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ZAG 42.1 / CONTENTS

You know that feeling when boards are being bailed behind you, and you’ve just managed to scratch over the top of a gnarly clean-up set? At Dungeons it’s intensified. ©THOMPSON

40: THE BIG BOOGIE Why all the hate, and where’d they all go?

14: LETTERS

72: SHOWCASE

18: THE SURFER’S CORNER – SINCE 1919

Kimball Taylor takes an investigative look at our bodyboarding brethren.

Looking back at the rich 98-year history of surfing

16: READER STORY 28: UPSTART 68: PEOPLE LIKE US 10

84: SHOT BRU 86: OFF THE LEASH 98: SPLAB

in Muizenberg, and the original Surfer’s Corner.

30: THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS

52: ATLANTIS RISING Exploring the garden island of São Miguel, Azores, with South Africa’s QS campaigners.

With the WSL set to roll out Plan B next season, Nick Carroll investigates their tenure in charge

88: A KOEL COLLECTION

of professional surfing, the kind stranger funding

Pull into the Koel Bay studio of Morné Laubscher,

the Tour, and Kelly’s wave pool — the invention

the Boland lensman who keeps Zag’s pages flush

predicted to sink or save the whole show.

with breathtaking images from his home stretch.

ZAG 42.1 / EDITORIAL

EDITOR’S NOTE - Calvin Bradley

Andre Botha having a blast in some closeouts at one of Cape Town’s most beautiful beaches. ©BOTHA

“H

ey, you wanna challenge me to a spinning contest?” asked the freckle-faced teen bodyboarder at

Durban’s North Beach.

and perpetuated by media — I was hugely impressed.

I also thought back to that challenge to a mock-heat, to that session where he paddled out to The Mound,

Taylor touches on in the article The Big Boogie on page 40.

That’s the beauty about surfing; its diversity.

On the other hand, some people are investing millions

I was around the same age as he was and must’ve

and figured that’s what was different about Andre.

of dollars to create a surfing environment that is not

looked up for the challenge, wearing my camouflage

From a young age, his focus and determination was

so diverse, with conditions that can be artificially created

wetsuit* and riding a bodyboard after a run of bad luck

evident. He was going to be the best in the world,

so there’s no need for a debate about board choice (once

and snapped fibreglass. Recognising the young dude’s

and was paddling out into waves that would make

they’ve figured out what works best for them in the pool).

face, I politely declined — not quite sure if he was being

grown men cry to make it happen. That he won the

While I definitely think there’s a good argument to be had

serious or having a laugh.

world title in conditions like that, it all made sense.

that it creates a level playing field for competitive surfing

It also taught me not to judge a surfer because of

(no lulls, every wave the same for all competitors, etc),

A year or so later, I watched as the same young charger leaped off the pier into a wild ocean too frightening for me,

the craft they’ve chosen to ride. To not worry about

it is moving away from one of the biggest reasons that

and he kept paddling until he reached The Mound — the

what the cool cats are saying, and rather concentrate

we surf, which is to get out there and get salty; enjoy

bombie-style peaks that break when the swell is massive

on having a jol out there in the surf. And if the conditions

the scenery and the chit-chat; laugh at our unfortunate

in Town, way out past the shark nets where the sand

called for it, ride whatever board is appropriate.

wipeouts when the wave doesn’t co-operate; and cheer

dredged from the harbour gets deposited. And I thought to myself, “There’s something different about this ou.”

Another year or two on from that and Andre Botha

In my later teen years, while I lived in Warner Beach, just about every high tide called for a bodyboard.

The lack of a backline and a heavy, warping shorebreak

on our mates who score a ridiculous barrel on a day when all there has been are mushy burgers.

Renowned surf journo, Nick Carroll, tells us more

clinched the first of his two world titles, winning at big,

that ate boards for breakfast, helped with the choice.

about Kelly’s wavepool and the future of pro surfing in

barrelling Pipeline at barely 17 years of age. Even at that

So I’d wax-up the boogie and go get body-slammed

The Kindness of Strangers on page 30. I’d be keen to hear

stage, when bodyboarders were being shunned from

— which was often more fun than standing up and doing

your thoughts on the WSL’s bold new direction as well.

lineups because of their board choice — a train of thought

countless cutbacks on weak walls. Pick your weapon

encouraged by the most vocal of dudes in the pack,

depending on your opponent, which is something Kimball

12

* Forgive me, it was the 90’s.

For me though, saltwater will always trump chlorine no matter what you ride, so my mind has been made up.

Catch you out there, in the ocean.

R E E F X M I C K FA N N I N G S I G N AT U R E S E R I E S

SIGNATURE SANDAL

ZAG 42.1 / LETTERS

DOWN TO THE WIRE I have to admit, I was one of many who got caught-up in the excitement of Jordy Smith potentially claiming his first world title. He was on a good run and surfing some smart heats.

And then the Portugal event happened, and two things became evident: (1) Jordy isn’t one of the WSL/judges’ favourites — like some other challengers who’ve managed to squeak DROP THE ZAG A LINE ON LETTERS@ZIGZAG.C0.ZA AND BE HEARD

through tight heats with generous scores.

(2) Becoming world champ is no mean feat. To keep

KINGS OF THE OCEAN

your composure through more than fifty heats throughout the year at eleven different locations, really does

Saffa Iain Campbell is the 2017 World Bodyboarding Champ. Share the news, give the sponger some credit.

If Jordy wins as well, we’ll be Kings of the Ocean 2017. xï° k ÝûÉɆ Ēÿ¨ æ

deserve a trophy.

It’s just a bummer that certain surfers are sometimes more ’lucky’ than others (see point 1), on their way to becoming champ.

– The news of Iain’s title win was met with stoked cheers at the Zag cave.

Having watched him progress from ripping Durban grom to world-beater has been epic. If you remember, Iain also snapped the shot of David van Zyl that appeared on the cover of Zag issue 39.5 – a man of many talents indeed.

Well done, Champ.

· æ Iïğ·Ɇ " ăČ·ÿæ û· – It all comes down to the Pipe Masters, which kicks off as this issue hits the shelves, but it’s hard not to think Jordy’s chances were snuffed out in Portugal. Either way, we’ll be rooting for him and an historic win.

MIND-SURF THIS...

the lines I could be surfing at home, so I threw some paint on a canvas and this is what I produced.

Howzit Zag, I found another wave rock on the Weskus.

Previously I sent you one I found at the Kagga Kamma Game Reserve, and this one I discovered close to the Shelley Point coast.

So there I was chilling out and reading the Zag after a good surf. The fire was going and a cold, shapely green

Check this out; me bored as hell in art thinking about

A ROCKING SESSION

A BUCKET OF MEMORIES

æ°ÿ·ğ ĒÿæăɆ G S oïĒČÉ ï ăČ

beverage was close at hand, when my eyes fell upon my trusty decade-old wetsuit bucket.

This bucket is a trusty servant that bears testimony to countless wetsuit deposits, as well as more than a few makeshift seats while on a surf trip. It was also used as an ice box, and once even for the transport of illicit kreef and other contraband.

– Epic work, Andrew. Did you have a particular spot in mind that you modelled this wave on? It’s too blue for Skeleton Bay, so our next guess would be Teahupo’o.

This time though, it served as a colourful, yet mute testament to the numerous issues and events which were immortalised by a sticker gifted in the Zag. From

I snapped these shots of

the Thyspunt nuclear protest, to saving Vetch’s beach,

me getting pitted just before

and even a exhortation to surf naked. These stickers

paddling out for a dawnie and

were a time capsule and statement; such as Kelly’s 10th

some real waves.

title, Mick Fanning’s first, and the sticker issued when

E Ú·ă ÌăªÉïıɆ ·ăČ·ÿæ û·

the Mr Price Pro moved from Durban to Ballito.

Other stickers were brands that have faded much like

– Nice one, Jakes. Like many waves on the weskus, this one looks like a challenge. But it appears you rocked this session.

the vinyl, to labels which have flourished. I hope to one day very soon add Jordy Smith, world champion!

A salutation to a battered bucket and an institution that is Zigzag. Keep them coming! xÿ·Ğïÿ .ÿ ĥɆ ·ăČ · ªÉ

A BARREL IS A BARREL

– Cheers Trevor. Here’s to another year of sick pits and a bucket-load of memories.

Like most people my age, we think we are the best surfers ever. This is false most of the time, of course.

No matter how hard I try, I never seem to get the

WINNING LETTER SCORES A HAMPER FROM RIP CURL

crazy, spitting stand-up pits. But I get my fix by getting smashed on the sand by the shorebreak.

I recreate the feeling by throwing myself over the edge whether it be bodysurfing or bodyboarding.

Some may call it fake but the feeling is still the same, I think. For me a barrel is a barrel. äÌ æ oäÌČÉɆ û· xïğæ – Right on, Damian. When we were lighties, we’d spend most of our day getting the pit of the day in the shorebreak. Bodysurfing sessions are like training for those bigger days to come. When you eventually get that crazy, spitting stand-up pit though, let us know if you still think that any barrel is a barrel.

14

LETTERS MAY BE EDITED FOR BREVITY/CLARITY

ZAG 42.1 / READER STORY

SURFING > DRUGS

by Darren Bond

Tyrell Johnson busts a move, while Jono Bruton (right) and Ryan Botha watch on during another rad Salty Hour session. ©DE VILLIERS

H

ere I sit, in a strange mix of my old life and my new

That sketchy one in the set that you never time right

one. It’s an old couch in a new flat, an old laptop

and it slams you with a vengeance.

but a new idea, the old me with a new perspective.

So I started looking for an alternative.

Despite its colourful and exciting history, a shortboard with a single fin was an absolute nightmare to try and learn to surf on. I would never get further than my

It’s weird how every day we change ourselves.

Something I could do that would give me a rush,

knees, and when you spend weekend after weekend in

We grow in ways we recognise, and some we don’t

perhaps change my perspective about things, and help

this situation — all the while seeing kids younger than ten

until much later. For myself it is a stark change,

me focus on the good rather than all the negative.

catching barrels and pulling carves like it was nothing

one that I can see with clarity when I look back.

Rewind the clock about three years and I was lying

I still don’t know why I decided to get a surfboard.

I had never surfed before (I was 25 when the drugs

— you can understand how the frustration was starting to push me away from the waves.

It was at this point that a friend of mine gave me two

in the bath of my old flat, during my old life, a bunch

started), and was never a big fan of the beach.

of drugs in one hand and my phone in the other.

I was more of a gamer through high school.

things; the first was a proper wetsuit — a blue Body Glove

I’d been through some bad shit a short while before,

While I was getting out of the drugs, however,

that I still use. The second was the phone number of Jono

which had led to the drugs — and the two attempts

I walked on the beach a lot, and after seeing

Bruton, the man behind Salty Hour. More than that though,

to overdose. That night was about to be the third time,

a number of surfers I thought, ‘yeah, that looks fun’.

Jono was the guy, together with Tyrell Johnson, that got

and I was determined to make it the last.

The next thing I knew, I was the owner of a really

me standing up and, in the process, falling completely in

Somehow though, I picked up the phone instead,

dinged-up, secondhand, single fin surfboard that

love with surfing. They gave me advice on boards, wax,

and called my folks to explain where I was and what

absolutely no-one could tell me anything about.

skills and all the other aspects of surfing. I probably

was going on. Thankfully they didn’t judge. They knew

This thing had about five different layers of paint on it,

drove Jono up the wall searching for a new board, yet he

I was in a bad space, they just didn’t know the extent.

and about a million repairs. Clearly something with

helped me out big time, and the result was me coming

With their help I got clean, but all the shit that

a very long and vibrant history. I just wished I could

into possession of a Billeon shaped mini-mal, which to

had caused me to go looking for a way out, was still

see the myriad of hands that have gripped those rails,

this day is still my favourite board. After that and a few

lurking over my shoulder like a great, grim wave.

and the multitude of waves that stick had ridden.

Salty Hour sessions, I was up on the board and keen to

16

I’d been through some bad shit a short while before, which had led to the drugs — and the two attempts to overdose. That night was about to be the third s u r f b o a r d s

Psychedelic pits. ©DE VILLIERS

head down to the beach whenever possible.

forgotten but has been left in the past, while my old mal

Fast forward about a year, and I was having a fun

is chilling outside waiting to catch some new waves.

session out at Gonubie beach, just messing around on

For me the ocean lead me to a new perspective;

my favourite stick in the small swell, when I spotted

a new career in diving; a wonderful woman who

an older oke on a proper longboard.

probably has more passion for the ocean than me;

By then, and still to this day, I was a big fan of longboarding, and have repeatedly said that the first

and a much happier life than three years ago.

All we can do is change for the best, and follow

board I shape would be a nine-foot noserider. We ended

the ocean wherever she leads. This is what I think

up getting out of the water at the same time and chatted

every time I head down to my local spot; the old

for quite a while on the beach.

beach, with new waves.

Turns out he’d been surfing all around South Africa, as well as Mozambique and some spots in Namibia.

I struggled to hide my jealousy, as he told me about

FANCY YOURSELF A WRITER?

the sick swells he’d been privileged to surf. Just before we parted ways, and after I had told him a few things

Go to zigzag.co.za/write-to-surf

about why I started surfing, he said some words that

to find out how you can

have stuck with me ever since: “Stick with the ocean.

enter your short story

The ocean will lead you somewhere.”

and be in the running for

Jump now to the present day, and you find me sitting on my old couch in my new flat, typing this story on my old laptop that has new use. The old me is never

one of eight prize hampers worth over R6000.

E-MAIL: cindy@claytonsurf.co.za | dEAN@claytonsurf.co.za TEL: (+27) 31 368 4825 WEB: www.claytonsurfboards.co.za 44 Milne street, Durban Central, 4001

Leonard Shandler, styling at Muizenberg during the sixties. ©NICK HOUGH COLLECTION

This postcard, stuck on a wall outside 3 Fenchurch Street in London, served as an advert for the Union-Castle line to South Africa. Pictured standing up on an eight-foot hollow timber board, is South Africa’s first Unidentified — possibly Heather Price — riding one of The Arcadians boat-style surfboards, circa 1920.

recorded surfer — a young woman named Heather Price, who can be seen holding onto a rope to keep the nose of the barge up.

Lying down behind her is Alex ‘Lex’ Miller, his legs dangling off the back of the board,

Bowman was joined by Alex ‘Lex’ Miller and Bobby van der Riet, who together became known as

acting as stabilising fins.

‘The Arcadians’, and the first surfboard shapers in South Africa. They made their boards in a workshop behind the Arcadia Tea Room — hence the name — and strived to improve their equipment with every attempt.

The trio constructed three boards initially using a hollow timber construction, which was covered with canvas and painted to make them water-tight.

It was not too long before they were joined by other Cape Town personalities such as Harry Lawrence, The story goes that Heather Price, a student at the

Tommy Charles, Rollo Lamont, John Shannon, George

University of Cape Town, befriended two US Marines

and Jack Findlay, Frank Mellish and the “beach belles”,

whose ship had stopped over in Cape Town en-route to

who wanted to share in the stoke; and from there, stand-

America after World War I. The marines had brought

up surfing was established at Muizenberg.

with them two solid wooden “Hawaiian style” surfboards

Among the “beach belles” of the time were

— also known as alaias — which they used to teach her

Lorraine Joubert, Poppy Sampson, Georgina Townsend,

to surf. According to Price, they unfortunately took their

Gwen Barclay, Thelma Thesen, Vi Shields, Emily Burton,

boards back with them when they sailed.

Poppy Pillans, Connie Orpen and Marge Plowes.

There is little documented evidence of stand-up

They were active surfers, especially Poppy Sampson

surfing in South Africa after that until 1921, when pilot

(who became Mrs Campbell-Ross), whose prowess on

and veteran Tony Bowman returned from World War I

a board became legendary. Some of the women made

and settled in Muizenberg. After reading “The Cruise of

their own bathing costumes. They consisted of a long-

the Snark” by Jack London, in which London described

waisted, short-sleeved bodice and flouncy skirt, usually

surfing at Waikiki Beach, Bowman was inspired to build

made of flowered chintz, with bloomers underneath.

his own version of the “surf boats” mentioned. He wrote

Over their hair they wore gathered shower-caps. The

to the Honolulu Tourist Association for pictures of

full-length men’s costumes on the other hand, wore-

surfing, so that he could determine the dimensions of the

out so quickly on their boards that their girlfriends

boards being used in Hawaii.

sometimes sewed canvas reinforcing onto the fronts.

Unidentified and Heather Price, showing off one of the first locally shaped surfboards, circa early 1920’s. ©PRICE FAMILY COLLECTION

ZAG 42.1 / NEIGHBOURHOODS

You’ll need to go all the way back to 1912 for a picture of The Corner sans surfers.

Or just after the Shark Spotters’ siren has sounded. ©WESTERN CAPE ARCHIVES AND RECORD SERVICES

By 1923 wave-riding at Muizenberg had already

bop session spot to wedding venue — mostly for the

as the popularity of “surf-boarding” or prone-style

Jewish elite. Muizenberg was so popular that many

“bellyboarding” made the ‘Berg a favoured holiday

of the world’s rich and famous would grace the strip,

destination at the turn of the 20th century.

including members of royal families, mining magnates

Together with other dignitaries around this time,

like the Oppenheimers, and many other influential

famous writers George Bernard Shaw and Agatha

people. And underlying this popularity remained the

Christie are documented as having enjoyed the odd

sea and surf.

Of particular interest is the recent discovery by British

bookending the south end of the expansive beach, where

researchers that Agatha Christie was one of the first

the soft, consistently rolling waves were perfect for all

Brits to take up surfing, while on holiday in South Africa

beach-goers. In some ways, it was not dissimilar to that

in 1922. She took up bodyboarding initially, and then,

famous Pacific stretch at Waikiki, Hawaii.

when her husband Archie was offered a position to help

The influx of beach-hungry tourists even led to the

©MUSEUM OF BRITISH SURFING

everything from concert venue to milk bar hangout,

entrenched itself on the southern tip of Africa,

session at Muizenberg’s corner — a wind-protected nook

Agatha Christie and a borrowed sled named Fred.

organise a world tour to promote the British Empire

local Muizenberg municipality hiring out hundreds

Exhibition to be held in London in 1924, she took to the

of these “surf-boards”, as well as costumes, bathing

seas on a surfboard. The couple left England in January

caps, towels and deck chairs, all framed against the

1922. They arrived in South Africa in early February and

famous colourful Victorian bathing boxes that still

immediately took to swimming in the ocean and were

stand today. Muizenberg’s popularity was also a result

then introduced to prone surfboard riding at Muizenberg.

of technology — or a lack thereof. Prior to the boom of

While her contemporaries washed down cocktails,

the motor vehicle, transport in the Cape was almost

Christie rode the waves in Cape Town and later on in

exclusively done by train and the peninsula’s remote

Hawaii, succeeding in standing-up despite the large

At the Cape it has become a cult. The wild exhilaration is

beaches remained largely deserted. Instead, thousands

boards and surf proving a tough test of her new skills.

infectious. It steadies the nerves, exercises the muscles

of vacationers would spend a couple leisurely days

Christie wrote at the time: ‘The surf boards (prone style)

and makes the enthusiast clear-headed and clear-eyed.

travelling by railway from various parts of South

in South Africa were made of light, thin wood, easy to

Life and good spirits are qualities of the surf bather.”

