Stern Fever Will Premiere in Sydney on October 8
The documentary featuring big wave surfer Russell Bierke chronicles the intense conditions of Shipstern Bluff.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Surfing
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The surfing film Stern Fever, directed by Talon Clemow, is set to premiere in Sydney on October 8, 2026. The documentary highlights the skills of big wave surfer Russell Bierke as he tackles the notorious Shipstern Bluff in Tasmania.
Why it matters
The project captures the unique challenges of Shipstern Bluff, where submerged rock ledges cause waves to twist into mutated shapes. By focusing on paddle-in surfing rather than jet-ski towing, the film highlights the physical demands of high-stakes ocean sports.
Production for the film began in 2010, spanning 16 years of documentation and filming. The project features a two-time Surfing Australia Heavy Water Award winner paddling into waves that are uniquely contorted by underwater topography.
The players
Russell Bierke
He is a professional big wave surfer and a two-time winner of the Surfing Australia Heavy Water Award.
Talon Clemow
He is the director and producer who spent over a decade documenting the surf culture at Shipstern Bluff.
Kelly Slater
He is an eleven-time world surfing champion widely considered the most successful professional surfer in history.
Stephanie Gilmore
She is an eight-time world surfing champion and one of the most decorated athletes in the sport.
The details
Director Talon Clemow relocated to Tasmania during the long-term production to capture the unpredictable nature of Shipstern Bluff. The film includes appearances by renowned surfers Kelly Slater, Stephanie Gilmore, Joel Parkinson, and Mark Mathews.
Timeline
Production of the film began in 2010.
The Sydney premiere of Stern Fever is October 8, 2026.
Season Trajectory
The film emphasizes the prestige associated with the Surfing Australia Heavy Water Award by featuring multiple past winners. It positions the athletes as masters of the most dangerous and technically difficult wave breaks in the world.
The film showcases the technical difference between paddle-in surfing and jet-ski towing, emphasizing the pure skill required for the former. Audiences at the Newport Beach and London Surf Film Festivals will be able to see the specific wave mechanics caused by the Tasmanian coastline.
The takeaway
Paddle-in surfing at high-consequence breaks requires deep familiarity with local underwater topography to navigate mutated waves. Aspiring big wave surfers can look to the film as a masterclass in reading ocean geography before committing to a wave.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in the sport by visiting our Surfing section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by South Coast Register.
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