APhoto Of The Day — 9.22.09

Paddleboarding champion Jamie Mitchell paddles his board as a humpback whale surfaces next to him earlier today, off Australia’s east coast near Tweed Heads. Mitchell was filming a television documentary “Living In Liquid” when a pod of whales came by, “At first it was kind of scary because they are just so big,” said Mitchell. You write the cutline. (AP Photo/www.jamie-mitchell.com, Liam O’Brien/Jason Muir)

Top Cutlines:

• 1. “Hey, excuse me, dude! I have the right of way here! Oh… yeah, that’s it. Just keep swimming on by like you don’t even hear me. Yup. Cuz there’s no one else in this big ‘ol ocean but you. Geez. Go back to traffic school, bro” — Charles Dixon.
• 2. Whale to surfer: “Oh, that’s good… yes, a litle lower… scratch harder… there, there, right below the fin… oh, that’s the good spot. Thanks, dude!” — Pia Hellenberg Christensen.
• 3. DFO on board wondering how to tell his readers about Willy’s visit…… to… Coeur D Alene??? — Pecky Cox
• HM: Cabbage Boy