Africa to the Cape Town Station, then transfer onto

carry, and one soon got the knack of coming in on the

This text may be one of the earliest definitions of

the Muizenberg line and be sun and surf-bathing at

waves. It was occasionally painful as you took a nose

the word ‘stoked’ in South Africa. Almost a year after

the ‘Berg before their bags were unpacked.

dive down into the sand, but on the whole it was an easy

the publication, the earliest record of stand-up surfing

the following statement to lure visitors: “In the Pacific the islanders have made it an art.

sport and great fun.” The writer’s flimsy costume had to

in southern Africa surfaced in 1919. The original sepia

establishments in the form of 27 prized hotels,

be replaced by wool swimwear which, as described in

photograph of Heather Price, which appeared a few

a movie theatre (as good and big as any in the city),

her own words, was “a wonderful, skimpy emerald green

years later as the inspiration behind the postcard to

numerous restaurants, seven hairdressing salons,

wool bathing dress, which was the joy of my life, and in

lure visitors from the dreary UK, was taken during one

three pharmacies, three dairies, two dry-cleaners,

which I thought I looked remarkably well!”

of these first recorded surf sessions in South Africa, at

In its heyday, Muizenberg boasted world-class

at least three butcheries, two hardware stores and its iconic pavilion, which over the years was used for

20

A few years earlier, in 1918, the Cape Peninsula Publicity Association published a brochure which used

the spot which would be dubbed ‘The Surfer’s Corner’, as it is still referred to this day.

Arcadian Alex ‘Lex’ Miller and Heather Price riding tandem on a “surf-boat”, while fellow Arcadian Tony Bowman rides one of his first shapes, circa early 1920’s. ©MILLER FAMILY COLLECTION

One thing is for sure; beachwear is not like it used to be in 1912. ©WESTERN CAPE ARCHIVES AND RECORD SERVICES

Muizenberg station, circa 1912; the gateway to some fun in the sun. ©WESTERN CAPE ARCHIVES AND RECORD SERVICES

Major PG Badenhorst warns surfers to disperse during a protest after the surfing ban of 1965. ©CAPE TIMES

Leonard Shandler cruising at the ‘African Waikiki’, circa early 1960’s. ©NICK HOUGH COLLECTION Bernie Shelly, ready to shred in the 60’s. ©SHELLY FAMILY COLLECTION

As the years went on surfing continued to gain popularity, and with it the Muizenberg lineup swelled with water users of every sort.

Not everyone was enamoured with the new craze of wave-riding, however. Many bathers and swimmers complained bitterly, which led to a ban on surfing at Surfer’s Corner in 1965, with many influential members of society claiming that surfing had only been around for a few years and that the City Council should exclude surfing from ‘The Corner’ and make it a swimming-only beach, despite surfing having actually been around for much longer.

The heavy, chunky boards of the time were a problem without leashes, though. Weighing in at 15 kilograms or more on average, an uncontrolled board was potentially a lethal missile.

“When a surfer fell off those massive, solid boards, it lay parallel to the wave and would basically mow swimmers down, and anyone else who was in the way,” recalls Nick Hough, Muizenberg local, and an original member of the Muizenberg Corner Surf Club

When all you’ve got is a tiny Goliath 1100 two-door and your board is over nine-feet long, a blanket and some rope is essential to get you on your way, circa 1961. ©COLIN SUNKEL

established in 1965.

This was made all the more dangerous at the height of the holiday season, when literally thousands of

and its shops year-round, and everything else.

tourists would flock to the Muizenberg beachfront at

So why take away The Corner from surfing? Why not

Easter and Christmas time. “Being very wealthy and

rather allow us to surf in The Corner and designate an

influential people,” remembers Nick, “they complained

alternate swimming-only area further down the beach?

to the City Council, who in their wisdom invoked a ban

Unfortunately they didn’t see it our way, and they banned

on surfing. Of course that didn’t go down very well with

surfing outright. This didn’t sit well with the local surfers,

the surfing fraternity, whose counter argument was

guys like Dimitri “Jimmy the Greek” Goutis, Malcolm

that we weren’t just down at Muizenberg surfing for

“Mac” McInnes, Robert Binedell, Leonard “Bunny”

a few weeks of the year, we were there year-round.

Shandler, David “Red” Walker, John “Johnny” Padgen,

We lived there, and those that didn’t came down

Mike “Twinkletoes” Gilham, George Bunting and the

whenever there were waves. We supported Muizenberg

Bokhorst Brothers to name a few, so they surfed

22

NEIGHBOURHOODS / ZAG 42.1

A group of Corner surfers in the 60’s, showing off their locally-shaped modern foam and fibreglass longboards. ©MICHAEL WRIGHT

anyway. A lot of them were members of the MCSC and

example, and fortunately the judge agreed and I was

dressed, imposing in stature, and ready for action

I was secretary of the club at the time.”

promptly acquitted. But the ban remained.”

— as seen in the newspaper clippings of the time.

A healthy crowd of surfers gathered outside the

“He told us if we didn’t disperse we would all be

a number of the local surfers, including MSCS president

courthouse in support of Johnny’s acquittal, and the

locked up or worse,” recalls Nick Hough, “which we

and attorney Johnny Pagden, paddled out into the

hopeful lifting of the surfing ban.

weren’t happy about of course, as this felt like ‘our’

Gathering at The Corner shortly after the ban,

lineup. During their surf the word went out and police

“I bunked school that day,” smiles Mike “Twinkletoes”

corner. Then along came our MP who was John Wily

vans gathered quickly on the beach waiting for the

Gilham. “And in my school uniform nogal. The next

at the time, and he spoke over a loudspeaker, urging

lawbreakers. Johnny was promptly arrested the moment

day I received a jolly good hiding from the principal

us to please disperse peacefully. We did in the end,

he stepped onto dry sand by a member of the fearsome

of Muizenberg School, who unfortunately read the

because as you might see in the old photographs,

South African Police Force.

newspaper and saw me in the photograph.”

it was an onshore day and there wasn’t much surf.”

“I remember him sternly saying in a thick Afrikaans

Mike wasn’t the only one, but it wasn’t until later that

The ban remained in place for a forgotten period of

accent, ‘I am arresting you for surfing illegally! And I

things really heated up for the young ‘Berg surfers and

time thereafter, but it wasn’t a great success, as locals

am confiscating that board and putting it in the back of

their supporters.

would regularly still surf in The Corner. Upon receiving

the van’,” recalls Johnny. “I shouted to the gathering

“It was quite chaotic,” remembers George Bunting.

fines from the diligent constables, they would give fake

crowd, ‘This man is stealing my board!’ The officer then

“The word went out like wildfire and every oke with

names like Miki Dora or someone equally famous or

countered with a, ‘No, I am taking it in as evidence!’

a surfboard in the Cape arrived at Muizenberg to protest

obscure to avoid any further trouble.

In the end I was hauled into the back of the police

and take a stand. We reckon, other than the racial riots

van with my massive longboard and taken down to

because of apartheid in Langa, etcetera, this was the

to move away from the best part of Muizenberg, I

the police station, where I was charged. The case

first really mass protest in South Africa in opposition

believe the authorities eventually realised it was better

came up a couple of weeks later in the Simon’s Town

to the old boere South African regime. I mean, you just

to give us The Corner and demarcate a bathers and

magistrates court. I was represented by a friend who

didn’t do that back in those days, because the police

swimming area further down the beach, which they

was an advocate, who argued that there was no case

were hardcore!”

eventually did,” says George Bunting. Thus ’The Surfer’s

because there was no clear definition of a surfboard in the relevant legislation. We took along a board as an

Sent to quell the protest was one Major PG Badenhorst

“Because of our passive resistance and not wanting

Corner’ was finally realised and claimed.

from the Wynberg district, who was immaculately

23

ZAG 42.1 / NEIGHBOURHOODS

The Snake Pit, slithering with beachgoers during the summer of ‘69.

In the decades that followed, Muizenberg’s golden

Hundreds paddle out to attempt a new world record at the Earthwave Festival in 2013 ©WILSON

businesses still trading. Unfortunately thereafter, one by

age tarnished rapidly and the neighbourhood started

one the hotels began to close and by 1980 I don’t think

to deteriorate. One of the key reasons for its demise

there was one hotel left. Interestingly, surfing wasn’t

was the exit of residents, holidaymakers, and most

that big at this stage outside of the core group of surfers.

of the Jewish elite. More favourable beaches became

In the late 1950’s and all through the 1960’s longboard

increasingly accessible. Places with less wind like Sea

surfing was extremely popular. It was a real vibe! It lost

Point, Camps Bay and Clifton in Cape Town became

its vibe through the shortboard revolution though, and

easy to get to by motor vehicle. And then Durban

kinda got it back through Bay Surf Club sometime in the

became a prime holiday destination, which was quicker

80’s. But certainly nothing like it is now or was in the

and more affordable to get to once the railway and

60’s and earlier. Bay Surf Club did amazing things for

freeways were connected from Johannesburg — not

surfing thanks to Di Jacobs, Noel Jarvis and company.

forgetting the warmer water and better climate.

With close on 180 members, their weekend events

And so the beachfront buildings of the ‘Berg, once

Sign of the times, circa ’84. ©MORTON

would take three days to run because there were so

brightly lit and bustling, began to fade and crumble.

many people. But other than that, it was real tough to do

changes, the essence of surfing at Muizenberg remained

Its alleyways grew ever shadier and unkept, and the

business during the 80’s.”

largely unchanged.

rot and salty air set in everywhere, with few who cared

Talking to Shafiq Morton, stalwart Muizenberg local

“There was never an issue of race or apartheid when

save for the surfers and the few resident locals who

and photojournalist, he says, “There was no sympathy for

it came to the Muizenberg lineup,” claims Morton,

wouldn’t leave. Two of these surfers worth mentioning

surfing back in the late 1960’s and early 70’s; it wasn’t a

“despite signs erected on the beach stating otherwise

are Peter Wright, owner of the oldest surf shop in South

sport and it had no status other than the negative ‘beach

like ‘whites only’. As surfers that never mattered to us,

Africa, The Corner Surf Shop (which was established in

bum’ connotation. There were few women surfing back in

and once you were off the beach and into the water,

1971) and Tich Paul, who opened Lifestyle Surf Shop in

the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, but a few names definitely stick

things like apartheid didn’t matter. The only surfers

1975. Both shops have become institutions and stood

out. I recall among others, Phillipa “Pippa” Sales and

of colour I can remember in those days were Robbie

the test of time through Muizenberg’s darkest days.

Margaret Smith, who both become Springbok surfers,

Abrahams and Ahmed Collier. Robbie surfed a bit at

and then Bernie Shelly who still surfs today.”

Muizenberg, but more often down towards Nine Miles,

“Another factor responsible for the demise of the ‘Berg was the tearing down of the old pavilion in 1970 and the

“Those core, few of us in the early 1960’s were

but Ahmed was right there with us at Muizenberg.

loss of ‘The Snake Pit’,” says Tich. “The Snake Pit was

pioneers in my opinion,” says Bernie Shelly, who is still

Surfing at The ‘Berg in those earlier days was pretty

an area wedged behind the colourful bathing boxes and

a local standout ‘Berg surfer at age 70. “We didn’t do it

hardcore. The boards weighed a lot and we didn’t

the old pavilion, and was the central hangout spot for the

because our boyfriends or male friends were doing it; we

have leashes, so we would often have to swim in from

majority of the beachgoers solely because it was wind-

did it because we were drawn to the surf as any surfer

the backline a few times a session, and there were

free. There were hundreds and sometimes thousands

is. Margaret Smith was definitely the standout amongst

no wetsuits — the best we had was a thick, old rugby

of people with all kinds of activities happening day and

the ladies; she was extremely talented and able, as good

jersey. Luckily we didn’t even think about sharks back

night in the holidays. It was just a phenomenal place

as any of the guys in my opinion. Her ability to trim and

then, otherwise few of us would have bothered surfing.

to be. I mean, I was just a little teenie-bopper at that

walk was outstanding. She started before most of us and

But because of this all, there was great camaraderie

stage, but I used to go along and try to get involved in

was simply more talented.”

and we would all hang out either at the house, which

all kinds of things in The Snake Pit. When we opened up

By the 1980’s both surfing and South Africa had

used to be where the parking area is now, or in front of

shop in 1975, there were still 17 hotels, the cinema was

changed a lot with the rapid envelopment of both

the colourful bathing boxes. Beach culture was alive

still operational and busy, and there were all kinds of

apartheid and the twin-fin movement. Despite these

and well, despite how rundown Muizenberg was.”

24

NEIGHBOURHOODS / ZAG 42.1

The brightly-painted bathing boxes have been a fixture at Muizenberg since the early days. 80’s-style twin fins came later. ©MORTON

Bernie Shelly has been surfing the Berg since 1964, and is still one of the most graceful surfers in the lineup over a half century later. ©VAN GYSEN

25

ZAG 42.1 / NEIGHBOURHOODS

Four surfers; three generations; one wave – Levi Mayes (12), Christina Rovere (31), Bernie Shelly (70), Nola Viotti (68), circa 2017. ©VAN GYSEN

my friends, I think it was because surfing became

because of who he was, but because of what he was

and hasn’t stopped its ascent yet. Not because of any

a family lifestyle. Where do you take kids who want to

doing at Muizenberg. It blew me away.”

one person or single factor, but rather a combination

learn to surf? The ‘Berg! And because our generation

of reasons.

are now older, we aren’t dreaming or pretending

concludes Tich. “Seeing things now, I’m just stoked how

we’re Kelly Slater anymore, and Muizenberg is the

diverse surfing is. From longboarding to SUP, bodysurfing

rise of Muizenberg were the boom of surfing globally

perfect place to surf; especially on a longboard. The

to shortboarding. And to have a local boy like Brandon

for one,” says Tich Paul. “And Fair Cape Homes.

return of longboards as an addition to the modern

Benjamin win SA Champs is just such a stoke!”

For Muizenberg to get back off the ground, none

quiver has been a major positive step for Muizenberg.

of us independently could have done it. We could

It’s actually one of the best places in the world to

celebrate its centenary; 1919 - 2019. 100 years of

and did improve our own little places, but it required

longboard because of the perfect bathymetry. And it’s

standing up on waves on the southern edge of Africa.

a property developer to really get the ball rolling.

probably one of the most consistent places in South

If we can take just two things from these 100 years

Fair Cape Homes did that for The ‘Berg. They came

Africa for year-round surf. You don’t get better all-

of surfing heritage at Muizenberg, it will be that the

in and they had a vision, which is what we see today.

round conditions for surfing anywhere. Probably the

mellow, unassuming wave found beneath the Berg is

They were the catalyst. Without them I don’t think

most profound moment for me of how Muizenberg has

timeless, and that it was made for all; regardless of

anything would have happened. It would have

evolved was recently, when there in the shorebreak,

colour, creed, gender, class or craft of choice.

happened too much in isolation.”

I witnessed a black grom successfully completing air

And then Muizenberg began to rise from the ashes,

“I think the two biggest factors which ignited the

Adding to Tich’s thoughts, Shafiq Morton agrees, “Fair Cape Homes yes, and in particular for me and

after air after air. It was just so beautiful to see. And

“Surfing - especially at Muizenberg, is all-inclusive,”

Two years from now, South African surfing will

Were a sign to be put up at Muizenberg today it would read, “Surf bathing in South Africa — all are welcome!”

the key point was that people were stoked like me, not

NICK HOUGH

R.F. BAIN

GEORGE BUNTING

BERNIE SHELLY

JOHNNY PAGDEN

Where surfing began in Cape Town, and where youngsters still get their first taste. Sunrise lesson at The Corner. ©WILSON

26

TICH PAUL

MILLER FAMILY

SHAFIQ MORTON

ARCHIVES

TESSA MOORE

~

WILL BENDIX

PETE ROBINSON

ANDREW MILLER

AND THE MUSEUM OF

ROSS LINDSEY

BRITISH SURFING

MIKE GILHAM

~

JAMES TOOLEY

THE WESTERN CAPE

GLEN THOMPSON

ARCHIVES AND

PAUL BOTHA

RECORD SERVICES.

Conner Coffin

Ultra-Rugged & Water Resistant.

INTRODUCING THE WORLD’S FIRST AC T I O N S P O R T S S M A R T WATC H .

nixon.com KARMA i n f o @ k a r m a n o w. c o . z a • 0 2 1 0 2 0 0 1 5 2 • w w w. k a r m a n o w. c o . z a

N am e/ Manoa Jye Robb Date of birth/ 25/04/ 2 0 0 2 Hometown/ Kommetjie SPONSORS/ Quiksilver / DVG / Scarfini

Manoa tucks into an icy pit at one of his favourite waves down the beach. ©ANDERSON

How did you start surfing? Paddled out at Vic Bay with my dad when I was four and stood up first time.

Favourite shape? My 5’5” DVG squashtail.

Biggest mistake you’ve made?

Face-planting into concrete at Inner Kom. Favourite wave? Down the beach.

Worst wave you’ve ever surfed? Onshore Muizenberg.

Favourite surfer? Dane Reynolds.

Who inspires you? John John Florence.

Proudest moment this past year? Getting good grades.

What would you like to see more of in SA surfing?

More local contests.

Best hidden talent?

What’s the point of hiding your talent?

Where will surfing be in five years? Hopefully everyone will be in a wave pool, so there’s more space in the sea.

28

If you could surf your favourite wave with anyone, who would it be? York van Jaarsveldt.

What would you do if you found a secret spot?

Just surf it. And keep quiet about it.

Sickest thing you did this past year?

Added some large scale waves to my list of surf spots.

Favourite SA surf slang? Aweh!

Best tunes to rock out to before a surf?

Showdown by ELO If you had to be anything other than a pro surfer?

Rock Star.

One reason why living in South Africa rules?

No crowds.

One reason why it sucks? Our president.

Wisest words you’ve heard? “Don’t be a doos” Ultimate place to be stranded? Hawaii.

What would you like for your birthday?

An electric guitar and a trip to Hawaii.

Goal for 2018?

Win SA shortboard and longboard champs.

The best thing a girl has ever said to you?

My mom says she loves me all the time.

If someone dropped in on you at your local break?

Strike 1.

Big barrel or giant carve?

Big barrel (although giant carves also feel pretty good).

Banting, vegetarian or chops and boerie? Bunny chow.

Where do you wanna be in ten years?

Making music and shredding barrels.

Worst Wipeout? Blowing the take-off on a solid one and almost getting a double-wave hold down.

. . . . .

