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. As the wave passes over the shallow area its shape is raised and steepened, creating a localised wave formation. 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. The term Bombora was given wide circulation in 2009 on ABC TV with the airing of a documentary title
Bombora - The Story of Australian Surfing
which received a nomination for the 2010 Logie Awards in Australia. The documentary explored historical dimensions of the relationship between

surf culture Surf culture includes the people, language, fashion, and lifestyle surrounding the sport of surfing. The history of surfing began with the ancient Polynesians. That initial culture directly influenced modern surfing, which began to flourish ...

and Australian cultural identity. "

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 cal ...

" 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 Cowaramup Bombora (also known as ''Cowie Bombie'' or simply Cow Bombie) is a big wave open-ocean surf break found on the south-west coast of Western Australia. It is located offshore west of Gracetown which is near the town of Margaret Rive ...

("Cow Bombie") - near Margaret River, Western Australia, location of the 2011 and 2015 Oakley Biggest Wave award-winning rides. * Dobroyd Bombora - in

Sydney Harbour Port Jackson, consisting of the waters of Sydney Harbour, Middle Harbour, North Harbour and the Lane Cove and Parramatta Rivers, is the ria or natural harbour of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The harbour is an inlet of the Tasman Sea (p ...

, New South Wales. * Jibbon Bombora - at

Bundeena Bundeena is a village on the outskirts of southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Bundeena is located 29 km south of the Sydney central business district and is part of the Local government in Australia, local governmen ...

in the south of

Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...

* Outer Bombora - at Yallingup, Western Australia. * "The Bommie" - on the northern side of The Penguin's Head, Culburra Beach, New South Wales. *

Killcare Killcare is a south-eastern suburb of the Central Coast region of New South Wales, Australia, located on the Bouddi Peninsula. It is part of the local government area. Prior to the arrival of European Settlement, Aboriginals from the coastal ...

and

Maitland Bay Maitland is an English and Scottish surname. It arrived in Britain after the Norman conquest of 1066. There are two theories about its source. It is either a nickname reference to "bad temper/disposition" (Old French, ''Maltalent''; Anglo Norm ...

bomboras in Bouddi National Park, NS * Queenscliff Bombora - in Sydney, New South Wales

References

External links

Jibbon Loop Track
Australian Aboriginal words and phrases {{IndigenousAustralian-lang-stub

Well known instances

See also

References

External links