I guess I can tell you about the naked one I fell on, that was different. it was the first naked wave at Shipsterns, (I got 2 more after). It was a pretty solid one the wind had gone a bit onshore, and it wasn’t my turn, but I was naked, pretty pumped and Zeb who was towing me in just went, I was feeling pretty confident, I had a pretty good vision of me jumping down the step of the wave and pulling in and getting a big barrel and coming out, that didn’t happen. I let go of the tow rope pretty early went to go down the first bit of the wave and it was sucking up pretty hard, as I hopped down the step I landed and my board dug in to the water and I fell forward , I couldn’t believe I was about to go over the falls naked at ship sterns, it was hard for me to see the serious side to it because I was naked, I kind of touched the bottom but not hard, I was getting rag dolled around under water, then, this is the weird part, it kind of felt good, there was so much turbulence washing around me it was like being in a warm bubbly spa. I got held under for a bit and came up and the ski came and got me I felt really alive so I grabbed the rope and went back out and got a couple more.

TBP: Where do you draw the line with the big waves? has there ever been a swell or any conditions that you’ve just gone ‘nah, I’m out!’?
KA: I’m not sure, some of the waves guys are surfing these days are beyond crazy, I don’t think I’ve ever said ” nah I’m out,” I just take it swell by swell. I get scared, but I like over coming that fear.

TBP: What’s next for Karl Attkins? Anything big planned for 2014 big waves or little waves? Where will we see you appear next?
KA: Thats the thing about chasing swells you never know whats around the corner, I’ll definitely be chasing as many big swells as I can, focusing on paddling big waves, staying fit, healthy and happy.

Karl rides Aido Wheeler boards and surfs with the support of Patagonia, Beach Without Sand Avalon, AJS Lawns and Landscapes

Like this article? Read also RUSSELL BIERKE: The Next Chapter in Big Wave Surfing 

And… RITCHIE VASS on Monsters and Fighters

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You can see Karl surf naked in
The AMAYSIM Australian Surf Movie Festival
presented by GoPro is touring Australia NOW.
For dates, tour info and to book your tickets
to Australia’s favourite surfing night out click here.

To watch the official trailer click here

Written by Sally Mac