T H E

P L I M P T O N

|

W I L D

V I N T A G E

G R E Y

P O L A R I Z E D. . . . O N LY B E T T E R

ZAG 42.1 / CULTURE

THE KINDNESS

When the WSL come to town, they put on a heck of a show. Mick Fanning and Supertubes star in this scene. ©McGEOWN

WHY THE WORLD SURF LEAGUE MIGHT JUST HAVE A SHOT

BY NICK CARROLL

OF

“I HAVE THE FEELING THAT SURFING IS READY TO EXPLODE AGAIN.”

Sophie Goldschmidt, CEO of the World Surf League,

our questions politely fobbed off or just plain ignored,

says this while beaming across the dinner table at an

our access limited, our ability to explain what was

assembled horde of surf journalists. We pretty much

actually going on in the sport reduced to a trickle

all beam back. Sophie is warm and likeable and clearly

of whacky rumours.

knows her shit, yet is charmingly self-deprecating

Now, we’ve been invited to this farm town three

— willing to admit to her semi-novice surfing status.

hours inland to meet Sophie and get educated at last.

“I can do most sports,” she says, and she is an ex-

Oh, and to ride the world’s biggest mystery location,

tennis pro, so she’s probably right. “But I couldn’t surf!

the thing 99.99% of us have only seen on video:

But here’s what got me about it — although I couldn’t

the Kelly Slater Wave Company skunkworks pool.

do it, I had ridiculous fun trying.”

So what the hell is really going on here?

Shaun, MR and Terry Fitzgerald; three performers who helped set the pro surfing stage. Makaha, Hawaii, circa ’76. ©MERKEL

THE MAGNIFICENT FLAW Along with the ocean, pro surfing has always relied on

How has professional surfing come to find itself

the kindness of strangers. It’s pretty much in constant

California, a joint where for obvious reasons, WSL staff

in the hands of a multi-billionaire New York family

need of new recruits. I reckon this might be because

are clearly well known.

and their fellow investors, committed to a future

as a sport, it’s both magnificently unique, and terribly,

that includes super sci-fi wave pool resorts, reduced

fatally flawed. What other pro sport has to sit around

fractured relationships. From the start of this

competitor numbers, and a playoff-style world title

for days or weeks or even longer, just kinda…waiting

fascinating and completely unexpected era

showdown tailor-made for pay-per-view? And more

for the playing field to show up, thanks to some furious

in pro surfing, the surf press has been sidelined:

to the point — can they pull it off?

weather event that is or isn’t out there over the horizon

We’re at Reyna’s Mexican restaurant in Lemoore,

It’s the WSL’s first step at repairing some pretty

somewhere? I will tell you! None.

I love that, by the way. The unpredictable ocean and its moods; that storm over the horizon being there, or not. It truly is, on some fundamental level, the reason I surf — because every day is different.

This gives surfing its goofy seductive power, over surfers and kind strangers alike. Yet here’s the hilarious irony: In a pro sporting context, the best thing about surfing is also the worst. In a world run by schedules, it refuses to be scheduled. It’s why the only people who’ve really stuck to it through the years are the hopeless surf addicts. Everyone else — sponsors, wannabes, coat-tailers, family members, whomever, just hang out for a while, seduced by the environment and the hotness and the vibe. Until at some point, they can’t deal with it any more, and they crack.

Thus you have the ever-repeated story of pro surfing since the early 1970s: surf addicts out there hunting down enablers, building something up, riding their fortune, until Fate intervenes to disrupt it, and a new plan must be made, new enablers found. It’s the story Jordy waiting out a lull doesn’t make for entertaining viewing, but now the WSL have an ace up their sleeve. ©MILLER

of Fred Hemmings and the IPS, of Ian Cairns and the ASP, of the surf industry and the Dream Tour, and of the 18,000-plus surfers who’ve entered a pro contest at some time since 1976, and who are now scattered around the globe, coaching kids, making boards,

STRANGERS

watching the webcasts, keeping the flame burning.

It’s too big a story, right? We’d need 40 Zigzags to tell it. Let’s just stick to this latest chapter: the WSL, its little known kind stranger, and the biggest surf star — and surf addict — of all time.

ZAG 42.1 / CULTURE

THE TOUR THAT WASN’T Back in 2009, Kelly Slater tried something seemingly out of the blue. In a quiet way which didn’t stay quiet for too long, he began talking to some of his fellow pros about the idea of a new kind of world tour, or as it was swiftly dubbed, a Rebel Tour.

At the time, elite pro surfing was coming off a decade of almost complete control by the Big Three surf companies — Rip Curl, Quiksilver, and Billabong, all of whom had been running their own shows at CT events around the globe.

In the process, the tour had become a huge, bloated beast, costing US$50 million a year to execute, with diminishing returns to its backers, and no return at all to the organisation tasked with its oversight.

There’d been mutterings for a while about how to bust up this paradigm, and about the level of control being exerted by the Big Three — was this a real sport, or was it just the surf industry’s tame marketing exercise?

But man, it still came as a shock when KS turned out to be the putative paradigm-buster.

Kelly and his manager Terry Hardy, along with a couple of executives from the US sports cable channel ESPN, had A Vision. It went a bit like this: Let’s not just sell surf clothing. We’re bigger than that. Let’s make this thing elite — slim it down, tighten it up. Let’s get a TV deal and go big game hunting.

But the whole thing blew up in their faces. The surfers The man with a plan (and 11 world titles), Kelly Slater. ©MILLER

were split, and the industry threw more money on the table in order to persuade them. The Rebel Tour died before it was born. But the idea didn’t die — and three years later, its time had come.

B U T M A N , I T S T I L L C A M E A S A S H O C K W H E N K E L LY T U R N E D O U T T O B E T H E P U TA T I V E PA R A D I G M - B U S T E R

THE KINDEST

STRANGER OF ALL

I’ve never interviewed Dirk Ziff or his wife Natasha.

golf and music, align closely with Kelly’s; you can

question — why? — was kinda impossible to answer,

No surf journalist has. No journalist of any kind, in fact.

imagine a connection forming between them, and

because you couldn’t ask the only people whose

The Ziffs are awesomely private, as maybe you or I might

Kelly’s passion doing the rest.

answer would have meant much.

be if we had approximately R68 billion. Still, everyone

In any case, nobody would talk about him.

But at that point, not a whole lot of people were asking.

with whom we share a mutual acquaintance says they’re

Nobody would let you talk to him. A cult of secrecy

The surf companies were battling heavy economic

warm, intelligent, stoked on surfing, and generous

formed around the entire project, obscuring some key

headwinds and were just stoked to have the $50 million

almost to a fault. (Sophie calls them “philanthropic”.)

facts: how would it be funded? What was the end goal?

(approximately R700 million) behemoth off their books.

But...private. So much so that it took almost a year

Most of all, why? That was an easy question to answer

The ASP employees were stoked to have a crack at

before Ziff was outed as the money guy behind the

back in 1976, or even in 2009 — enough people had

something new. And the surfers? They might have been

takeover of the ASP. There’s still no public account of

something to gain, whether it be sporting credibility,

split over the Rebel Tour concept, but they could sniff

how he was brought into contact with the sport, though

or a financial reason to blunder off surfing around the

the surf industry winds turning sour…and let’s face it,

I reckon it’s no coincidence that Terry Hardy, KS’s

world, or a global marketing tool for your billion dollar

here was a billionaire promising to underwrite their Life,

manager and an architect of the Rebel Tour concept,

apparel company.

the best Life in surfing and possibly the greatest Life in

was right in the middle of it. Dirk Ziff’s other interests,

32

In 2013, when the Ziff team took the reins, that

the world. The kindness of strangers!

A

PLAN

SELL

The SPORT

Since the WSL took over, there’s no denying they’ve raised the standards of the webcast, covering the action from all angles. ©MILLER

But if Ziff’s takeover was inspired by the Rebel Tour,

of the world. Speaker promised a “fan-centric” experience,

involved in pro surfing before the WSL came along.

in practice it looked nothing like that.

and we were now all just fans.

Deals were cut all over the million-dollar naming rates

The soon-to-be WSL’s plan was pretty simple:

I dunno about you, but I was fascinated. I couldn’t

test surfing’s value in the big sports entertainment

quite figure out what this crew thought they’d be able to

CTs are still being run and funded without “name”

marketplace. Let’s just call it Plan A.

do that other people hadn’t already tried. US network TV?

partners. The big-time broadcasting deals never

That was Fred Hemmings 35 years ago. Non-endemic

appeared, devolving into YouTube and some off-and-on

Terry Hardy’s Santa Monica-based sports marketing

sponsors? That was Gunston, Smirnoff, Coca-Cola,

cable tie-ins.

vehicle. It called for a tour that earned more than its

all before the world tour even existed. Mainstream

keep. There was a million dollars a pop for each CT’s

appeal? That was Shaun Tomson and Mark Richards

instantly making it coherent and follow-able event

naming rights. Lucrative tour partnerships with a range

and then pretty much the whole of the 1980s. Peak surf

to event (and if you think that’s a small thing, you’ve

of non-endemic companies would be sold across a range

experiences? That was the Dream Tour in a nutshell.

forgotten what it was like beforehand). They did great

The task of drawing up Plan A fell to ZoSea Media,

fee, partly just to keep the industry in the game; some

The WSL team did a knockout job on the webcast,

of categories: cars, electronics, cosmetics, travel and

It’d all been tried, and it’d all worked for a while, but

airline, beverage, the works. This would all be in sync

not much had really stuck. Except, I guess, the surfing.

prizemoney parity with the men, and paid it back by

with a range of equally impressive new broadcast deals,

The extraordinary, savage surfing.

surfing out of their skins. There were silver linings in

securing the partnerships and opening more and more doors for all concerned.

Paul Speaker was the CEO, the public face of this

Nothing about the WSL’s Plan A changed that.

Their world champ list reads: Gabriel Medina, Steph Gilmore, Adriano de Souza, Carissa Moore, Johnny

things by the women, who instantly gained head-to-head

the sales department, notably some strong ongoing deals with various government tourism groups.

But mostly what they did was spend Dirk Ziff’s money.

scheme. A driven and successful ex-NFL marketing

Florence and Tyler Wright. You can argue over that all

Just how much was invested, well, if you shake through

executive with a history in film production and (briefly)

day, but all it’ll prove is you’re a bigger fan than ever.

the estimates of people who’ve been behind some of

in the surf industry — he spent time on the Quiksilver

But if the task was to sell through, Plan A didn’t quite

board — Speaker spent almost a year behind the scenes,

work. A fortune was spent on trying to lure backers

selling it to everyone involved: surfers, the ASP Board,

through the door, with very limited success; the takers

the Ziffs, everyone except the actual surfing communities

were Samsung, Jeep, and Corona, all of whom were

the doors in it all, it was well over US$100 million, which is roughly R1,4 billion.

Ouch.

CULTURE / ZAG 42.1

Sometimes they call lay days when it’s pumping too. The organisers were spoiled for choice in J-Bay this year. ©VAN GYSEN

HERE WAS A BILLIONAIRE PROMISING TO UNDERWRITE THEIR LIFE, THE BEST LIFE IN SURFING AND POSSIBLY THE GREATEST LIFE IN THE WORLD. THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS!

East London’s Rosy Hodge is part of the crew presenting a better-than-ever Dream Tour show. ©TOSTEE

ZAG 42.1 / CULTURE

I MEAN,

WHAT DO YOU SAY ABOUT A SPORT WHOSE FINEST EVENT, THE EDDIE AIKAU INVITATIONAL, GOES ON HOLD FOR YEARS?

Clyde Aikau celebrates the life of his legendary brother at the opening ceremony of the Eddie Aikua Invitational. ©NOYLE

WHO OPS! In 2016 the Plan A edifice began to crumble. The trigger

inhabiting the world’s coastlines. Once they discovered

Anyway, whatever. By the second half of 2016,

was Samsung’s decision not to renew their sponsorship.

this was a promise the WSL couldn’t deliver, they were

a small but steady trickle of WSL employees were

On the surface it was all, “It’s been great! Thanks!

just waiting for the contract to end.

beginning to “move on” in a way that suggested

See ya!” Behind that lay what sounds like a bit of a mixed

But that was just a trigger. It doesn’t tell you why

they knew something was up. They were joined by

bag. One independent source, who works at a high level

that $100 million investment couldn’t ignite pro surfing

Paul Speaker, who stepped down as CEO in early 2017,

advising corporation on their sports marketing deals,

— why the TV networks and non-endemic corpos listened

citing the famed spending-time-with-the-family line,

told me the Samsung people had felt dudded almost

to the high powered WSL sales staff, took a look at it,

but clearly paying the price for Plan A. Very recently

from the outset. They’d believed the deal would give

and said, “Pass”. If I were to take a wild guess, I’d say

I have heard that at the time, the Ziffs themselves

them not just the sport, but the entire global surf culture

it’s because nothing the WSL did changed anything

had been seriously considering pulling the plug.

— that every surf shop would have a Samsung screen,

about the weather. The whole tour, slickly presented

Hell, there are limits to anyone’s generosity.

every surfer a Samsung phone. That they’d have access

though it was, remained at the utter mercy of storms

not just to the three and a half million viewers who the

over the horizon. I mean, what do you say about a sport

popped up, things nobody has ever tried in surfing before.

WSL’s tracking told them were regularly logging into the

whose finest event, the Eddie Aikau Invitational, goes on

The first was the acceptance of surfing as an Olympic

webcast each year, but the 35 million surfers supposedly

hold for years?

sport. The second was The Ranch.

36

But they didn’t, not quite. Because two things

B

The Ranch tops the list of Plan B. ©STAB

PLAN

The WSL Surf Ranch, or “Kelly’s pool” as we all tend to call it, is an amazing thing. It truly is.

THE MEANS &

THE END

franchise options on the pool — for US $25 million a pop.

Since then the WSL has gained a permit to build

The day after the dinner with Sophie, we all drove

a second Surf Ranch: this one in Palm Beach, Florida,

out there to survey it and surf it — this very human

not very far from the Ziff family’s holiday home. If the

miracle of technology, imagination, persistence,

Lemoore pool is a kind of skunkworks, the Palm Beach

and sheer hard work.

one will be the real deal, the “commercial” version

I wish I could tell you all about that day. Sadly,

— new and improved, viewing stands, restaurants,

in keeping with the WSL’s ongoing reputation for iron

shops, maybe a boutique hotel. It’s been roughly costed

control even in a culture that barely knows the meaning

at US$45 million, almost as much as the entire CT’s

of the term, I signed a document that embargoes any

price tag. Build 10 of them in the next decade, and you

reporting of my experience there until 31 January, 2018.

have a business worth owning.

It’s a bummer, because the thing needs reporting

For another, it’s predictable. In the Surf Ranch pool,

in 2009 when the Rebel Tour was semi on the table.

And they’ve hired Sophie Goldschmidt, who along with her warmth and charm, has one of the most formidable CVs in modern sport; she’s run the Adidas

— real reporting, not the flawless video edits you’re

there’s no storm over the horizon. Instead, there are

US women’s soccer and tennis programme, the US

getting on socials. It’s waaaay more interesting than

three tech savvy guys on computers in a control tower.

NBA’s foreign marketing and recruitment programme,

that. The technology in that pool is at the core of the

They watch, they make a call, they press the button.

and the English rugby machine, not to mention a stint

WSL’s Plan B, and it’s why I suspect they may actually

They make a perfect wave, on time, all day long.

with Lord Sebastian Coe’s sports agency.

have a shot.

An event can be made to fit any schedule you dare to

For all that, she seems sincerely psyched by the job

dream up. It’s not magic the way a surf spot is magic,

ahead. “I do think surfing may be on the verge of

When pro surfing has functioned best, it’s been as

but my God, to a lot of the people who’ll be watching,

a moment,” she says. “The Olympics, this pool, the fact

an adjunct to sales of some kind — vodka, cigarettes,

that won’t make any difference at all.

that so many new nations are beginning to get into it…

For one thing, they now have something to sell.

boardshorts. But in Plan A, the WSL had nothing to sell but surf contests, and as many a contest promotor will

For a third, it seems to have given the Ziffs the confidence to sign off on a long term commitment to

it feels like a convergence of things.”

I watched her gazing intently at yet another clumsy

professional surfing. If they’d been thinking of quitting

surf journo tackling the pool, and asked if she wasn’t

back in 2016, that time is past. Indeed, they’re stepping

already a bit sick of watching people surf. “Oh no,”

a long process of hunting down his successor. Close

it up. A new kind of CT is in the works right now, tighter,

she told me. “This is unique. I’m amazed when

to the top of the job wish-list was the task of selling

slimmed down, curiously like the one suggested back

I talk to pros and find that the first thing they do

tell you, that’s a road to goddam nowhere.

After Paul Speaker left the building, the WSL began

38

CULTURE / ZAG 42.1

A little less chlorine and just two inches bigger and it’ll be perfect, John John Florence may have thought to himself while testing out Kelly’s pool. ©GLASER

when they’ve got a break in the tour is plan a surf trip somewhere. Nobody in other sports does that!”

THIS WHOLE GIG, THE WSL, THE COMING CHANGES TO THE TOUR, THE POOL, IS KELLY’S IDEA. THE ULTIMATE SURF ADDICT HAS COME UP WITH THE MEANS AND THE END TO THIS STORY.

I was struck by a single thought: she’s been sucked in.

Chalk up another seduction to surfing’s irrepressible charm.

But at the bottom and at the end of all this is Kelly.

This whole gig, the WSL, the coming changes to the tour, the pool, is his idea. The ultimate surf addict has come up with the means and the end to this story.

He’s answered the question — why? — with its only logical match: why not?

If this succeeds or if it implodes — if the paradigm is broken at last, or if pro surfing ends up back where it started, looking for storms over the horizon — you’ll know who to thank.

Nah, it’s perfect, reckons Kelly. ©GLASER

39

ZAG 42.1 / CULTURE

40

Andre Botha tangos with Devil’s Horn, a heavy weskus slab his stand-up

cousins don’t really want to pair up with. ©BOSMAN

41

42

Riley’s at high tide, with just enough water

on the reef for Fergal Smith to skim over. ŠELLIS

CULTURE / ZAG 42.1

the meeting of a single tongue of volcanic rock that lay

the boys, that malice between stand-up surfers and

getting to the wave required a great deal of slow-

dark and dry more hours than not, and the pull of the

bodyboarders was not universal, or even rational.

motion risk. The fields tilted toward a notch in the

moon on the ocean surface. I guess it was just lucky

Everyone present felt so lucky to even to exist then and

top-land that led to the only access point in a series

timing for bodyboarder Mickey Smith, that he came

there, the tiny differences that defined others simply

of cliffs staggered around a small bay. The cliffs were

upon the wave during a full tide the day he first set

fell away.

so sheer, in fact, the sea was hardly visible from the

eyes on it. He’d been walking the land looking for such

farms above. As an interloper, I’d wondered if the

a thing, so I guess it’s true that believing is a head

spongers...these terms used to be everyday epithets

locals were inured to such drastic escarpments, such

start on the way to being.

stand-up practitioners applied to surfers who paddled

There was time to think about this, because even

elemental conflicts between land and sea. For me,

On the days I visited Riley’s, of the nine or so surfers

Dick-draggers, boogers, half-men, lid-riders,

out on flexible hunks of foam. Traditionalists verbally

each encounter with the vertical walls inspired awe in

out on any given swell, only two to three would have

harassed, dropped in on, and did their best to intimidate

the original sense, as in a feeling of diminishment in

been stand-up surfers. The rest rode bodyboards.

bodyboarders. Through the 1980s and 90s, this bias

God’s presence.

