Bombora

{{Short description|Indigenous Australian term for large sea waves}}

{{Use Australian English |date=October 2024}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}

{{other uses}}

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.[http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/bommie Collins Dictionary]. Example, "Manly itself has [...] the offshore Queenscliff “Bommie” (bombora), joy for big wave riders.", [http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/travel/destinations/2014/01/australias-8-greatest-surf-spots Australia's 8 greatest surf spots] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203083246/http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/travel/destinations/2014/01/australias-8-greatest-surf-spots |date=February 3, 2015 }}, Australian Geographic.

As the wave passes over the shallow area its shape is raised and steepened, creating a localised wave formation.{{cite book |title=Coastal geomorphology: an introduction |url=https://archive.org/details/coastalgeomorpho00bird |url-access=limited |last=Bird |first=Eric |year=2008 |publisher=John Wiley and Sons |isbn=978-0-470-51730-7 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/coastalgeomorpho00bird/page/n41 17] }} 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.{{cite web|url=http://maritime.nsw.gov.au/docs/sbh/bh2008-part3.pdf |title=Boating Handbook: Safe Operation |accessdate=2009-06-18 |publisher=NSW Maritime |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090520041236/http://www.maritime.nsw.gov.au/docs/sbh/bh2008-part3.pdf |archivedate=May 20, 2009 }}

The term bombora was given wide circulation in 2009 on ABC TV with the airing of a documentary that received a nomination for the 2010 Logie Awards in Australia.{{cite web |title=Bombora - The Story of Australian Surfing |url=http://abccommercial.com/contentsales/sites/default/files/flyer/Bombora_flyer.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223031119/http://abccommercial.com/contentsales/sites/default/files/flyer/Bombora_flyer.pdf |archive-date=2014-02-23 }}{{Full citation needed |date=October 2024}}{{cite web|title=Bombora|url=http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/showcases/bombora/default.asp|publisher=Screen Australia|accessdate=6 February 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222203626/http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/showcases/bombora/default.asp|archivedate=22 February 2014}}{{cite web|title=Bombora - The History of Australian Surfing|url=http://abccommercial.com/contentsales/program/bombora-history-australian-surfing|publisher=ABC Commercial|accessdate=6 February 2014}} The documentary explored historical dimensions of the relationship between surf culture and Australian cultural identity.{{cite web |url=http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/showcases/bombora/Bombora%20TNotes.pdf |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2014-02-06 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520222549/http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/showcases/bombora/Bombora%20TNotes.pdf |archivedate=2014-05-20 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/showcases/bombora/Bombora_Press_Kit.pdf |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2014-02-06 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002191129/http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/showcases/bombora/Bombora_Press_Kit.pdf |archivedate=2013-10-02 }}

"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.