A few waves here and there - with Thursday being pick of the bunch. Vrek cold though. Andre Venter reckon first time since 1976 he's had an ice cream headache from ducking at Pipe.  Might also be a consequence of age-related hair-loss too though!

Thursday saw waves at all the bay breaks, so you could pick and choose. Luc got some lekker shots from Avos' and Pipe which you can check out here:
www.millerslocal.co.za/latest-shots/avos-6-june-2019-luc
​http://www.millerslocal.co.za/latest-shots/pipe-6-june-2019-luc

Also a few scraggly one's on the weekend - and Heather got some cool shots of the surf at Pipe. Check those one's out here:
​http://www.millerslocal.co.za/latest-shots/pipe-7-june-2019-heather

The fairer sex was ripping at Supers during the week. USA's #1 U16 Kirra Pinkerton was tearing the wall to shreds as her warm up for the SA OPEN OF SURFING comp in PE this week. Maybe someone should have pointed out to her that Pipe in PE vs Super Tubes are two very disparate waves!

The VW SA Open kicks off on Thursday this week at Pipe - and there actually should be some contestable waves amazingly enough. Just depends on what the wind gets up to though. Pull in to check out some really good surfing. 

Last weeks article by Gustav about the big day in January unearthed  a few more big wave shots from the past. Showing that PE does go off...sometimes. 

Another event to Diarise for the following week is Matt Bromely's talk on big waves, big fears and big faith - at Harvest church. Deets below.

Besides a few waves we had the usual dose of PE wind. Photag Luc is a sucker for punishment and likes to see how much sand he can get in his camera and orifices during these times. 

Another good local photag is Clive Wright down at Seals. He got some lekker shots of early morning fiery skies as well as a kiff night shot of some red tide looking pretty.

PE threw out the usual dose of lekker skies too. Much as we might bitch and moan about the economy and crime etc etc, try finding sunsets like this in London!

Early birds can still get the worm - and the dawn patrol Pipe crew always find something to ride. One of them is surfer-chef Allan Bezuidenhout. If you haven't yet been to his possie, Muse, do yourself a favour and go there for a very lekker chow. The sort of spot to take your significant other for something fancy! Fine dining does exist in PE thanks to Allan. #supportsurfers

Looks like Neptune is delivering this week - but hold thumbs n fingers n toes that the wind plays ball. 

Being a big wave surfer in PE is probably viewed as the ultimate dichotomy. And yet, on those rare and special days, when the weather, wave and wind gods align, there can be some beautiful monsters that grace our shores. And not only on the wild side, in the bay itself.

Clubhouse, on it's day, graduates from being booger-pit heaven going left to a really serious big wave going right. At proper size 6-8ft there are a coupla takers, but bigger than that and there are very few guys willing to surf it.  Just getting out to the backline is a feat in itself, and then dealing with the raw ocean power and the volume of water moving about is another thing all together.

Very few of us will ever experience what it's like to surf really really big waves. Like proper big waves with dire consequences. So that's why it's so insightful to be able to read of a first hand experience of what it's like, and what it takes, to step up into that realm. Especially when told by a local PE surfer about one of our very own big wave spots.

Gustav Lokotsch, one of the handful of local surfers who has dedicated himself to chasing the monsters, talks us through a very special wave he caught at Clubhouse during the huge January 2019 swell, and the preparation it takes to ensure you get it right when the stars align. But scoring a massive wall from Clubhouse right past the back of Avalanche and into the bay at Avo's, well - that makes it all worth while!

 As told by Gustav:
"For the last 5 years odd I really have been putting focus on learning and understanding how to surf Clubhouse when its on. In my books when it’s on, it’s a solid 6 – 8ft (Consistent sets) with the semi-regular rogue 10ft sets that bend in from the South, sort of like a wrap. In my books, 10ft is a minimum 20ft face,  just to put the size scale into perspective.

The problem is, it’s only really on once a year if you lucky and normally involves a shit load of paddling so your opportunity to learn and understand the spot is limited. Nonetheless over the last couple of years with some really solid swells we have had, and in collaboration with DVT (Dylan van Tonder), I was set into an inevitable course of “learning” which was a critical path that needed to be taken in order to have had the session I did on 14 Jan 19.