The fact that the former group didn’t stand didn’t

was taken for granted, like something handed to you

mean it was easier, only that they were able to surf

with the purchase of a leash or a bar of wax. Saffa

however. The only path lay along a shelf of slate rock

places on the wave that stand-up surfers couldn’t.

bodyboarder Boots Crossley summed it up as, “You

that followed the cliff’s base. Groundwater from above

I’d rarely seen surfing that heroic, no matter the

don’t stand, so you are less.”

seeped through the cliff and then froze on the shelf as

vehicle. One day, Fergal Smith, a professional

it met the Atlantic breeze. This was a tricky proposition

stand-up surfer who had his pick of any wave out

surf historian and former Surfer magazine editor

under foot. Grown men regularly slipped on the black

there, surfed his heart out until, as the tide ebbed out,

Matt Warshaw, “that we gave Mike Stewart [9-time

ice and fell down like toddlers. And the walk was not

his fins just couldn’t make it over the reef. Then he

bodyboarding world champion, 15-time Pipeline

short. Rocks sometimes spilled from the cliff face.

did something no self-respecting professional surfer

champ, and 14-time bodysurfing champ] a hard time.

Sometimes just a silent projectile sailed down and

would do. He picked up a bodyboard, and began to

The most advanced wave-rider on God’s green earth

pinged a few yards ahead or behind. At a certain point,

catch waves prone. It was like swapping a fork for

got trolled in letters and columns.”

the shelf fell away entirely, and the surfers were

a spoon when the stew was that good.

Once below, a traveller couldn’t easily look up,

forced to cross a foot path that was just wide enough

The scene sparked a number of insights for me.

“We were so intolerant about bodyboarders,” said

The same happened to a greater or lesser extent in surf mags and lineups across the world, including South Africa.

to stand on. A cauldron of seawater boiled below.

One, that I hadn’t witnessed such a vibrant gathering

The sound was terrible. But by then one could see the

of boogers, well, ever, and that actually, I hadn’t set

wave ahead, and concentrating on each forward step

eyes on more than one lid-rider at a time in years.

and witnessing this type of antagonisation so much

came as a way to tamp down both excitement or fear.

Two, that this was the kind of place they assembled,

anymore, I took a look around and noticed that

in a landscape catalysed before time, and at a wave

bodyboarders had largely disappeared from average

time because even at a mid-tide, this slab of a wave

so treacherous, few stand-up surfers cared to mess

surf spots. A baseline shift had occurred, one that few

did not present itself. It was forced into existence by

with it. And three, as demonstrated by Smith and

had noticed.

Anyone who was going to show arrived at the same

About the time I noticed that I wasn’t hearing

43

ZAG 42.1 / CULTURE

The malice that the dominant culture had once held for bodyboarders migrated on to stand-up paddleboarders (terms emerged for them too: street sweepers, grave diggers).

magazines, and supported championship tours and elite athletes — gone?

Not long after these questions began to resonate with

The history of all surfing almost certainly began in eastern Polynesia, exemplified by the boards called “paipos” in Hawaii, and it was largely practiced in the

And somehow, in the wave riding vehicle smorgasbord that

me, I was out surfing my average beach break alone

prone position. In the great expanse within which ancient

bloomed with the failure of Clark Foam, even mat-riders

during a storm, when a young bodyboarder paddled

surfing spread — from Peru to New Zealand — only along

and hand-planers gained regard. That altered landscape

out. I hadn’t seen a sponger in the lineup in ages and

the Hawaiian Island chain was stand-up surfing honed

begged questions I should have asked long ago: What,

I immediately paddled over, introduced myself and

into its own discipline, largely defined by the board

exactly, was it that fed the malice stand-up surfers held

peppered the kid with questions. Where did he normally

required for stages of the same shore-bound feat: paipos,

for bodyboarders? How was it that the simple choice of an

surf? Was he a slab charger? And, where were his boogie

alaias, olos. Even as Western-borne viruses devastated

implement used in a shared hobby had become definitive

brothers? Where did they surf?

Polynesian societies in the 19th century, and American

and conflict laden? And where has the “bodyboarding

The young man said that his friends were all stand-up

Calvinist missionaries sought to eliminate indigenous

industry” — which historically out-sold bodyboards to

surfers, and that he frequented a regular beach break just

pastimes, like a species of mollusk too hardy to yield,

hard surfboards by three-to-one, spawned slick national

to the north. Then he paddled away.

pockets of belly boarding remained throughout Oceania.

2017 World Champ, Durban’s Iain Campbell, charging through a glassy, dredging shack in Brazil ©SPECKER

It’s an often repeated claim that the advent of Tom Morey’s Morey Boogie got more enthusiasts into that ocean than any device aside from the boat. And it’s important to note that this accomplishment occurred in the lee of historic booms in the stand-up surfing population, and aside from the fact that Tom Morey had been a world class surfer himself. But Morey was also a perceptive inventor, who had some keen ideas fail before their times had come. By 1971, it was pretty clear that Morey the shaper and thinker was bored with the trajectory of stand-up surfing as he saw it.

In a Surfer magazine article, after proclaiming himself a “spaceman,” he wrote, “I am looking at your

surfboards of today and thinking that they are junk.”

The era’s blades reflected “very little imagination” — he added, they were “basically the same as

“Tom Morey got pretty close to the ideal shape with those first models,” agreed Mike Stewart, who owns Science Bodyboards. “The flex concept is also still very futuristic.”

According to Gross, a third element might have been

yesterday’s board.”

According to designer and writer Paul Gross, who personally witnessed Morey develop the Boogie, the failure of previous stand-up creations to gain market

Morey’s enthusiasm for the Boogie. He chatted up any passerby with a rant Gross called, “boogies are bitchin.”

The first boards were sold as kits for $25 in the States.

share left Morey “no choice but to look beyond the

The kits were not easy to put together. But the same

constipated surf culture of the early seventies and turn

people who built monstrosities from Morey’s handwritten

his attention toward a larger, more open-minded market

instructions, bought additional kits. Morey then went into

— the rest of mankind.”

production with the Boogie. By 1977 a toy manufacture

Soft, flexible materials had been used in belly boards

bought the Boogie. A bigger company purchased that

before. And as mentioned, belly boarding was as old as

company — and bodyboards began to out-sell surfboards

surfing itself. Morey had worked as an aircraft engineer

by three-to-one.

and knew space-age materials. But the magic he brought to the belly board was really about size and shape.

“Like a bicycle, the Boogie was a great equalizer when it came to style,” Gross wrote. “If you could ride one

Marc ‘Rossi’ Rossouw, a contemporary bodyboard

at all, you were riding it correctly. And, like a bicycle, it

shaper working out of Durban, said, “The board hasn’t

had a way of transporting the rider both physically and

changed a lot [from the Morey Boogie]. Materials have

emotionally—a quality not lost on the millions who have.”

changed. Riding styles have gone in and out. But the

A new performance device, created by a well-regarded

crescent tail, standard 42” size — that’s always been

stand-up surfer, and enjoyed by almost anyone, why the hate?

standard. It works.”

spot that Cyclops in Australia; the kind of

makes bodyboarders froth and

just about everyone else quietly

kak in their wetties. ©SCOTT

45

ZAG 42.1 / CULTURE

swam out at Off The Wall, Campbell borrowed a friend’s camera and Before adding a world title to his CV, Iain ed on the cover of Zag 39/5. ©CAMPBELL appear which Zyl, van Davey of shot sick and snapped this

“Surfers are equipment freaks,” said Warshaw, “and a bodyboard, right out of the gate, was such a lame-

to coincide with a distinct change in fashion sense.

Surf was out, grunge was in.

looking piece of board craft compared to a surfboard.

The clothing companies felt that first.

It’s almost a visceral response, wanting to dismiss,

“And when that happened,” said Sims, “all of those

put down, anybody who would choose to ride a spongy mass-produced rectangle sold at the local sporting goods store.”

Stewart put the grudge down to a number of the

companies stopped advertising.”

Bodyboarding publications began a death spiral, along with the local and international pro tours.

“Over the years bodyboarding sponsorship pay has

boogie’s traits. Bodyboards can access waves more

been declining,” confirms Botha. “With bodyboarding

easily, the progression is much faster, and thus,

being a lot smaller it makes sense that it would be

the association with the beginner. One of the most

impacted most by the surf industry as a whole.”

damning traits might be that, “bodyboarding exists on its own merits.”

Despite this reversal of fortune, bodyboarding made an indelible mark on advancing surf culture, and its

“Very quickly they were out in force,” said Warshaw,

influence continues to be felt to this day. Fuelling

“floating and splashing around, maybe having too much

this was the language that evolved to describe the

fun, not suffering enough, not taking it seriously enough.

experience and new places you could go on a wave.

Surfers went on the attack.”

Despite this, bodyboarding may have ultimately been

“It is such an intimate experience, a different view, you’re very connected, you can see what the lip is doing

a victim of its own success. The surfing establishment

at all times...you’re so far back there.” said Stewart.

saw that there was a buck to make off of this movement.

Pits, slabs, trenches, riding the foam ball, shock wave...

With bodyboarding growing in popularity, magazines

shocky jocky. All of these were coined by bodyboarders

like Surfing, Zigzag and other traditional stand-up titles

and, continued Stewart, “Language changed the culture.”

around the world, began to publish their own dedicated bodyboarding magazines.

“As a spin-off to the Zag, Bodyboarding mag quickly

“Like any sport, [bodyboarding] goes through peaks and valleys,” he said. “For me, it’s incredibly technical when it gets heavy. It’s the most progressive wave

grew to a circulation of 12,000,” reveals Craig Sims,

riding going on right now. The things surfers are doing

the publisher of Zigzag at the time.

now, we were doing 20 years ago.”

A prone division was added to local and international events, before bodyboarders started their own pro

In particular, any manoeuvre in the air was nailed by a bodyboarder years before: 360s, inverts, air roll

tours, like the Global Organisation of Bodyboarders

spin, air reverse 360, air forward 360, front flip, backflip,

(GOB) and the South African Bodyboarding Association

invert to reverse, “devert,” reverse 720...more versions

(SABA), and stars were born.

of the “el rollo” than can be comprehended.

“During this period the competition scene appeared

Some say that bodyboarders were actually pushed to

to be thriving,” said two-time world champ and Durban

the edges by lineups that disdained them. They turned to

local, Andre Botha. “It was mostly due to the timing of

waves hardly recognizable as successful surf spots. But

growth within bodyboarding, but also in large part due

even if pushed, it was here that the sponge excelled —

to the genius of Tony Abrahams, the SABA president,

pioneering waves, that today, are synonymous with the

running the show. Well structured events attracted

heavy water realm: Teahupo’o, Tahiti; Riley’s, Ireland;

sponsors, and solid turn outs started to bring a rapid

The Right, Ours, and Cyclops in Australia; as well as

curve in progression.”

spots like Tand and Devil’s Horn in South Africa.

A boom in surf fashion was what fueled this largess, with surfing’s influence extending far inland.

But this was a fatal weakness. A recession happened

Manoeuvres, language, discoveries — bodyboarding acts an incubator, driving the progression of wave-riding in a manner that goes largely unrecognized.

47

Jason Fowler in Cape Town, doing naughty things in the

corner. ©HEALE

In fact, some of the most prolific water photographers

ocean — struck a chord. I happened to catch some

In looking at the non-commercialised world of

in print and film trace their roots back to a boogie:

aspects of the bodyboarding scene abroad that spurred

bodyboarding, I saw a different take on play in

Scott Aichner, Ray Collins, Todd Glaser, Tim Jones,

questions, and eventually, some dark opinions about the

the ocean. A boogie could at once be a toy, or an

Daniel Russo and Mickey Smith, to name a few.

dominant culture of which I’d been a part.

implement used in the most artful wave-riding on the

On the local scene, some of SA’s best lensmen like

It seemed to me the lamest aspect of this so-called

Sacha Specker, Ian Thurtell, and Alan Van Gysen

lifestyle, was that it focussed on such tiny differences.

come from a bodyboarding background. Not only are

Line-ups henpeck those who don’t conform. Even the

planet. The other day I saw one used as a garage sale sign. It doesn’t matter. There are no rules.

On the day that I watched Fergal Smith pick up a

bodyboarders leading progression by example, they’re

scrappiest character gets tired of it, and either conforms

bodyboard where his thruster left off, I noticed a lid-rider

contributing to the dominant culture by capturing

or moves on. And, this goes a long way in explaining

in their crew, partly because of his style. The guy looked

stand-up surfing from perspectives and angles no other

how a decade of surf fanatics in the 1990s relegated

like a young Keith Richards, just dripping cool. And on

discipline could — often for companies that scrapped

themselves to surfboards that have been described

a day when Riley’s fluttered on the edge of impossible,

bodyboarding off the books long ago.

as “glass-slippers,” volume negative effervescence —

he also happened to be one of the best bodyboarders

surfboards that did everything but aid in actual surfing.

I’d ever seen. But when the session was over, he said,

Stewart said. “Bodyboarding kept me off of the streets.

But that exclusivity went beyond restrictive engineering.

“Yep, right, boys. I’m off”— as he had to race on back

Wave riding was transformational. You can get out, have

Female surfers were openly denigrated. Longboarders

to Dublin where his shift as a pizza deliveryman waited.

fun. There’s no rules. You can do your thing.”

maligned. Homo-social relationships were placed before

There was something cool in this too. He wasn’t working

work and family. Dudes splashed water, they threw rocks.

at a lifestyle, he was just heading off to work.

“I came from a broken home and it wasn’t easy,”

This bit, about no rules — in the spirit of play in the

48

44 GRAHAM SMITH

Durban South Africa 25 Hunter Street Tel: +27 31 368 4022 USA: wes@sealaka.com info@grahamsmithboards.com www.grahamsmithboards.com

© Alan van Gysen

44 NOW AVAILABLE FOR ORDERS

ZAG 42.1 / TRAVEL

52

Pop goes Beyrick de Vries.

53

Take me to church.

In the Azores, when you drink beer the preferred

(too crowded, too much talent in the water). So

bar snack is a broad yellow lupini bean, pickled

you just kick back and watch the hungry locals try

in brine and chili, known as tremocos. High in

pick off the sets from the peppering of QS pros,

antioxidants and Vitamin E, it’s a Mediterranean

like diamonds in the rough, as they all scramble to

snack enjoyed in the middle of the Atlantic, but

ride this rare long period south swell turning out

that shows where the Azores sits in terms of

rippable A-frames off the breakwater.

its dominant influences. This is Portugal, twice

These swells whip the locals into a froth. Best

removed. A set of nine islands often thought of as

to just sit back and enjoy the spectacle alongside

a kind of European Hawaii.

a few new mates: Ricardo Christie and his chum, Matthias the Swiss bloke from the Surf House,

representing their country at the highest level

rubbery skin, flick the skin into the rocks, chew and

(our digs for the sojourn), and Tim the German/

of the sport. “The Tour”, as it’s called.

wash it down with a crisp slug of Sagres cerveza

Seppo who runs the Surf House and introduced

from a titchy 200ml bottle. Back in SA, it’s all about

us to the tremocos.

So you bite, twist and suck the bean out of its

size and value, we prize our 750ml man-size quarts.

Out here, they’re more refined and sophisticated, less macho doomsday prepper. Big beers tend to

It’s late 2017 and the broader South African surfing community is on edge, if not already deflated.

Well the whole world is, really. Global warming,

Ever since surfing became a thing, Saffas have been riding waves with the best of them. This proud heritage has established the expectation that we should always be represented at the top of the sport.

In Jordy Smith we have bonafide world champ

get warm before you can finish them, but a 200ml

pollution, unchecked environmental destruction,

material. But further down, the pickings become

bottle is more likely to stay cold for every sip.

idiotic and venal leaders controlled by a rich elite

slimmer. Mikey February got closer to knocking on

There’s plenty more in the fridge bro. This is luxury.

trying to roll back the clock on hard won human

that door in 2017 than anyone since Emslie retired

This is decadence.

progress. Apathy and helplessness seem to define

(at the time of going to print, he had one last hail

the zeitgeist of this particularly kak period of

Mary chance to seal the deal at Sunset. Insh’Allah!).

human existence.

Alas, the rest of the crop are struggling to assert

For the full effect, this should all be done while sitting on a harbour wall in the late afternoon glow, the island’s sheer volcanic form rising like a

Meanwhile in surfing, that pattern spirals all the

themselves and win heats. From the webcast it’s

sweaty green ogre behind you. By this stage you’ve

way down to the micro-outlook of South Africans

hard to figure out what’s happening. As they say,

abandoned your own aspirations of catching waves

who still harbour the jingoistic fever-dream of

“What goes on tour, stays on tour.”

54

TRAVEL / ZAG 42.1

Shane in another gaping maw.

This is Portugal, twice removed.

A set of nine islands often thought of as a kind of European Hawaii

Fields of green.

55

Beyrick blowing up before disaster struck.

56

[The Azores are] considered by conspiracy theorists and ancient Greek philosophers like Plato, to be the remains of the lost continent of Atlantis Of all the stops on the European leg, the Azores holds the most mystique for a surf trip. An island in the middle of the Atlantic, a veritable swell magnet roughly halfway between Lisbon and New York, blessed by a jet stream wind, heated over the Sahara and lifting moisture from the vast expanse of sea in-between, to create an almost perfect garden micro-climate for these volcanic outcroppings (considered by conspiracy theorists and ancient Greek philosophers like Plato, to be all that remains of the lost continent of Atlantis).

Rows of hydrangeas line the roads. Mint and lavender grow wild in fields where fat herds graze. Steam rises from the many thermal hot springs and drifts through verdant forests punctuated by giant ferns. Now imagine old world 17th century fishing towns, established in the valleys, or hugging sheer cliffs overlooking the Atlantic, with cobbled streets, churches and market squares.

Chuck in the enthusiasm and economic buoyancy of a trending European surf destination and lastly, add several heaped scoops of pro surfer, most key amongst them the current crop of South Africa’s elite, all struggling to break through the ranks and claim their place (and the lasting financial security that comes with it) amongst the world’s best. Give us tremocos, tuna steak, queijo verde, pulled pork sandwiches and roadside espressos with a stick of cinnamon as a spoon. Give us small cold beers and salt-encrusted eyes from long days at the beach. Chuck all that in the blender and you’ve got a Zag travel feature…

The colour of the ocean in the Azores is unique. A clear cobalt blue; water that is clean and luke-warm accentuated by dominant grey skies and the black volcanic sands beneath. A few days after the event has wrapped and we’re finding a little rhythm. Shane Sykes, Davey van Zyl and Beyrick de Vries are lockedin to stay and shoot with us for the next week. MFeb is still in town, but planning to shoot across to Spain and follow a big swell to Mundaka with Aritz Aranburu. Matt McGillivray and Dylan Lightfoot also have a few days to kill before Matt flies to Morocco for a small QS event and Dylan heads back to J-Bay. Time to surf.

