Bombora
Bombora is an indigenous Australian term for an area of large sea waves breaking over a shallow area such as a submerged rock shelf, reef, or sand bank that is located some distance from the shoreline and beach surf break. In slang it is also called a bommie.[1]
As the wave passes over the shallow area its shape is raised and steepened, creating a localised wave formation.[2] The size and shape of bombora waves makes them attractive to surfers willing to take the risk of riding what is generally considered a hazardous pursuit.
These formations can pose a significant danger even in good weather as a bombora may not be identifiable because it may not always have breaking waves.[3]
The term Bombora was given wide circulation in 2009 on ABC TV with the airing of a documentary titled Bombora - The Story of Australian Surfing, which received a nomination for the 2010 Logie Awards in Australia.[4][5] The documentary explored historical dimensions of the relationship between surf culture and Australian cultural identity.[6][7]
"Bombora" is also the title of a popular music instrumental released in 1963 by Australian surf rock band The Atlantics.
The term bombora is also used for a sketchy surf spot where waves seem to break on the outside.
Well known instances
- Cowaramup Bombora ("Cow Bombie") - near Margaret River, Western Australia, location of the 2011 and 2015 Oakley Biggest Wave award-winning rides.[8][9]
- Dobroyd Bombora - in Sydney Harbour, New South Wales.
- Jibbon Bombora - at Bundeena in the south of Sydney[10]
- Outer Bombora - at Yallingup, Western Australia.
- "The Bommie" - on the northern side of The Penguin's Head, Culburra Beach, New South Wales.
- Killcare and Maitland Bay bomboras in Bouddi National Park, NS
- Queenscliff Bombora - in Sydney, New South Wales
See also
References
- Collins Dictionary. Example, "Manly itself has [...] the offshore Queenscliff “Bommie” (bombora), joy for big wave riders.", Australia's 8 greatest surf spots Archived February 3, 2015, at the Wayback Machine, Australian Geographic.
- Bird, Eric (2008). Coastal geomorphology: an introduction. John Wiley and Sons. pp. 17. ISBN 978-0-470-51730-7.
- "Boating Handbook: Safe Operation" (PDF). NSW Maritime. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 May 2009. Retrieved 18 June 2009.
- "Bombora". Screen Australia. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
- "Bombora - The History of Australian Surfing". ABC Commercial. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
- "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 May 2014. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - "WA surfer wins national big wave prize for Cow Bombie ride". ABC News. 12 February 2015.
- "Cow bombie - Surfing in Margaret River North, Australia - WannaSurf, surf spots atlas, surfing photos, maps, GPS location".
- Arjun Ramachandran (25 August 2008). "One dead as boat hit by wave". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 18 June 2009.