I purchased a 9’8 Errol Hickman Big Wave gun from Duncan Scott in 2008. A critical part of the equation - The right equipment! Having the right equipment is one thing, learning how to connect with it is another. From around 2011 I started surfing that board more and more. Sessions out on the wild side (Plat bank, Beachview, Maitland, Malay Pools, Cobbles, Back Reef, Gannetts) all in the range of 8 – 15 ft, forged a special connection with this board. It effectively became an extension of me. It’s difficult to explain how deep of a spiritual connection I have with this board.

Two years ago, due to not having access to any rescue ski’s, I decided to start putting a big effort into my fitness. Generally when I surf,  its larger than average and its either just myself or in collaboration with DVT. If shit goes bad, best you have the backing to have a chance to make it back. My kind of max size for ace out missions for spots I have around the wild side of PE is around 15ft, anything more than that, the risk of not coming back is exponential, sort of like the Richter scale. Decisions need to be made then, like I said there is no ski fetching me…

From swimming to running to sessions of paddling my 9’8 4- 7 km’s of flat water, I remained consistent in building up the ability to paddle for miles and at least not be too gased to catch some waves and make it back to shore. Inherently where we/I go, you going to paddle a lot and probably taking a couple on the head if you not smart. If leash snaps, you in for a mega swim in some heavy moving water which may require beaching on some dodgy rocks…

Added to the above, I was in fact meant to be in Durban on 14 Jan! I had rented a flat and was planning to drive 14 Jan. My car went in for a service 2 weeks before that but because I was waiting for a part, the trip was delayed. I was so busy and actually was paying no attention to the charts. I only saw the swell on Friday and when I did, I got the semi nervous gut feel. It all looked the SAME as the swell we had in August last year but scaled down. I did think much of it till Monday. I planned to surf but forgot about it.

I woke up Monday and could year the Thunder roaring from my house. Direct distance to the Seaview is Approx 6km. Its as if a switch flicked in my gut and I knew it might be pretty large! I didn’t quite properly compute that feeling…. yet

Packed the car and off I went. I drive around Schoenies because I like to suss it out. When I turned down off Seaview road and got a solid glimpse of the sea and ONLY saw WHITE, I was like F**k, I thinks its code red, but somehow and for some reason did not quite drink it in yet.

When I got down to Schoenies and saw single lines right across from Sards to Schoenies 3 km’s out too sea (Cannon was a massive straight line white water), f**k I knew we are a go for launch control. That’s when excitement took (started nervous frothing at the beak) and “plan of approach” started being developed. ,

When I got to Summies (Summerstrand lifesaving club) at 11h30, I could see the potential. Still not the pulse yet. I did a lot of swell map investigations and with experience guessed the pulse would be between 12h00 and 16h00.

No pulsing yet but signs are there, suited up, waxed the board, stretched and padded out right in front of the club at 45 degrees. Funny enough, I got out with my hair dry. When I got out, James Jones (body boarder) was in the water. We sat waiting in between sets but there some real solid one (6ft+ for sure) the odd 8ft set. A LOT of POWER… My second wave was very solid. Funny story, I was taking the piss out of James for pulling off the back of a cracker, he was slightly too deep. There was so much power and didn’t think he wanted to take lip on head, it would have been extremely unpleasant to say the least.

He then got one and on his way up a semi monster came in (my 2nd wave). I swung board to paddle in, was very late for the drop and was going to hit the kill switch, but in a split second I saw James down the line up looking up at me and I thought of my banter to him. All thoughts of option for “abort” nullified. I kind of chested myself into it. I made it but f**k me it was semi free fall into mach 50 engage and eventually pulled straight……. That set the tone for my confidence for the rest of the session

When I got back James had a laugh and I tuned him, Bro, guess I need to put my money where my mouth is hey.…..

James stayed out for a few more waves, reckon till about 12h45. It was about round 13h00 where it really turned on. A lot of water was moving. From when I got in at 11h50 to 13h45, I must have had about 10 - 12 waves or more already all the way nearly to avo’s rock going 9000 km per h on that magnificent machine that Errol spawned to life. A couple do stand out, those wide South Chunky ones, but I’m not here to tell you about that. All part to adding to this very special session.

I had to pull straight on one round 13h40 and got washed in, nearly went bad into the rocks. There was SO much water moving and sets were consistent as it was coming off the low and moving onto the 1st step of the high (I have a tide watch which has become probably the most useful tool ever).