The rare long period south swell has set in for a few days. We head back to the less congested harbour wall.

The drive to Ribeira Quente is spectacular as it winds up through the forest and over the hills into the lush thermal spa town of Furnas; a steamy valley surrounded by thick forest and alive with boiling mineral water that gurgles from the earth in springs and rivers, the air thick with the smell of sulphur.

ZAG 42.1 / TRAVEL

Wedge city! Rebeira Grande.

is the Wedge, in the corner of Praia Ribeira Grande in the

the boys and their friends like the French duo of Nomme

are breaking just over the volcanic ridge. Our strong

north, despite the onshore. It soon becomes apparent

Mignot and Timothee Bisso. Davey and MFeb are a bestie

contingent enters the brine and sets to work. It’s good to

that this is the island’s best and most consistent wave.

unit, amusing themselves for hours with silly dance

have all this talent on tap and the cameras rolling.

The Wedge, as expected, is punchy. “A bit like Haleiwa

routines and in-jokes they do not explain. Beyrick is the

in terms of power,” reckons Davey van Zyl, but it looks

seasoned campaigner with Shane the young apprentice.

pack up and head west to look at a spot in the town

like Llandudno’s Gat on black sand replicated in a row of

Matt McGillivray and Dylan Lightfoot seem to be on their

of Vila Franca, once the island’s capital, with quaint

about five successive A-frames, handing out short, sharp

own missions, Matt rolling with Japanese surfer Hiroto

cobbled streets and churches. We find the wave; a

beatings every five seconds. But we have pros and pros

Arai and his coach, while Dylan is a bit of a lone wolf.

mushy but fun looking left. Out to sea is an island shaped

can do things on heaving onshore wedges that other

In the meantime Beyrick holds court, schooling anyone

like a crescent moon embracing a perfectly circular

surfers cannot. Soon we are treated to a polyphonic

who will listen on his donkey theory. “Without a doubt all

blue lagoon, like something out of Game of Thrones. We

binge of rippage: rotations, slobs, barrels, laybacks,

champions have big dicks. It’s a fact, man. Slater, Irons,

meet up with MFeb and one of the Gudangs (not sure

carves, hacks. By the end of the day we’ve retired to the

Owen, Mick…Jordy! All hung.” The tour is basically Van

which) before deciding the best option for a second surf

wooden deck of the beach bar, pushing back pints with

Wilder with surfing.

Alas no time to stop and soak the bones, waves

The tide changes and flattens the wave out, so we

58

The Wedge as expeced, is punchy. It looks like Llandudno’s Gat on black sand replicated in a row RI DERXW ÀYH VXFFHVVLYH A-Frames, handing out short sharp beatings HYHU\ ÀYH VHFRQGV

Hello, Papa!

Davey van Zyl eats a lot. Literally crams it in, as

their days on the beach, ably supported by Tim and

much as possible, all the time. Which is surprising

Giulia, teaching the steady flow of European learn-to-

when you see how slight he is. Dude must have one

surf tourists how to pop-up. But Ricardo is also the

helluva engine, transferring these vast deposits into

island’s most accessible repository of surf knowledge,

those swordsman-like carves. When not eating or

and is happy to share how the different swell and wind

surfing he spends his time on Whatsapp chatting to his

combinations will affect the set-ups. Tim and Giulia are

girlfriend back home, many long hours sitting on the

equally invested, the young couple run the Surf House

concrete bench outside the Surf House, in wifi range,

and provide an indicator of the health of European

while putting away another six-egg tomato and chorizo

surfing. Summers are spent in the Azores, winters

omelette. At night, sometimes, the trainee pilot has to

doing the same in Morocco. Next year they’re buying a

study for an upcoming flying exam. Strange to say, but

place in Portugal to set up their own operation. Every

learning to fly has given him an anchor and he’s now

day there is a new learn-to-surf crew coming through

winning heats on tour regularly.

the Surf House: Spanish, Swiss, Russian, French,

There’s a long range swell lining up, but no sign of it yet. We meet with Ricardo after work to plot

Italian. Kooks, but hungry to learn. Boom time.

There is a slab off the back of a small fishing harbour

movements. Ricardo and his partner Josephine own

in the picturesque village of Maia. We meander through

the Azores Surf Centre and Surf House. They spend

the congested cobbled streets in search of the wave, M-Feb, soaking in sunshine.

Waiting for the swell to fill in at Santa Iria.

and maybe some breakfast, committing various traffic infractions, which are quickly noticed by the local policia, the stereotypical moustachioed goon in uniform, who tails us to make sure we respect the small town’s traffic rules and preserve it’s austere Catholic dignity.

Finally we chance upon a view of the harbour and stop to look at the slab, perhaps blocking the empty road. The cop rounds on us: move along he threatens wordlessly with his moustache. He’s about to reach for the fine book.

But there is no wave. The tide is too full and the swell is not big enough, so we move on, the wrong way up a one way and out, to freedom.

Santa Iria is a long left point break in a cove surrounded by sheer cliffs, it is entirely inaccessible by vehicle. The only way down is to hike, although after the slog, I’d choose to ride a donkey back up. The sheer drops and 60 degree climb might be a bit frightening. And besides, we don’t have a donkey. You’ve also got to be wary of the tides down there because one section pinches between the cliff and the waterline and you scuttle over the boulders with the camera equipment above your head like a stressed crab.

We watch it in the morning from the adjacent cliff, with Hike through the jungle.

62

the swell filling in and decide it’s marginal but getting

TRAVEL / ZAG 42.1

Davey at Santa Iria, smashing it.

better. By the time we get down there it’s heaving, solid overhead and surging on the sets. The mid-sized waves

Beyrick’s mind turns to entertainment. He connects with a group of Russian learn-to-surfers and is at the beach bar nursing his wound, holding court

can find more consistency there will be no stopping him.

Beyrick on the other hand is polished. It barely looks

hold the shape of the reef better, but it’s hard work and

like he’s trying sometimes…and then it’s done. Airs,

we’re not really getting much reward until Shane nails

rotations, hacks, carves - he’s got the full repertoire

an A-grade waft against the sheer backdrop. But with

and rarely looks like he even has to try to lay it down.

the building swell, the mid-sizers disappear and it starts

His surfing is unassuming and fresh. He does it all and

sectioning, heavily. So we call it and muster the strength

serves it with an easy flow. For Beyrick, it’s all about

to crawl back up and out of the cauldron.

finding that happy place, and staying there. Just as I’m

The swell is finally here. Ricardo is animated, clapping

having these thoughts I see him drop into a heaving

his hands, smiling broadly and saying things like, “good

right wedge, he comes off the bottom, hacks and sets

as it gets” and “swell of the season.” Tim and Giulia are

up the next section. As he boosts off the lip, the water

taking turns to surf while the other begrudgingly pushes

catches the board and flicks it sideways. Beyrick lands

the beginners into foamies. Josie pretty much surfs the

on the rail hard. Drama. The board is buckled, the foot

whole day.

badly bruised and sliced on the broken fibreglass.

We consider a trip to Maia to see what the slab is

Miraculously there’s no major physical damage.

doing with the swell, but those thoughts are cancelled

But it’s game over for Beyrick, while Shane and Davey

by the higher tide and the view of how the Wedge is

chase a few last peaks of the day.

firing. It’s kind of apt that on the cleanest and largest

Beyrick’s mind turns to entertainment. He connects

swell of the trip, the wave that delivers is the one we’ve

with a group of Russian learn-to-surfers and is at the

become most familiar with. Old faithful.

beach bar nursing his wound, holding court. Later there

Shane bolts, first in the water and is literally fizzing

will be yoga on the beach, pulled pork sandwiches,

with energy. Kid surfs with a kind of uncontrolled abandon,

tremocos and beers on the deck of the Boa Onda (Good

or is it violence? There is a wildness to the speed and

Wave) bar at sunset, then drinking games back at the

power that he throws into every turn, punt or hack. If he

Surf House.

63

ZAG 42.1 / TRAVEL

64

Shane trying to boost himself back up to the parking lot at Santa Iria.

TRAVEL / ZAG 42.1

Davey with style to burn at Ribeira Quente.

Davey retires to study for the flying exam, Shane and Beyrick stay up late making too much noise.

In the morning the swell is gone, and soon we will be too. But it’s clean and two-foot on the sets running right onto the sand. The Wedge is flat but still manages to provide some fun. One last kiss of the cobalt sea before the long haul journey back via the desert shopping mall and home. As the big old plane lifts off and banks towards Lisbon, we get a final view of these last vestiges of Atlantis. The surfers heading towards their next event are already occupied with logistics stress and impending performance anxieties. The surf journalist and photographer hankering for the warm embrace of our families, wondering whether we have the defining experience recorded on our memory sticks and trying hard to crystallise, or attribute, some kind of meaning to the wondrous task of travelling halfway round the world to a random clump of rocks just to ride the waves and taste the fruit. Amen.

Azores wheels of steel.

65

ZAG 42.1 / TRAVEL

Vista Blista.

Nomme Mignot, makin’ shapes at the Wedge.

WHEN TO GO

WHAT TO RIDE

INSIDE SCOOP

Perched out in the middle of the Atlantic, the

Azores delivers all kinds of waves. You’re definitely

Surfers are lazy. The hike down to more inaccessible spots

Northern Hemisphere winters obviously deliver the

going to need a short board, then depending on what

like Santa Iria means you’ll generally surf alone or with

most swell to the Azores, but sometimes it can be a

you’re into either a step-up or a fish. Depending on how

just one or two others. Watch out for south swells, they

bit too much, making late Autumn (August - October)

long you’re staying, I’d take both.

tend to sneak up on the Azores, but can really light up some great spots. Check in with Ricardo at the Azores Surf

and Spring (February - April) periods just as good.

WAVES

Summer can deliver too, but as usual, you’ll run the risk of being skunked.

Centre for the inside scoop.

Wedges, slabs, points, beachies, A-frames...the Azores

BASIC COST

is a kind of liquorice all-sorts of wave types, although

GETTING AROUND Although there is a European style bus system, you’re going to want to hire a car. There are several car hire

you have to surf what you see.

Flights were roughly R10k - R12k via Dubai to Lisbon and then to the Azores. You can also get there via London or

BEWARE OF

Frankfurt and other European flight centres so shop around for the best prices.

companies to choose from and the prices are very

Born to be mild! There is little to fear in the Azores in

reasonable, by European standards. If you do strike

terms of snakes, thorns or gnarly diseases. There can

missions to other islands in the chain, best to fly

be some petty thieving, but even that is rare. Rocky

Surf Centre Surf House in a comfortable four-bed shared

between the islands, as the ferries are slow (and that

shorelines can be a bit gnarly as can sharp volcanic rocks.

room, or R750 for a plush double. A beer will cost R25, an

kind of takes the “Strike” out of the “Mission”). There

The biggest danger is the risk of falling down a mountain

espresso R20 and a good meal about R120.

are a few surf tour offerings for the outer islands.

or spending too long in one of the many hot springs and

Azores Surf Center

Just ask Ricardo how.

becoming all rubbery. But mainly, just watch out for the

Phone: +351 915970726

single lane, country roads, sheer drop offs and S-bends.

Email: info@azoressurfcenter.com

66

Lineup at Ribeira Grande.

Accommodation was about R300 a night at the Azores

Three athletes, one ballie.

ANDRE MALHERBE /

PIERRE DE VILLIERS

East London’s Malherbe clan is full of ripping surfers. Here’s Andre, carving it up at Nahoon Corner.

F

or the past few decades, the Malherbe name gets

Name: Andre Malherbe Age: 50

mentioned more often than not when talking about

Local spot: Nahoon Reef

Border surfing. The band of brothers, and now their

Nickname: Herbie Occupation: Backpackers owner

lighties, have been tearing up the waves on their turf,

Favourite board: 5’10” x 18.25” x 2.25” swallowtail from

epitomising the strong competitive surfing spirit found in

Rebel surfboards. Thanks Thys, you legend.

6) Peed in a borrowed wetsuit: Never had to borrow one.

Buffalo City.

Number of boards snapped: Eish, too many to

Worst grom abuse suffered: Hmmm! Maybe resin in my

4) Lied why you weren’t out during a swell: I don’t miss swells.

5) Missed epic surf because of a hangover: Ja, but show me someone that hasn’t happened to.

remember! Thankfully none for a while – I’m either

hair with a bit of hardener added.

up an impressive medal haul representing South Africa

getting wiser or possibly pulling back more (laughs).

Current star: JJF

internationally, particularly with the Masters Team, with

Been there, done that: I love travelling and try go to

Future star: Luke Malherbe

whom he has collected two gold medals to add to his

Indo annually. Central America is a close second, with

Most Underrated: Nahoon Reef local, Dean ‘Plug’ Evers,

handful of national titles.

Along with his older brother David, Andre has racked

El Salvador my favourite over there. Canada, Hawaii and

can throw a couple of swerves.

Andre is also happy to pass on the knowledge.

Raratonga are also right up there on my list. Wow, it’s

Favourite gadget: Shimano Stella 6000, the best fishing

“He puts in hours and hours with the lighties on the

difficult to choose, because Mozambique and Namibia

reel ever made.

coaching side, and always has time to talk,” says

are also mind blowing! Anywhere I can surf, fish and

Groovy music: Collective Soul, U2, Aussie Crawl, Pixies

local lensman Pierre De Villiers. “If there are cooking

drink beer is gonna be pretty fun.

and Billy Idol.

waves somewhere, Andre is on it. And if you pay close

Pets: Tara and Fin, my two guard dogs.

Favourite surf and non-surf movie: Storm Riders and

attention you will see him sitting and waiting for the

Cardinal sins committed (answer 1-6):

Wicked Tuna rocks.

bombs. I don’t know how he does it but he is always

1) Left your wax face-up on a sunny day: Never.

Last time you laughed at a mate: My buddy, Virus Hugo,

on the best waves, especially at the Reef. Andre has

2) Missed good waves to visit a girl: Nope.

had a komodo dragon run across the road while we were

basically set up his whole life around the ocean.

3) Claimed a lame barrel: I thought it was pretty good

cruising on motorbikes in Indo a few months ago. When

A humble grafter with loads of time for others.”

68

at the time, until I saw the video.

he swerved into the bush to avoid it, that was funny.

DEVIN WHITEHEAD /

MARCK BOTHA

Devin tucks into the green room in Durban during a clean summer swell.

“D

evin rips. He’s got to be one of the most underrated

Future star: Griffin Colapinto.

Worst grom abuse suffered: I didn’t really get it too bad

guys around,” says fellow Durban shredder Sam

Pets: Only the dolphins in the ocean.

as a grom. But I would say that learning to be patient,

Christianson. “He kills it in the surf and on the jol! I think

What rules, wax or grip: Definitely grips (unless it’s

while watching the pack at New Pier get seriously

he’s been working on shaping some boards with his dad

a twinny, then wax will do).

shacked was enough suffering for this grom.

and brother recently too. Dev’s an all-round rad guy!”

Been there, done that: Been to Bali, got the T-shirt (or

Most Underrated: James Ribbink. Whenever I see him

should I say Bintang vest). Also heading to Morocco next

in the water he is ripping, and he is still a grom.

confirm the first part of Sam’s description, but the

week, to score a month of peeling right-handers.

Favourite gadget: A Pentax film camera. It’s a hand-me-

second part makes us stoked too. It’s rad to know the

Groovy music: Arctic Monkeys, Drake, Kendrick Lamar,

down from my grandpa, so it’s pretty special, and the

next generation are interested in the fine art of shaping

Chet Faker, Immortal Technique.

shots always come out kiff on film.

sick sleds.

Cardinal sins committed (answer 1-6):

Favourite surf and non-surf movie: Old movies like

1) Left your wax face-up on a sunny day: Many times.

Passion Pop with Taj in his younger days, and Fanning the

Having shared a couple sessions with Devin, Zag can

Name: Devin Whitehead Age: 21 Local spot: Battery Beach (Pirates) Nickname: Dev Occupation: Student Favourite board: A 5’9” x 18 7/8” x 2 1/4” swallowtail, which was shaped by my ballie, Brad.

Number of boards snapped: Only two. But one of them was a brand new Al Merrick, which I snapped in a heavy session I had in Bali at an outer reef called Geger.

Current star: John John Florence, in video-parts or competition.

70

It gives you a reason to de-wax.

2) Missed good waves to visit a girl: Have you ever heard of the saying, ‘kill two birds with one stone’?

3) Claimed a lame barrel: Probably, but only no claim-claims (laughs).

4) Lied why you weren’t out during a swell: No, just make sure you don’t miss them.

5) Missed epic surf because of a hangover: I have unfortunately, but had some solid hangover surfs too.

6) Peed in a borrowed wetsuit: Guilty.

Fire with Mick. More recently, all the Marine Layer videos of Dane. Non-surf movie would have to be The Wolf of Wall Street.

Last book you read: Stoked! by Chris Bertish. Definitely inspired me to try big wave surfing at least once in my life, and to always have determination when it comes to your personal goals.

Last time you laughed at a mate: When my brother tried to do a running dive over the railing of the Bay of Plenty pier. He did a proper back flop on the water at the bottom.

CLAYTON SURFBOARDS

CLAYTON SURFBOARDS

SAFARI SURFBOARDS

SAFARI SURFBOARDS

THE HAVOK

SOLAR

LOGGER

GROM BOMB

SHAPER: Clayton Nienaber

SHAPER: Clayton Nienaber

SHAPER: Spider

SHAPER: Spider

DIMENSIONS: 5’10” x 19⅛” x 27/16” - 28.6L

DIMENSIONS: 5’10” x 183/8” x 2¼” - 25L

DIMENSIONS: 9’3” x 23” x 3¼”

DIMENSIONS: 5’4” x 19” x 25/₁₆”

FIN SETUP: Thruster

FIN SETUP: Thruster

FIN SETUP: Single box-fin

FIN SETUP: Thruster

A high-performance allround board, with Spinetek and Kinetix Epoxy giving you a spark in your surfing and welcoming you to the future of surfing. The Havok is ridden 1-2 inches shorter than your regular board and 1/4 - 1/2 inch wider.

The Solar is designed for performance in more powerful waves, but with the Spinetek Epoxy it allows you to surf on smaller days as well.

Best ridden 1-2 inches longer than your regular board. Can be ordered in 3-5 fin setup if you enjoy using quads on bigger days.

Designed with the more traditional surfer in mind. The flat rocker provides quick entry onto the wave while the 50/50 rail softens and smooths out your turns.

This board glides over the flat sections and makes walking the plank a breeze. Perfect for novice and proficient surfers.

Fast, loose and easy to paddle, the Grom Bomb is designed to enable you to increase your wave count and hone the skills necessary to move onto high-performance boards.

Combined with a sick colour design and some focus and dedication, this board could be your stepping-stone to the WSL. Best suited to the grom who is just starting out.

EMAIL: cindy@claytonsurf.co.za dean@claytonsurf.co.za TEL: (+27) 31 368 4825 WEB: www.claytonsurfboards.co.za ADDR: 44 Milne street, Durban Central, 4001

EMAIL: cindy@claytonsurf.co.za dean@claytonsurf.co.za TEL: (+27) 31 368 4825 WEB: www.claytonsurfboards.co.za ADDR: 44 Milne street, Durban Central, 4001

EMAIL: boards@safarisurf.com TEL: (+27) 31 337 4230 WEB: www.safarisurf.com ADDR: 6 Milne Street, Durban, South Africa, 4001

EMAIL: boards@safarisurf.com TEL: (+27) 31 337 4230 WEB: www.safarisurf.com ADDR: 6 Milne Street, Durban, South Africa, 4001

COLBY SURFBOARDS

DUTCHIE

FISHSTIX SURFBOARDS

PETER LAWSON

THE FLAT BIRD

SEAGULL

NOSE-ROSE

F22 PERFORMANCE

SHAPER: Kevin Colby

SHAPER: Dutchie

SHAPER: Simon Fish

SHAPER: Peter Lawson

DIMENSIONS: 5’4”x 20” x 2⅜” - 29L

DIMENSIONS: 6’8” x 21⅞” x 2¾” - 42.25L

DIMENSIONS: 9’2” to 10’2”

DIMENSIONS: 5’9” x 19” x 2⅜” - 27L

FIN SETUP: Twin fin or quad fin

FIN SETUP: Single-fin

FIN SETUP: Single-fin

FIN SETUP Thruster or quad

The Flat Bird combines many different aspects of short and long boards, resulting in a truly unique board that is perfect for smaller, lower quality waves. By mixing components that make The Flat Bird fast, loose and stable you’ll experience a ride that is unlike any other. This is our ultra light epoxy version but this model is also available in a standard PU finish.

Classic range: This single-fin mid length shape shines in a variety of waves from small to powerful. The flat rocker, wide template and full rails make for effortless glide and great paddling ability.

A pronounced vee bottom, along with a mid-point moved further back, make for a very responsive turning ability. A slight nose concave helps create lift through turns. The round smooth outline is the best choice for drawing clean unbroken stylish lines.

With two consecutive Cobbles titles in the bag for Michael “Hillbilly” Hill, there is good reason the logging community is taking notice of the Nose-Rose. Made for traditional nose-riding and glide. Various nose concaves available with a rolled vee through to the tail block and 50/50 rail allows for hang time, tight arcs and direction changes when you want it. We’ve added some extra curve in the tail, which creates down force as water rushes over and keeps you propped up on the nose. Full resin tints and polishes from R9000.

My customers are going off on this board. I am continually tweaking this model due to all the positive feedback that I have received from my customers. I have dropped the rocker in the nose, pushed the width at the centre further up and included a squash tail.

Remember, it’s important to chat to your shaper for the correct design requirements for your new board.

EMAIL: info@dutchie.co.za TEL: (+27) 83 580 0551 WEB: www.dutchie.co.za ADDR: no.43 Stella Park, 57 Stella road, Montague Gardens, Cape Town

EMAIL: simon@fishstixsurfboards.co.za TEL: (+27) 83 557 7794 WEB: www.fishstixsurfboards.xo.za INSTAGRAM: #fishstixsurfboards @fishstixsurfboards ADDR: 15 First Ave, St Francis Bay, 6312

EMAIL: kevin@colbysurfboards.co.za TEL: (+27) 31 337 0914 WEB: www.colbysurfboards.co.za ADDR: 42 Brickhill Rd, Durban

EMAIL: peterlawsonsurfboards@vodamail.co.za TEL: (+27) 82 441 5374 ADDR: 49 Milne St, Durban Above Cool Runnings

©EWING

SURFTRAVELGURU " ! $ " & ! ġ $ $ " Ĺ&#x; $ " " ( +ġ $ ! ( " ! ġ $ ! ) ( " ĹŠ & ! $ Ä´ bm=oĹ v†u[u-ˆ;Ń´]†u†ĺ1ol Ň ‰‰‰ĺv†u[u-ˆ;Ń´]†u†ĺ1ol Ň v†u[u-ˆ;Ń´]†u†

LAMPEEZ SHAPES

LAMPEEZ SHAPES

THE BOARDROOM

GROW

THE ORIGINAL PLONKA

THE HI-FIVE MODEL

CARBON VARKHONDÂ

GSB

SHAPERS: Lamps, Kevin Olsen

SHAPER: Lamps

SHAPER: Dennis Ellis

SHAPER: Glen Row

DIMENSIONS: 5’9â€? x 19Âźâ€? x 2â…œâ€? - 30.5L

DIMENSIONS: 5’9� x 19� x 2⅜� - 28L

DIMENSIONS: 6’0� x 19½� x 2½�

DIMENSIONS: 5’11â€? x 18½â€? X 2 3/₠₈â€? -25.5L

FIN SETUP: 5 fin set up

FIN SETUP: 5-fin

FIN SETUP: Thruster

FIN SETUP: 3 or 5-fin

The Plonka, designed and tested by KO in France, is the most popular model in our range since 2007. Diamond, squash, swallow or round tail.

Available in Poly and PU foam with wood stringer.

Epoxy and PU with a composite stringer or bio epoxy and fused EPS foam with composite stringer or carbon rails/ wrap. Rapid response with a lively ex. Lighter, stronger and more sustainable.

Freedom of choice.

Hi-Five is what you feel like when surďŹ ng on one of these. Fast and responsive shortboard, that allows you to surf at your best. Available in three options: Poly and PU foam with a wood stringer.

Epoxy and PU with a composite stringer.

Bio epoxy and fused EPS foam with composite stringer, or carbon wrap/rails.

With more than 35 years of experience, 11 years of that specialised in epoxy.

You can be sure of a top quality product.

Construction is carbon deck and EPS with epoxy.

Light and strong.

This model has a big range of surf from 2-3ft plus and is designed to be surfed hard off the rail with the back foot.

Proving to be one of our best selling performance boards.Â

Shaped for Ethan Kruger, the GSB is one of my high performance models and is a great all rounder which is speciďŹ cally designed to take your surďŹ ng to the next level. Guaranteed to perform or your money back!!!

EMAIL: lampzshapes@gmail.com TEL: (+27) 82Â 799 8080 WEB: www.lampzshapes.co.za FB: Lamps.shapes surfboards

EMAIL: lampzshapes@gmail.com TEL: (+27) 82Â 799 8080 WEB: www.lampzshapes.co.za FB: Lamps.shapes surfboards

EMAIL: ellisdennis.de@gmail.com CELL: (+27) 83735 4865 TEL: (+27) 41 586 2276 ADDR: 48 Brickmakers Kloof, South End, Port Elizabeth FB: The Boardroom SA

HAYDEN SHAPES

HAYDEN SHAPES

HAYDEN SHAPES

NATURAL CURVE

PLUNDER

UNTITLED

HYPTO KRYPTO

CLASSIC FISH

SHAPER: Hayden Cox

SHAPER: Hayden Cox

SHAPER: Hayden Cox

SHAPER: Hugh Thompson

DIMENSIONS: 5’10� x 20�� x 29/₠₆� - 34.68L

DIMENSIONS: 5’7� x 19Ÿ� x 2⅚� - 26.84L

DIMENSIONS: 5’10� x 20Ÿ� x 2�� - 33.73L

DIMENSIONS: 5’8� x 21� x 2��

FIN SETUP: Thruster

FIN SETUP: Thruster

FIN SETUP: Thruster

FIN SETUP: Glass-on keel fins

The Plunder is a fuller-plan shape board designed to bring versatility and fun to small waves without forgetting about that superior performance spark. The unique surface area in the outline allows the board to trim with surprising speed in the weakest of conditions, while the soft diamond tail paired with the kick in the rail-line rocker toward the back third, gives the Plunder an ability to respond and turn when a good section lines up.Â

Untitled is about speed, versatility and fun. A slightly fuller plan shape, winged swallow tail shortboard it carries a deep single concave to vee to get you up to top speed in even the most mushy conditions.

Leaning on the higher tail rocker throughout your turns you will turn with conďŹ dence in a very reactive and tight arc. It has a atter deck proďŹ le along the center third of the board, which helps carry more volume giving the board an amazing ability to catch waves, along with added stability when up and riding.

The Hypto Krypto is a balance of tradition and modern performance. Suited to everyone from the elite level to the everyday surfer, it is often referred to as the ‘one board quiver’ for its versatility across all types of surf conditions – from small 1-3ft beach breaks, to barrels of up to 8ft.

The classic Fish is one of the best all round boards on the market.

These boards are designed to be short, wide and have volume distributed from nose to tail, making them great paddlers and, along with their performance characteristics, they’re fast on any type of wave and in any size.

Driven by glassed-on keel ďŹ ns, the Fish is deďŹ nitely a must in everyone’s quiver.

EMAIL: jarrod@liquidforce.co.za CELL: (+27) 21 556 8172 WEB: www.liquidforcect.co.za/hs/ ADDR: 3 Tritonia Road, Blouberg, Cape Town

EMAIL: jarrod@liquidforce.co.za CELL: (+27) 21 556 8172 WEB: www.liquidforcect.co.za/hs/ ADDR: 3 Tritonia Road, Blouberg, Cape Town

EMAIL: jarrod@liquidforce.co.za CELL: (+27) 21 556 8172 WEB: www.liquidforcect.co.za/hs/ ADDR: 3 Tritonia Road, Blouberg, Cape Town

EMAIL: growsurfboards@gmail.com TEL: (+27) 82 895 5460 ADDR: 4 Dorsetshire Str Paardon Eiland

EMAIL: hugh@naturalcurve.co.za TEL: (+27) 83 360 0003 WEB: www.naturalcurve.co.za ADDR: 31 St Croix str, Jeffreys Bay

a storm is brewing...

rockstar

WAVEWORX

REBEL SURFBOARDS

HOLMES BROS

M*A*T SURFBOARDS

MODEX

THE ‘LIL LOG

SANGOMA MK2

TARGET MODELÂ

SHAPER: Justin Healy

SHAPER: Thys Strydom

SHAPER: Laurie Holmes

SHAPER: Mat Marais

DIMENSIONS: 6’0� x 20Ÿ� x 2��

DIMENSIONS: 6’6� x 22Ÿ� x 3� - 42L

DIMENSIONS: 5’6� - 38L

DIMENSIONS: 6’2� x 18ž� x 2⅜�

FIN SETUP: Thruster

FIN SETUP: Thruster

FIN SETUP: 4-fin

FIN SETUP: FCSII

This board was designed with summer in mind. A fun summer board for all conditions.

This is essentially a performance Fish.

It has a lower entry with tail kick which allows it to be fast but still responsive.

This shape is the fun version of the log. It paddles like a longboard and moves like a shortboard. A great combination of easy paddling and manoeuvrability.

The old favourite gets a tune up. Slightly slimmer rails with subtle double concave through the vee in the tail. Old school resin tint glassing with a polish. Watch out!

Shaped for Andre Mory.

Pointbreak and good beach break waves are the type of conditions where this board excels. Handcrafted with Xtra Foam blanks and kitted out with the FCSII ďŹ n setup.

This is the ultimate fun board for those great summer days!

EMAIL: info@matsurfboards.co.za TEL: (+27) 72 641 8003 WEB: www.matsurfboards.co.za ADDR: AECI Industria Golf entrance, Beach rd, Strand FB: MATsurboards

EMAIL: MXVWLQKHDO\#PDF FRP CELL: (+27) 82 256 7544 FB: Waveworx Surf Co ADDR: 0DQFKHVWHU 5RDG +RXW %D\

EMAIL: info@jbaysurfboards.co.za TEL: (+27) 82 324 0849 WEB: www.rebelsurfboards.co.za ADDR: 8 Croix St, Jeffrey’s Bay

EMAIL: holmesbros@telkomsa.net TEL: (+27) 82 455 2182 WEB:  www.holmesbros.co.za ADDR: 6 oor, Durban Design Factory, 39 Station dr, Durban

FIREWIRE

FIREWIRE

FIREWIRE

FIREWIRE

GAMMA

MIDAS

GO FISH

SKX

SHAPER: Slater Designs

SHAPER: Rob Machado

SHAPER: Rob Machado

SHAPER: Tomo

DIMENSIONS:

DIMENSIONS:

DIMENSIONS:

DIMENSIONS:

6’0� x 21šš š � - 33.2L 6’0� x 19⅛� x 2½� - 29.7L (High Performance version)

6’0� x 20�� x 2½� - 34.9L

5’7� x 20½� x 2⅚� - 31.1L

FIN SETUP: Thruster

FIN SETUP: Twin

The outline of the Midas evolved from a few different inuences.

The tail was inspired by some 80’s twin ďŹ ns and the wing is positioned right behind the trailing edge of the side ďŹ n to create a break point, and to pull the tips of the swallow closer together for manoeuvrability. The wing also creates more width in front of the ďŹ ns which generates increased speed. The nose is a touch wider than your everyday shortboard but without an ‘eggy’ feel.

This board ies in small to weak waves, and if it’s overhead and pumping it draws unique lines, allowing you to approach waves differently and explore new lines. At ďŹ rst glance the outline pays homage to the old school ďŹ sh but on closer inspection you’ll notice some subtle changes. The overall effect of these design parameters, when combined with a keel ďŹ n set up, is a highly maneuverable and speedy board with tons of drive and takes the retro ďŹ sh to a whole new performance level.

EMAIL: surfshop@countryfeeling.co.za TEL: (+27) 42 293 1679 (Michael) WEB: ZZZ ÀUHZLUHVXUIERDUGV FRP ADDR: Country Feeling Surfshop, Jeffreys Bay

EMAIL: surfshop@countryfeeling.co.za TEL: (+27) 42 293 1679 (Michael) WEB: ZZZ ÀUHZLUHVXUIERDUGV FRP ADDR: Country Feeling Surfshop, Jeffreys Bay

FIN SETUP: FCSII, Futures, quad or thruster The Gamma is Kelly’s 2018 utility shortboard!

With a single concave bottom and slight vee behind the back ďŹ n, this board is extremely fast and drivey. The vee out the back makes for quick rail-to-rail transitions. The distinct hip on the Gamma gives it a tighter turning radius allowing it to be ridden in a shorter, wider set of dims as well as the common performance shortboard dims. This board excels in a broad range of waves.

EMAIL: surfshop@countryfeeling.co.za TEL: (+27) 42 293 1679 (Michael) WEB: ZZZ ÀUHZLUHVXUIERDUGV FRP ADDR: Country Feeling Surfshop, Jeffreys Bay

6’0� x 19��x 29/16�- 31.5L

FIN SETUP: FCSII, Futures, quad or thruster The SKX is Stuart Kennedy’s go to all-around shortboard for the 2018 season. The SKX features a compact outline with an even volume distribution and rocker, that lean towards the lower end of the general wave spectrum. Combined with the Trademark Tomo (QISC) ‘QuadInside-Single-Concave’ bottom contours, the SKX has instant ‘get up and go’ and incredible responsiveness that compliments a dynamic wave attack.

EMAIL: surfshop@countryfeeling.co.za TEL: (+27) 42 293 1679 (Michael) WEB: ZZZ ÀUHZLUHVXUIERDUGV FRP ADDR: Country Feeling Surfshop, Jeffreys Bay

sailorjerry.com

SHOP ONLINE AT www.swindle.co.za

THULE

SURF SENSE

NO SHARK

SUBTERRA COLLECTION

SURFBOARD BAGS

SHARK DETERRENT

A line-up not to be missed. The Thule Subterra collection ranges from checked and carry-on luggage to laptop bags and sleeves. Whatever you choose, and however you put together your own personal collection, you’ll be sure it is high quality, durable and protective for all your gear.

Custom designed surfboard bags made in St. Francis Bay. Any shape or size... upcycling with coffee bags.

R850 - R1250 EMAIL: shellyrankin@iafrica.com TEL: (+27) 83 556 6292 WEB: www.surfsense.co.za INSTA: @surfsense

For more information visit WEB: www.thule.com/en/za

The No Shark is a device that deters sharks. A new effective, tested technology that will keep sharks at bay. Great for swimmers, surfers, divers or all ocean sports.

Lightweight and rechargeable.

- 6 hours water use per charge - Saltwater contact activated, no on/off switch - No antenna - Can be used at depths up to 40m - Fits on your ankle - 12 month warranty provided the unit is not damaged and it has been taken care of - No Shark surf, dive and swim unit is R6600.00, plus courier fee EMAIL: nosharkafrica@gmail.com TEL: Murray (+27) 83 486 5740 WEB: www.noshark.com FACEBOOK: Nosharkafrica INSTA: @nosharkafrica

SURFEARS

SEX WAX

LARMONT SURF

INDOBLU

JUNIOR

SEX WAX & AIR FRESHENERS

ANNIVERSARY WATCH

SOFT TOP SURFBOARDS

Junior is built with our proven, patent pending technology from SurfEars, leader in ear protection for water sports and used by thousands of surfers and swimmers around the world.

The acoustic mesh is made from polyester filaments only a few microns thick and woven to a fabric finer than silk. Microscopic pores together with hydrophobically coated fibres ensure the mesh is both dust and water proof, keeping your kid’s ears safe from the elements. With its open structure, air and sound waves can flow freely through the mesh, providing a better hearing experience than any other ear plug on the market.

Newly available Mr Zogs air fresheners and candle scents. Have eternal surf dreams and wake up to your favourite smell.

EMAIL: info@surfears.co.za TEL: (+27) 72 931 6121 WEB: www.surfears.co.za

EMAIL: surfafrica@africansurf.co.za TEL: (+27) 31 368 2421 ADDR: Larmont Surf, 98 West Street, Durban

Candles and air fresheners available along with your full Mr Zogs range of Sex Wax.

Genuine unique Rip Curl 25th Anniversary analogue watch with genuine leather strap and stainless steel backing.

Six of 500 limited edition watches available.

Price negotiable.

EMAIL: surfafrica@africansurf.co.za TEL: (+27) 31 368 2421 ADDR: Larmont Surf, 98 West Street, Durban

Material - XPE deck for durability - EPS core for lightness - HDPE slick bottom for speed - Great quality handcrafted boards for beginners - Good flotation and stability for better wave catching - Hand shaped rails for easy turning - Three replaceable thruster fins - Heat laminated for durability and performance - 6.5mm urethane leash Models available: - 5’5” Surf Grom - 5’8” Rocket Fish - 6’2” Storm Surf - 7’0” Hurricane - 8’0” Cyclone EMAIL: camdynchadd@gmail.com TEL: (+27) 83 605 1255 WEB: www.indoblu.com

MAVPRINT

SHARKBANZ 2

RAKIT

GOTCHA

DIGITAL SURFBOARD LAMINATES

SHARK DETERRENT

THE CHARGER

GH032B

Designed for beachgoers, swimmers and surfers, Sharkbanz use patented magnetic technology developed by marine biologists to deter predatory shark species.