I analyse data and design systems for a living, so its easy for me to break this session down from many different perspectives based on DATA. In order to process it, properly “drink it in “and plan for the next one, I have not stop analysing.

When I came in, I was quite gased and assessed whether I should paddle out again, it was MORE like "CAN I MAKE IT out again". That place on pulse, if you wash in, you aint going back.. that I can promise unless you jump off avo rock and paddle for 2km’s into a rip.

Sitting there I just saw these rights reeling in set after set and thought to myself f**k it… Plan of approach. “Up pipes ass then 45 degrees and hope for the best…..”

Stuck to plan, took me about 8 – 10 mins to get to kind of the beginning of where that backline actually is, problem is when I got there, a mayday set came it – horizon went semi black. The pulse was also a bit different to what I have had in past experiences. Sets were like this -  a good couple 6ft'ers, with the last 2 or 3 in the set being solid 8ft, then a slight break, then like another 2- 4 SOLID 8ft'ers, then 1 - 4 mins and Rouge 10ft set from the South, so when it came, if you not where you should be its going to be unpleasant.

Anyway, I paddled my ass, made it halfway up the 1st one with my 9’8 then chucked, I punched through the back but the board was taken, reckon I was dragged 15 meters as leash engaged (8ft leash became 15 ft length post session). There really was a lot of power in that swell. Anyway eventually when my board was released and I got it half way to me tugging on the leash, the next one was on my head, I took another, got the board and caught the next white water angling to that lifesaving shack on the beach, by this time, I was starting to enter danger zone re those rock zone on the front there.

When the wave half faded, I had managed to ride sideways to line up with that shack on the beach. This in all ended up being 15 mins odd. I sat there thinking,  f**k I’m not going to make it out. I saw these rights and I was like, Ok one more time. I paddled straight from the shack. Popped about 4 white waters, checked I was starting to draw into the middle of the impact zone and had to start making decisions again. Though to myself “bad place to be if set comes now”

One decent once came in, I thought "ok, I'll take this on the head but if there is anything behind in, its  kill switch time", my body was starting to enter high orange zone with regards to reserves. I popped up after that with a lot of water moving and funny enough, she lifted her skirt for me. I put in a sprint at 45 degrees and as I got to the safe zone a massive set came in. When I saw that set reeling down the line my body all of a sudden was not hurting anymore. In all it took me 20 odd minutes to get back out and to be dead honest, I got lucky…. Comes to that word we call persistence/perseverance/tenacity – The WILL - not to give up so easily…..

I got to the take off zone 14h18 Had another 4 absolute crackers in a row all the way to Avo’s rock.. My body was really starting to semi fail now but could NOT accept going to in. The excitement of the experience and having NO ONE but me out there was negating body failure/shutdown messages. After the 4th wave I paddle back to the take-off zone, knowing that the next would more than likely be my last. I registered a MASSIVE set off bell buoy, I have kind of worked out how long it takes for that to hit clubhouse within a tolerable error range and put on the timer. The set had landed.

I was too excited. The set was similar to the structure I mentioned above, I ended paddling for the 2nd last one in the set,  sort of missing it because I was bit too much up towards Pipe, then the next one behind it was a f**kin monster, reckon easy 10 ft, because I paddled sideways for the last one I was in a better position but too far in and missed it too. I went over that one and there was nothing, F*ck I was bleak. “I didn’t calm down”. “F**ket why didn’t I calm down.”

Anyway I sat there mulling over missing that last BOMB and from the deep south wrapped this double up 10ft+ monster with ALL the 18 second period it could have had on that day It just popped up in my face from nowwhere…..

I literally took 4 strokes out to sea towards it, jumped on the back of the board, swung it around and hardly took a stroke, I virtually “chested” myself into it. When I hit my feet, that 9’8 hit engaged. Very late and vert take off, I remember it clearly, full survival stance engagement, kind of weightless for a few seconds, until I could feel the board starting to properly engage.

I drew that momentum from the super later drop off the bottom and set my line down the 1st section of the cracker (Conti Flag to end of Clubhouse, pre-danger zone rock section). I remember that piece from the end of the lifesaving club to Avalanche rock very well. I had to decide at that point, it was lock and load or abort.