- Effective: technology based on proven science, published research and testing - Simple: no battery, no charging - always on - Affordable: RSP R999,95, safe for everyone - Universal fit: ages 5+ - Dive, swim, surf: 100m/330ft - TSA and airline travel-friendly - Magnetic shielded box for safe storage - Weight: 3 oz / 85 grams - Warranty: fully guaranteed against faulty workmanship and materials for one year

Store all your favourite boards with a simple yet highly functional board rack. Rakit surfboard racks feature a durable powder coated finish and full foam pads for ultimate protection. Wall mounted, with industry leading load capacity, our racks maximize your home storage space. Easy to install, you can have your boards proudly on display and ready for the next session.

Besides the normal surfboard decals we have printed for many years, we have now developed digital laminates.

This digital material takes the place of a layer of cloth and glasses perfectly with resins. Slow cure or UV. This is digital printing of the highest quality and basically any imagery or design can be printed.

The most difficult designs that take days or weeks to spray, detailed airbrushes or sprays that are not humanly possible to spray can now be printed overnight. If artwork is supplied ready to print we can supply these in a one day delivery.

Reduce the risk!

For more info visit: www.sharkbanz.com

- Featured model: The Charger – R2399.00 - Full installation kit included - Free delivery in SA Got a different quiver? View our full range of Rakit Systems at www.rakit.co.za and claim back your garage.

- 100m water resistant and high impact resistant - Digital time and calendar displays.

- Countdown heat timer - 24hr stopwatch plus 2nd time zone for international travel - Light, alarm, hourly chime - 12 month straight swap warranty R799 at Surf HQ Durban (free delivery anywhere in RSA, email: info@surfhq.co.za)

EMAIL: dave@mavprint.co.za TEL: Dave (+27) 82 773 2960 ADDR: 127 Umbilo road, Congella, Durban, 4001

EMAIL: info@karmanow.co.za TEL: (+27) 21 020 0152 WEB: www.karmanow.co.za

EMAIL: info@rakit.co.za TEL: (+27) 21 709 0360 WEB: www.rakit.co.za FACEBOOK: Rakit INSTAGRAM: @rakit_systems

SURFYOGIS

SURFSKATE

SURFSKATE

SHARK SHIELD

SURFSCREEN

PREMIERE BLACKOUT

HYBRID CAMO

THE STRONGEST SHARK DETERRENT

SurfYogis products are made with natural, clean ingredients. The ingredients include, beeswax, zinc oxide, cocoa powder, coffee extract, vanilla bean, coconut oil and castor oil. Our surfscreen zinc will shield you from the sun 100% of the time in the water and on the land. Guaranteed to last for hours.

Made for surfers by surfers.

Brought to you with peace and love by SurfYogis in Bali, Indonesia.

Like our facebook page to stand a chance of winning two units of SurfYogis Sunscreen. www.facebook. com/surfyogissouthafrica EMAIL: rian@darkstardirect.co.za TEL: (+27) 78 127 8767 WEB: www.darkstardirect.co.za

- SurfSkate Swell Tech System - Dimensions: 40” x 9¾” x 3/8” - Weight: 9lbs - Wheel base: 23.5” - Traction pad - Tail width: 7” - Abec 7 bearings - 65mm wheels

- SurfSkate Swell Tech System - Deck: 36”x 9¾” x 3/8” - Wheel base: 21.5” - Tail width: 8.5” - Weight: 9lbs - Traction pad - Abec 7 bearings - 65mm wheels - Aggressive concave - Diamond tail

EMAIL: warren@darkstardirect.co.za TEL: (+27) 79 783 4191 WEB: www.darkstardirect.co.za

EMAIL: warren@darkstardirect.co.za TEL: (+27) 79 783 4191 WEB: www.darkstardirect.co.za

EMAIL: info@surfhq.co.za TEL: (+27) 31 332 0281 WEB: www.surfhq.co.za ADDR: 65 Sylvester Ntuli Rd, Durban

The all new FREEDOM+ Surf is the result of a collaboration with Ocean & Earth and 2x world surfing champion Tom Carroll. The removable power module with LED indication for power on/off and battery life, is housed in the custom designed Ocean & Earth tail pad kicker, enabling you to move the power module easily between your boards and for recharging. The all important antenna electrodes have been designed into a sticker thin adhesive decal applied to the underside of the surfboard. With a near zero drag adhesive decal antenna (only 500 microns thin), there is no impact on your surfing performance. FREEDOM+ turns your surfboard into an electrical shark deterrent.

EMAIL: info@kommetjiesurf.com TEL: (+27) 21 783 4804 ADDR: Unit 3, The Swan Lodge, Kommetjie, 7975

ISLAND STYLE

SHAKA BRU

SHAKA BRU

SHAKA BRU

DIGI PRINT COVERS

NEON POP DAY PACK

DIGI PRINT BACK PACKS

TRAVELLER WITH WHEELS

- Available in short board and longboard covers - Funky digital prints with colour block nylons - Reector on the reverse side to keep your board cool - YKK wetsuit zips guaranteed for life (your life only) - 7mm padding with ďŹ n step/gusset - Available in short board covers from 5’6â€? to 7’0â€?

- Also available in long Board Covers from 7’6� to 9’0�

- New funky neon pop Shaka Bru back packs - Ideal for day to day cruising to the beach or college - Available in a day pack (single zip) or wet ‘n dry (double zip) - Strong durable 600D water resistant fabric - Chunky neon pop non-corrosive zippers - Day pack 14cm x 30cm x 46cm = 20 litres - Wet ‘n dry backpack 18cm x 30cm x 46cm = 25 litres - Shaped curved comfy shoulder straps - Available in neon lime, orange, blue, pink and white logos

- New Shaka Bru digi print back packs - Ideal for day to day cruising to the beach or college - Available in a day pack (single zip) or wet ‘n dry (double zip) - Strong durable 600D water resistant fabric - Chunky non corrosive zippers - Day pack 14cm x 30cm x 46cm = 20 litres - Wet ‘n dry backpack 18cm x 30cm x 46cm = 25 litres - Shaped curved comfy shoulder straps - Available in funky boho, stripey, pineapple and aloha digi prints

- New Shaka Bru digi print travel bag - Ideal for long holidays and overseas trips - Strong durable 600D water resistant fabric - Chunky non-corrosive zippers - All terrain 4x4 wheels - Available with funky trims and prints - 75cm x 40cm x 30cm = 90 litres

SHAKA BRU

SHAKA BRU

SHAKA BRU

SHAKA BRU

LADIES BEACH BAGS

NEON POP WEEKENDER BAG

DIGI PRINT WEEKENDER BAG

NEON POP & DIGI PRINT WALLETS

- 600D water resistant nylon - Assorted funky digital prints - Internal purse and sunglass pouch - Non corrosive YKK wetsuit zip closure

- Ideal for long weekends and domestic air travel - Strong durable 600D water resistant fabric - Chunky neon pop non-corrosive zippers - 57cm x 29cm x 29cm = 48 litres - Fits on board as cabin luggage - Separate dirty clothes or shoe compartment - Available in neon lime, orange, blue, pink and white logos

- Ideal for long weekends and domestic air travel - Strong durable 600D water resistant fabric - Chunky non-corrosive zippers - 57cm x 29cm x 29cm = 48 litres - Fits on board as cabin luggage - Separate dirty clothes or shoe compartment - Available in funky boho, stripey, pineapple and aloha digi prints

-

SOUTH COAST: Surfers Paradise (Scottburgh), South Coast Surfboards, High Rocks Surf (Umkomaas), Wedge Surfboards (Umzumbe), Surf Boyz (Port Shepstone), Oceansport and Surf Action (Margate), Treasure Island (Port Edward).

WESTERN CAPE: Waves Surf Shop, Outerpool Surf, (Mossel Bay), Garage Surf (Stillbaai), Walker Bay and Surf Zone (Hermanus).

REGIONAL SALES AGENTS: Western Cape: Richard - (+27) 82 745 4542 Eastern Cape: Wayne - (+27) 82 828 7977 KZN: Jimmy - (+27) 79 546 8175 Gauteng: Travis - (+27) 83 631 1007

Funky new retro velcro surfers wallets Credit card holders Clear ID drivers licence window External YKK zipper coin pouch Available in funky boho, stripey, pineapple and aloha digi prints - Also available in neon lime, orange, blue, pink and white logos

ISLAND STYLE STOCKISTS: DURBAN: Safari Surf Shop, G–Force Surfboards, Peter Lawson Surfboards, The Surf HQ, Piranha Surf Shop, Tallyho Surf, Quiksilver, Billabong, Maytex Surf and Surfers.

NORTH COAST: Living with Nuts (Manguzi), Wahoo Surf Shop (St Lucia), North Core Surf (R Bay), Surfers and Groundswell (Ballito), Find the Stoke (Salt Rock).

EASTERN CAPE: -XVW 6XUĂ€QJ 2FHDQ (DUWK (DVW /RQGRQ &DWFK $ :DYH 3RUW Alfred), Surf Centre, The Board Room, (PE) Core Surf, 1DWXUDO &XUYH %LOODERQJ 4XLNVLOYHU - %D\ 6XUĂ€QJ /LIH 3OHWW

CAPE TOWN: Natural Energy, MAT Surfboards (Strand), Lifestyle Surf Shop, Muizenberg Surf Store, Gary’s Surf School, Surf Lab Surf, (Muizenberg), Kommetjie Surf Store, Sport n Surf, Vudu Surf Shop, Surf Connection, Billabong and Quiksilver (Town) The Board Box, Boost Surf Store, Atlantic Surf Shop, Sunset Surf Shop, Dutchie Surfboards (Tabelview), Wit Mossel Pot (Elands Bay).

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SURF STORE...

BUT IF YOU’RE FROM BLIKKIESFONTEIN OR VRYHEID OR LIVE IN DA BUSH THEN SHOP ONLINE : WWW.ISLANDSTYLE.CO.ZA Tel: (+27) 31 5792 101 / (+27) 31 5795 081 Compliment or complaint to Wazo: (+27) 83 7764 633

BILOU BEACH VILLAS

SALTY JACKAL

TOFINHO BEACH COTTAGES

AWERA ISLAND, INDONESIA

SWAKOPMUND

TOFINHO, MOZAMBIQUE

Ahoy there from the heart of the Mentawais! Are you looking for an affordable surf holiday for the whole family? What about that father and son trip you could never figure out? Or are you just a small group of guys, keen to roll under the radar?

Namibia’s haven for surfers craving desert waves while enjoying Swakopmund and activities nearby.

Salty Jackal Backpackers boasts a laid back, personal atmosphere where you mingle with fellow surfers, sharing sessions and fun times.

- Free WiFi - Safe storage for boards and wetsuits - Board and wetsuit rental, surf lessons, guided surf trips - Self-catering kitchen, braai area and sign-up dinners - Walking distance to beach, dunes, supermarkets, restaurants, pubs, surf shops - Airport transfers from Walvis Bay available - Rates (off-peak season): Dorm, twin, double room (R150 - R300 p.p.) - every fourth night is free + student discount

Nothing beats the view of Mozambique’s most famous surfing spot right at your doorstep. Tofinho Beach Cottages will allow you to watch the morning waves while you relax on the veranda and when conditions are ideal, which they often are, you can just grab your board and go! With so much more to offer, Tofo has lovely open beaches for swimming, interesting reefs for fishing, snorkelling and scuba-diving. An array of little restaurants can be found close to the local market and sometimes live local music will allow you to continue the sway out of the water.

Tofinho is a kilometre south of Tofo, 500km north of Maputo and is easily accessible with a normal sedan vehicle – no 4x4 needed. With self-catering cottages, the friendliest staff and even fully catered tours offered on request, this would definitely be a trip worth taking.

Welcome to Bilou Villas: fully equipped, en suite bedrooms, internet... and your own private speedboat with surf guide! Come and go as you please: surf, snorkel, explore or fish in your time. Bilou Beach Bar also serves dinners and ice cold Bintangs. Our white sand beach fringes a calm lagoon with safe family swimming, great snorkelling and fishing. Skateboard halfpipe for 2018.

EMAIL: biloubeachvillas@gmail.com WEB: www.biloubeach.com

EMAIL: info@saltyjackal.com TEL: (+26) 81 465 1465 FACEBOOK: @saltyjackal264 INSTAGRAM: @saltyjackal264 ADDR: 37 Anton Lubowski Ave, Central Swakopmund

EMAIL: info@tofo.co.mz TEL: Gideon (+27) 81 438 5511 TEL: Ricardo (+258) 842 9922 83 WEB: www.tofo.co.mz

ELANDS BAY GUESTHOUSE

SETTLERS SANDS

OCEAN ADVENTURER

ONCE IN CAPE TOWN

ELANDS BAY

PORT ALFRED

INDIAN OCEAN TO THE PACIFIC

KLOOF STREET, CAPE TOWN

Self-contained and self-catering holiday apartments on the Port Alfred beachfront adjacent to the Kowie River mouth and West Beach. We have a selection of two or three bedroom units, most with sea or river views, open plan living, full bathroom/s. We are a 3 Star graded establishment with the Tourism Grading Council. Port Alfred is situated halfway between PE and East London on the R72 coastal road.

Settler Sands units are ideal for surfers, families, businessmen and sporting groups. The beach in front is ideal for long walks and Kelly’s Blue Flag beach is just a five minute stroll down the pristine beach.

East Beach, the premier surf spot, is just a paddle across the river or a short drive from Settler Sands, while West Beach in front also offers a wedging left occasionally. We can assist with arranging tours, extreme sports, surf lessons and more.

One boat, four years, two oceans, one epic SURF EXPLORATION.

Once in Cape Town is an all-star hotel, centrally located on Kloof Street, Cape Town, where you can tailor-make your own experience. Every room is en-suite. You can stay in a standard twin/double room, while the budget conscious traveller can also choose a shared four-bed en-suite room and make some new friends. Rates include a lekker breakfast on the go with a deluxe coffee from “Yours Truly”, and fast free WiFi. There are free daily activities – head down to the beach for a surf, hike Lion’s Head – we even have a fire pit in the back garden! Bus stop to the beaches and free off-street parking. Stuck in Jozi for work? Check out our new Johannesburg version, “Once in Joburg” for a laid-back, yet comfortable urban stay with all the amenities of a city hotel. Use the voucher code ‘ZIGZAG’ and receive a 10% discount off your booking.

EMAIL: reservations@settlersands.co.za TEL: (+27) 46 624 1130 WEB: ww.settlersands.co.za ADDR: 18 Settler Sands, West Beach Drive, Port Alfred

EMAIL: david@oa-3.com TEL: (+27) 73 216 6447 WEB: www.oa-3.com FACEBOOK: Ocean Adventurer

WE ARE HERE 150M FROM THE WATER

Plenty accommodation options from R250 to R2950, see website for details.

The Main House, Annex’s and Point Cottage options are all fully furnished and equipped.

Self catering with braai facilities - Free WiFi - DSTV in all units - Swimming pool - Games room with pool and table tennis - Pet friendly option - 200m from the point

EMAIL: info@elandsbayguesthouse.co.za TEL: (+27) 22 972 1229 WEB: www.elandsbayguesthouse.co.za ADDR: Elands Bay Guesthouse 184 Kreef Road Elands Bay Western Cape

Get onboard the ‘Ocean Adventurer 3’ during our four year surf exploration programme. Our unique programme will take us to all the best surf spots from the Indian Ocean through to the Pacific Ocean.

Next year we are in Andamans, Nicobars, Sumatra, Java, Bali, Sumbawa. The year after we will be in the Western Pacific. We offer access to you through a members club. Get in touch to find out how you can join this once in a lifetime trip.

Tell us your ultimate Indian and Pacific Ocean surf destination and we’ll make it happen.

EMAIL: book@onceincapetown.co.za TEL: (+27) 87 625 0639 WEB: www.onceincapetown.co.za INSTAGRAM: @OnceYouthHotels ADDR: 73 Kloof St, Cape Town Central, 8001

WINNER Jordy Maree watches someone get chowed by a hungry, grinding wave in the Western Cape.

Photo by: Marc Francis

R1000

OF PRODUCT

The morning after flash floods devastated KZN in October, Twiggy Baker feasts on the chocolate barrels pumping through in Durban.

Photo by: Ty Lahner

84

SHOT BRU / ZAG 42.1

WINNER Back for more prizes is Olivia Anderson, who beautifully captured this frame of Brandon Benjamin at Kalk Bay.

R2000 OF PRODUCT

It’s not only shredding, but all the other little things that make surfing rad as well. Photo by: Ross Nagel

Surrounded by steep faces in Cape Town.

Photo by: Daniel Grebe

85

ZAG 42.1 / COLUMN

S

ome of you reading this will have just finished matric

wealthy from trading perlemoen for ephedrine. If he

and might be wondering what to do in 2018.

appears shocked, make up a story about how you once

of fraud or a homicide in the men’s bathroom.

Millions of people will have applied for the same

No, you can’t surf every day. You have to get a job.

saved a dog from being eaten by a member of the Chinese

position and you need to do something to make yourself

Every break is already jammed with the unemployed

triads. Everyone loves dogs. You will get points for that too.

stand out. For example, you could smear your legs with

so please don’t make a bad situation worse.

In most interview situations, you’ll be asked if you

petroleum jelly and when you hear that filthy corporate

would like something to drink. The biggest mistake you

lie, “We’ll get back to you”, set your legs on fire and leave

or become a career criminal — there’s no difference in

can make is to ask for water or tea. You need to ask for

the room. They will remember you after that. Try not to

some cases — it’s likely you’ll soon be faced with the

a 1926 Macallan with a Stolichnaya chaser and a couple

set the curtains on fire on your way out.

horrible prospect of job interviews. Here’s some free

of salmon roses on the side. If he balks, get up and walk

advice. Actually, I suppose it’s only free if you stole

to the door. If he doesn’t call you back, return to your

the mag. Well done if you did. You have a bright future

chair and tell him you were joking. Tell him you will settle

Dear Whatever Your Name Is,

working for the municipality.

for a J&B and an apology. Odds are you’ll get it.

Your company is rubbish and if you want to stay in

Unless you’re going to work for the family business

The first thing to remember is to arrive late for the

Some experts say you shouldn’t discuss salary

Some employers want a cover letter with your CV. Here is an example of the ideal cover letter:

business you would have to be retarded not to hire me.

interview. By keeping the panel waiting, you are sending

requirements at your first interview. That makes about as

Have you looked in the mirror lately? Of course not.

a clear message that you hold yourself in high esteem

much sense as going to a restaurant and refusing to tell

Nobody wants to look failure in the eye.

and are not to be trifled with. This works particularly well

the waiter what you want. Tell them you demand a million

if you introduce yourself as Adolf Hitler or Vlad the Impaler.

rand a month plus a free car and a house on the beach.

and whatever the hell it is that you do, I can do it better.

If the boss laughs at you, grab his phone and pretend

My mother says I can do whatever I want if I put my

to call Atul Gupta with instructions to buy the company.

mind to it. So this morning I woke up, had some heroin

Bring an AK-47 to the interview. If the security guard at reception has a problem, shoot him in the face. Just kidding.