The wave was such that if you decided to take that path its best you make it. I locked and loaded and drew my next line for that section. Felt as if the board was planing on a flow rider, there was so much water drawing, I kind of had to angle the board a bit to land in order I manage the draw up the face. When I got to Avalanche rock, it gased behind me which added to my already ridiculous momentum and speed (that 9’8 weighs 8kg’s),

The wave was doubling up just on the outside of avo’s rock - sort of if you look at it from shore, just behind it and 45 degrees. I thought to myself, wait I can make this, I re-angled my momentum, engaged the so called step’s just off that rock and managed to get kind of over it just on the outside of it, as I did, it re sucked for re engagement, which is effectively the TOP TOP of avalanche right on the inside of the rock. I then drew my 3rd line for that section, By this time the wave was probably 6ft+, it started at solid 10ft+ up until avalanche rock engagement.

I made it passed that boil section, where the guys paddle out (avo’s parking lot), then drew my line for that next piece, I rode till half way to between avalanche and millers rock and pulled straight…. The whole ride being 65 - 75 seconds at most I reckon. So that’s from just inside the conti flag at Summies to the middle of avalanche. Been dreaming about that wave for a long time. That’s excluding the 14 absolute crackers I had before this one

One other person I know has had one possibly even further, that’s Jason Van Gruenen. I think he too knows how special that wave is and I believe we both share a deep connection with that wave. I think the red board he had that wave on is hanging in Denis’ shop. He will never sell that board, I know that cos I wanted to buy it!

Lots went into getting this special wave. I had to work really hard for it. What made this a possibility? Time spent surfing there, efforts put into learning equipment, FITNESS and most of all the universe directing me in ways that you can only understand if you one that likes to analyse and understand things slightly deeper than the average person.

Every surfer who lives in PE is aware of what we have in our back yard. Every surfer knows what it can produce. Not every surfer in PE is willing to accept conditions in order to have the chance to get what it can produce. For those that I know and are willing to accept, I’m sure they will appreciate the above account. It’s something I would appreciate.

Jason wave’s back in 98’ or  ’99 or ‘01 is what inspired me. I did even see it but I was there for that swell. I saw the swell and could believe that it happened. I saw him surf Clubhouse on a few occasions and I really have not seen anyone surf it better on size, meaning proper 8-10ft+. Many nights I have thought about his wave. Many nights I have thought of how you can make it past Millers. Many nights I have thought of other breaks that we have that can be surfed.

For those who are not faint-of-heart and have their sights set on building their own special relationship with the ocean, Not for fame, not for money, but for love, passion and pushing personal boundaries, this story is for them.

I see the her (the Ocean) as my other girlfriend.. on the 14th of Jan 19, man did she put out for me in a big way. But as noted above, it can come at a price. A price I would pay any day, in a “pound of flesh…”     

Thanks to Gustav for his engaging account of what it's like to ride the big one. Unfortunately there were no known shots taken of the session. So if you do happen to have taken some that day - or know of anyone who did - please drop me a mail on millerslocal@gmail.com

Another winters week goes by with not much swell to shout about. So far it's been mostly a winter of the Wildside, with you having to drive round the corner in order to get wet.

And if you make the trip you could get richly rewarded with some shacks and solo sessions. Just gotto know where to go. And there are certainly those in the know...

You could of course go stuff the bay, and head north of the equator, Like ex-PE local Amba Holmes. Who has upgraded from crumbly Pipe to groomed Nias walls. Looks like a good trade!

Or if you do put your faith in the bay, sometimes it is rewarded. Every dog has it's day, and so does Pipe. Which had a couple during the week.

What Pipe might lack in wave quality it makes up for in camaraderie. Always someone to hang about and shoot sh*t with in the car park - and of course you get to chat to legendary Car Park John as well.

PE isn't always flat though. Sometimes the weather and wave gods align and then it goes ballistic. And for those day you have to be prepared! Cos on it's day the bay can dish out waves that rival the best of them. Clubhouse is one of those mystical spots that can deliver. 

Like the massive swell on the 19 January this year. Gustav Lokotsch, one of the few PE surfers who actively seek out the really, really big stuff was rewarded with the wave of his life that day. A perfect monster that ran from Clubhouse all the way past Avo's rock and into the bay at Avalanche. You can read his amazing account here
​http://www.millerslocal.co.za/blog/chasing-the-dragon

So for those who saw Dennis Ellis's Facebook pic last week of two big wave sticks he has just shaped (image below), and wondering why anyone in PE would ever need those - just take a read of Gustav's story above.