That wouldn’t look good on your résumé. Explain to him

If you had a job but lost it and are looking for another,

I have done extensive research on your company

for breakfast and put my mind to it. You should be grateful that yours is the company I have selected.

that a gun is key to your new job. If he says you don’t need

the first thing you need to do is sober up. Some people have

an automatic weapon to work at a call centre, shoot him

a problem hiring drunks. I don’t. Then again, I don’t run a

Of course you will want to reward me handsomely.

in the leg. Do it in a polite and respectful way. Security

business either. It’s just me and this bottle of...what the hell

Where I come from, handsome starts at R15-million a

guards have feelings too.

is this stuff? It’s made my lips turn blue. Perhaps I’m dead.

month plus a helicopter and one of those sports cars that

If your cellphone rings during the interview, tell the

After sobering up, get your curriculum vitae in order.

Jeremy Clarkson drives.

I am tied up in a dispute with the combined armies of

others you want some privacy and ask them to leave

Curriculum vitae is Latin for “little white lies”. Avoid telling

the room. If they object, tell them your dealer is on the

them. Rather tell big, steaming whoppers about how

the Seventh Coalition for most of the year and will not

line and that anyone overhearing the conversation could

you can perform open-heart surgery and surf Dungeons

be contactable. However, I shall let you know when it is

be convicted as an accessory. They will appreciate the

blindfolded. This will show them that you think creatively

convenient for me to start work.

warning and award you points for honesty.

and are not afraid to take risks. Many companies are

Yours truly,

reluctant to hire someone who is obsessed with the truth.

Ben Trovato, Squire.

you don’t need the job. Nobody but prostitutes and bankers

Capitalism is a filthy business and nobody wants an

PS. Your offices are in Joburg but I live in Durban.

have time for desperate people. Tell him you are extremely

employee who runs to the police every time there’s a spot

It’s important to make it clear to the interviewer that

86

Please make arrangements to relocate.

SURF YOUR SKATE

Hunger Society Surf Zinc is 100% natural, organic and sustainable.

Not only are you preventing all those toxic ingredients of regular sunblock from getting into the ocean but also benefiting from the natural properties of the ingredients without the use of excess chemicals.

The Hunger Society Surf Zinc is a total waterproof blockout sunscreen made from a careful balance of organic and natural ingredients, to protect you from the harsh sun.

www.hungersociety.co.za

FOREWORD BY PHIL NEL

WORDS & PHOTOS BY MORNÉ LAUBSCHER

PHOTO FEATURE / ZAG 42.1

As I got to know Morné better, I realised that being in the ocean and finding waves is the fuel that charges his soul. Without it his inner light begins to fade. A simple recipe for keeping Morbo happy — keep him swimming. CAPTION & PHOTO ©SUSANNE JOUBERT

Surfing is a blank canvas with many different forms of

inside a barreling pit takes on a different meaning when

expression and craft; from boards to bodies, handguns

connecting with your mate this way, sharing the holy

to rhino chasers, and some folks even pick up a camera.

grail inside the cauldron — his housing flashing inches

Point in case: Morné ‘Morbo’ Laubscher.

from your face, as we both pop-up behind, screaming

Born and bred in the Boland means living close to

with excitement.

nature in all its rugged form. And with that comes tonnes of inspiration.

THE MAN BEHIND THE LENS

“Once while surfing Caves, I saw this amazing,

Being a Caves local also means the added variable of great white sharks, of course, and several times we’ve had to herd him out whilst the Shark Spotters’

warping, empty barrel from the side. It was a defining

siren went off. And those are just the times that we

scene for me. I realised I wanted to capture these

knew a Johnnie was visiting.

magical moments and share them with everyone else —

Susanne Joubert is Morbo’s partner in art. Behind

surfers and non-surfers,” Morbo says about what got him

the man behind the lens, she plays a massive supportive

motivated to shoot, especially at his beautiful homebreak

role helping him achieve his success. From winning

of Koel Bay. Since then his images have painted a picture

several photography competitions, to being featured

of dedication and passion lived amongst the ocean.

in publications, and joining Alan van Gysen, Ant Fox,

After purchasing his first housing, Morbo began

Sacha Specker, Kelly Cestari and Greg Ewing at Ocean

capturing frames from fresh and unique water angles.

Collective. His dream is to publish a book on the Boland

Being an established waterman gives him the edge to be

surf scene, and continue to find unique perspectives to

in the critical zone of a breaking wave. It enables him to

share with all of us from his beautiful coast.

call you into the best waves, while swimming strong and being in the perfect position. Screaming down the line

A gentle soul and great human being, who blesses us with his unique perspective of a surfing life. – Phil Nel

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ZAG 42.1 / PHOTO FEATURE

It was a late summer evening when I captured this one. Possibly my favourite image — the ďŹ rst one that truly captured the essence of Caves for me.

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Throwing the midweek dice with Phil Nel, and scoring gold.

THE STUDIO

KOEL BAY The magic in Koel Bay as a photo studio lies in it’s

swimming skills to the test.

combined with crazy waves wedging off the cliffs.

Then of course there is the shark factor, as they also

It opened my eyes to the raw power and beauty shaping

I use as my studio lights. As it rises over the mountains

seem to like the place. They’re always in the back of your

this ocean arena. This ignited my passion for riding waves,

in the east, it lights up the wedging right barrels,

mind, keeping you aware of your surroundings.

exploring the Boland and my love affair with Koel Bay.

illuminating my subjects prefectly. Then again as the

It almost becomes a sixth sense. When things don’t

sun sets in the west, it transforms the backdrop into

feel right they usually aren’t, and ends up with me and

experience more of this place forced me into collecting

the most majestic view from within the barrel, as the

the crew being chased out of the water shortly after.

Coca Cola bottles to return for deposit, to get enough

golden-lit mountains of the Kogelberg biosphere are

All of these factors add to the story behind every image

cash to scrape together the R20 I would have to pay

sculpted into three dimensional peaks.

I capture in this natural studio.

my friend for petrol to get a lift there after school.

physical location and alignment with the sun, which

Another factor at play are the warm northeasterly

Growing up in Stellenbosch and surfing in Strand as a

Countless times as a grom, the desire to go back to

After many years of beatdowns and earning the respect

berg winds, which in the summer create deep, long

grom, I always heard about Koel Bay and the incredible

of the locals, it not only made me appreciate the many

barrels. Along with this magic comes the challenge

waves. A beach infamous for taking the lives of many

faces of this wave, but opened my eyes to realise my

of the ever-changing sandbanks, which make the

swimmers over the years. I will never forget my first

passion for capturing and sharing my images from

waves and current unpredictable, putting your

time at Caves, just seeing the overpowering mountains

my ‘studio’ with my friends and everyone else.

Nature adding the finishing touches. When the elements collide on the inside, the power of Caves truly comes alive.

WHAT’S IN THE BAG? I studied Radio Trade Technology after school, and

the water, as well as shooting airs and turns; and

for the last 13 years have been pursuing a career at

my 10mm Sigma fisheye lens for getting right in the

a Wireless Internet provider in Stellenbosch, which

action zone in the barrels. For those spots or days

has influenced my technical capabilities.

when swimming is not an option, I use a Canon

When I was growing up I loved to take things apart.

300mm F4 lens to get in on the action.

My brother’s remote control and battery operated toys

Then some other essentials are: a Nixon blaster to

would often disappear, and then eventually be found

keep the boys amped on the beach with pumping tunes;

stripped into pieces by me. So I’ve always had a technical

my Nixon Mission Watch that always keeps me up to

side and interest in the mechanical working of things.

date with the tide and and swell conditions; I also won’t

My favourite pieces of equipment are my Aquatech

go anywhere without Nektor organic sunblock or my

water housing, which has never failed me; a Canon

O’Neill Hyperfreak zipperless wetsuit, so I can stay in

24-70mm F2.8 lens for shooting landscapes from

the water for longer.

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Tommy Kruger in tune with the Boland.

PHOTO FEATURE / ZAG 42.1

One of those evenings when I’m too far on the inside, ďŹ ghting the current to stay in position, and then this dark horse comes running through.

Early morning in the light box with JP Olivier.

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ZAG 42.1 / PHOTO FEATURE

Phil has been a big inspiration since the beginning. We’re always pushing each other, exploring new angles and just having a damn good time in and out of the water.

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My good friend and Caves legend, Johan ‘Tjoekie’ De Goede, has pushed me into many close-outs and played a big roll in me becoming the waterman I am today.

Literally where one can find the pot of gold.

PHOTO FEATURE / ZAG 42.1

Caves is a magical place, which you feel in moments like this.

SHOOTING = SURFING I get asked the question a lot: Don’t you get jealous watching the surfers ride kiff waves while you’re

able to capture them getting the bombs.

Also working with the talented riders from the Boland

shooting? It’s understandable because for most of my

like Phil Nel, Tommy Kruger and Adin Masencamp,

life I’ve been riding waves, right there in the mix with my

makes me stoked. They’re always willing to put in the

fellow waveriders searching for a bomb. It’s only in the

extra time, effort and determination to nail that magic

last four years that I have been shooting in the water,

shot with me. We all enjoy the excitement it creates

and for me it is not just that one wave that I ride that

when we get that shot, or featured in a publication.

makes me stoked now, but every single wave that I see

I owe a lot of gratitude towards them, for their support in

and get the privilege to capture and share with everyone

so many ways, and their willingness to put life and limb

in the lineup.

on the line for the possibility of what we might achieve.

Then there is the stoke of nailing a shot of one of

There are also the post work surf missions with

the locals, like the Shultz brothers, or Johan De Goede

Susanne and the guys, which allow me to arrive at work

(Tjoeki), who always encouraged me from my early days

the next day with calmness and a smile, and keeps me

at Caves to push my limits to ride bigger waves. This,

dreaming about the magic we captured and the good

along with the wisdom passed to me from local legend

times we shared walking up the mountain path in the

Johan Botha (RIP), has ultimately resulted in me being

dark with our Petzl lamps.

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ZAG 42.1 / PHOTO FEATURE

The Schultz brothers, Gunter and Werner, are part of the original crew at Caves. They’ve taught me a lot about respect for the ocean, in and out of the water. This is Gunter feeling right at home.

Phil, Tommy and Brad Coetzer after a session at Bayview.

This is what makes the Boland so unique; after a full day of exploring and not finding waves, it’s really special to finally strike gold with nobody else out and capture the post-surf amp.

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I’ve spent many years exploring the sharky coastline of the Boland from Koel Bay to Arniston, and many of those epic missions have been with my good friend James Kennedy, sharing moments like these with not a soul in sight.

Morbo, always composing the next shot. ©SUSANNE JOUBERT

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS From Caves to Cape Agulhas on the southern tip of Africa, I have a deep passion for the Boland coast.

of documenting my experiences here.

I was greatly influenced in my teens by spending time

I enjoy exploring its many reefs and sandy beaches in

with surf photographers Douglas Cockwell and Riehan

search of new spots, and trying capture the raw beauty

Bakkes. My first interest in water photography came

of the waves along this uncrowded stretch, which I’m

from being in the surf with Doug, and watching him

lucky to call home.

capture these crazy angles of surfers and waves. Riehan

It’s all these wave-hunting missions and the people

was one of my good friends growing up, and we spent

I share the stoke with that has influenced my love for

a lot time going on surf missions. Back then already, he

photography, and inspired me to pursue my dreams

was photographing local and international pros in the surf and skate industry, and inspired me to pick up a camera and start shooting.

Other local photographers whose work fascinated me and fuels my aspirations are Alan van Gysen, Greg Ewing, Sasha Specker and Ant Fox, who I grew up spending holidays and surfing with in Pearly Beach.

Then there is the work of international photographers like Russel Ord, Chris Burkard, and Todd Glaser, to name a few, who take things to the next level. Following their work created this absolute desire to get my hands on my own water housing and start working towards the dream.

Most importantly, however, my passion is influenced by my partner in crime, Susanne. She has played a tremendous part in my technical and creative growth over the last seven years. Her shared passion and years of photographic, printing and post production experience have been of immeasurable value in helping me to further develop my own skills. I can’t thank her enough for the companionship and support in and out of the water on just about every session and mission, sharing the stoke and always ready for the next adventure. Or joining me for early missions before sun-up, and never wanting to leave the beach until the stars are out and the last light has faded. – Morbo

ZAG 42.1 / SPLAB deterrents available in SA, including the longstanding NoShark device and Shark Shield.

The east coast was treated to a very winterish run of waves late November, with everywhere from Bayview all the way up to the Bluff lighting up under a solid groundswell and offshore winds. The east component in the swell meant that Big wave surfing took another lurch forward with the Pe’ahi

even Bruce’s came to life, where the non-stop barrels were

Challenge being labelled “the most dangerous surf contest

only interrupted by the many failed jump-off attempts on the

ever,” as competitors got alternately swatted and barrelled

notoriously sketchy rocks.

EDITOR Calvin Bradley - calvin@zigzag.co.za PHOTO EDITOR Greg Ewing - greg@zigzag.co.za

at the notorious reef in Maui. Equally entertaining was the ONLINE EDITOR Cyle Myers - cyle@zigzag.co.za

action in the channel when an unauthorised drone entered the area for a look-see. A leaked video shows the entire water patrol alternately throwing flippers and brandishing sticks

DESIGN Studio Kronk - info@studiokronk.com

to try knock the tiny craft out the air. Eventually a helicopter was called in to swat the pesky intruder down. With victory assured for the WSL media embargo, attention shifted back to

AD SALES Mark Bester - mark@zigzag.co.za

the lineup where Ian Walsh took the win in historic conditions.

Unfortunately Twiggy missed out on participating in the same event. The reigning two-times big wave world champ

Hugh Thompson leans into a long Bruce’s wall on one of his fishy creations. ©HILL

was in Nazare, Portugal, when the contest was called on and

Zag ad exec Mark Bester officially qualifies as the most

spent the next two days travelling non-stop to get to Maui in

unlucky employee ever. In the space of a year he has been

time for his heat. After three delayed flights, Twig pleaded

robbed of his work laptop on three separate occasions and

with event organisers to swap his heat but time (and the WSL)

relieved of his car while on the job. The cherry on top came

waits for no man. Twig arrived in the parking lot just after the

wile he was visiting Warren Wareing at the Island Style

heat ended and was understandably gutted, but a few bombs

headquarters and the office got robbed by three armed men

after the comp finished helped ease the pain.

waving guns in the air. Mark, Wazzo, and the Island Style

While on the subject of big wave chargers, Splab would like

staff were locked in the back office while the gang made off

to welcome a new addition to the tribe. Congrats to Josh and

with a bag of cash. Thankfully nobody was injured in the heist,

Dom Redman on the birth of their boy Saxon.

but you may want to consider your odds when scheduling an

Splab has continued to receive reports of an environmental disaster unfolding along the east coast of South Africa, with

appointment with the Zag ad guy.

Tyler Mclullich is our first winner in the Create It, Shape It

millions of nurdles washing up on beaches from Durban to as

contest, being run in conjunction with Lampz Shapes

far afield as Mossel Bay. Nurdles are small plastic pellets the

Surfboards. Tyler’s entry combines the rocket-like planing

size of a pea used to manufacture plastic products. On their own

speed of a kneeboard-inspired spoon with an ultra deep

they are relatively harmless. The problem is they quickly absorb

concave, pulled in curves on the hips and a squash tail to hook

toxins in the water, making them poisonous for fish and other

it in the pocket. He now gets his dream board shaped gratis

sea life that mistake them for food, and of course the humans

by master craftsman, Lampz. Stay tuned to the Zag Facebook

that later eat the fish. The source of the disaster was a shipping

page to watch the aptly named Ty-Fy come to life. Even

container chokkas with the stuff that fell into the Durban

better, get your own entry in. All you have to do is come up

harbour during the mega storm in October. It’s been reported

ADMIN BOSS Chantal Padayachee - chantal@zigzag.co.za PUBLISHER Andy Davis - andy@zigzag.co.za PHOTOGRAPHIC CONTRIBUTORS: Shafiq Morton, Craig Wilson, Alan van Gysen, Marck Botha, Sean Thompson, Pierre De Villiers, Ryan Miller, Dan Merkel, Simon Heale, Iain Campbell, Pierre Tostee, Zak Noyle, Todd Glaser, Cobus Bosman, Grant Ellis, Morne Laubscher, Susanne Joubert, Olivia Anderson, Alex McGeown Sacha Specker, Jamie Scott EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS: David Bond, Alan van Gysen, Nick Carroll, Kimball Taylor, Ben Trovato, Will Bendix GUIDING GURU: Craig Sims

with an epic design for a new board, write a short paragraph

SUBS / CONTRIBUTIONS:

that the company responsible will be footing the bill for the

explaining it with a quick sketch and post it on Lampz Shapes

Subscription queries: subs@zigzag.co.za

massive cleanup operation, but environmentalists say the slow

Surfboards Facebook page and tag the Zag, or post it on your

response from Transnet and the Department of Environmental

Insta feed and tag Lampz Shapes / Zigzagsurf. You can enter

Affairs has made the disaster very hard to contain.

as many times as you like and the only rule is it can’t be a

It seems Noordhoek beach has become a hotspot for crime again. Splab’s man on the inside, Sean Thompson, says a

conventional thruster.

And to end, this special oversize issue you’re holding in

fellow photographer was recently held up at knifepoint at The

your hands marks another milestone in Zag’s legacy as we

Hoek, after which the perp made his getaway up the mountain

usher in our 42nd year, but that’s only half as impressive

with all the gear. This follows a number of similar incidents

as another legend of SA surfing who recently turned 88.

along the long stretch of beach. Forget the sharks, Splab

Graham Hynes celebrated his birthday with a bunch of good

reckons it’s time to install some Skelm Spotters up on the cliffs.

friends at his home in St Francis and, true to form, Hynsie

Speaking of sharks, a fisherman had a close call at Plett recently when a great white took a bite out of his fishing ski.

We welcome photographic and editorial contributions. E-mail, send on a disk or mail originals. We cannot be held responsible for unsolicited contributions. ZIGZAG will retain reprint rights, contributors will retain all other rights for resale and re-publication.

Zigzag is published by

pretty much outlasted everyone there.

Here’s to Hynsie and another year of keeping it real.

According to Hano Smit, he was knocked out of his ski by a

CTPprinters

CAPE TOWN

fair-sized white that casually carried on chomping the hull.

Luckily the shark lost interest and Hano was able to retrieve the ski and make his way back to shore, breaking a few speed records along the way.

Now’s probably a good time to mention that Sharkbanz is available in SA. The watch-like device is light, fits snugly on your wrist or ankle and emits a strong electromagnetic field, which is claimed to deter sharks from coming any closer. Sharkbanz joins a couple of other established shark

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Cake is for kids. Hynsie celebrated his birthday with a platter of tasty treats.

The Audit Bureau of Circulation protects advertisers from publishers who claim false circulation figures, i.e those who talk out their arse. ZIGZAG is ABC audited.

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