There are big wave boards and lil wave boards - and in PE it's mostly the lil wave one's you need. Surf Centre's Gavin Rother added another stick to his quiver recently, and she got some glitter treatment to the deck - so if you see Gavin twinkling past you now you know why. She also has the RSPro hexatraction on the deck for the wax-less surf experience. You can grab some at Surf Centre. Check out my review of RSPro hexatraction here. Good stuff this is!
​http://www.millerslocal.co.za/blog/goodbye-wax-hello-hexatraction

Local logger Alfonso Peters went off to Biarittz in France last week to represent SA in the ISA World Longboard Champs. Unfortunately the surf was mostly like Pipe on a small, onshore, atrocious day, which made competing pretty damn hard and more like a lotto. Alfonso got himself a 17th possie.

Eish, the fish farm debacle continues. With the area off of Pipe still within one of the spots they want to zone for it. Now we all know that's a really doff idea, so if you'd like to add your name to the petition to object to it, please do so here:
Say no to the Fish Farm

We are blessed with a beautiful bay - let's try keep it that way!

Yoh, the serious dry spell continues. Bogger all in the bay - besides being plenty elsewhere. Vic Bay looked peachy for the annual Vic Bay Quad. The Nelson Mandela Bay Surfriders hooked a 2nd possie with JBay's Joshe Faulkner grabbing the men's Open title.

Those that drove to the end of the rode got a couple to make the petrol money worthwhile.

And if you went East - well - that always delivers doesn't it!?

And if you went North? Well - that delivered even more. My second home was firing. Trying to work out why I'm sitting staring at flat ocean here instead of being there!

Much as we mumble when it's flat, our beachfront on both sides of Cape Recife always do deliver so much more than surf. So privileged to have some beautiful coastline to enjoy.

Unfortunately sometimes beach walks mean finding the fall-out of our litter problems. Like this poor lil shark who was likely spotted and unwrapped from a tangle of fishing line. Well done to the rescuers.

Some East Cape representation at the ISA Wolrd longboard champs being held in France. Loggers Alfonso Peters and Crystal Hulett flying the flag for us. Conditions been looking like a kak day at Pipe, so guessing they must feel right at home! Good luck guys!

Big Dave is over visiting family in the UK - but once a surf shop owner always a surf shop owner - meaning even when you on holiday you like to go check out the local industry. 

Ex-St Francis locals Brad & Hannah Beck are still travelling the world surfing - and were lucky to score some epic right hand sand points in Mexico recently. Flip, imagine if we could have one of these tucked into the corner somewhere on the wild side....

Or else we just need a time machine to scoot back about 60 years - cos imagine the waves these guys were seeing reel off at Hummies back in the 60's. Brooke's Hill caravan park was certainly the spot to pull up your van if you wanted to score some surf.

Winter time means aloes. And should mean waves. Please can someone ask the aloes to send a message to the waves and tell em they better pitch up soon!

The Tuna Classic was held last week, with it's traditional send off from Hobie Beach. The fishermen were luckier than the surfers - as at least there were some fish about.

Not too much on the charts for this week, so just keep the faith - the waves have to arrive eventually!

Back in the 'hood after 2 months in Maldives. Gonna take some getting used to chilly water and wetsuits again, eish! But at least MillersLocal will get back to having it's regular blog posts and updates again. Sorry for the temporary hiatus. But I kinda liked having floating unicorns and flamingo's as my front yard for a while. And the odd wave of course....

Some winter swell pulled in last week, and pretty much everywhere had waves.  

Of course JBay was off it's pip. Some serious sized walls and some serious sized shacks.

Then of the course the not-so-secret -but-still-secret spots were also happening.

Didn't matter too much if you weren't into catching some waves, there were plenty of lekker days to be walking along the beach instead.

Congrats to the Nelson Mandela Bay Surfing team for taking the SA Longboard title at the recent SA Champs at Seals. PE's Michelle van Kempen won the Senior Ladies title, which was her 10th South African Surfing title. Not too shabby!

PE's stylish logger Alfonso Peters has been chosen to represent the SA team at the World Champs coming up in France. Relic hosted a fundraiser for Fonzi. last week, and will be leaving the lucky draw open until Friday this week tune them if you'd like to buy a ticket and help Alfonso raise some bucks. Tickets are R2OO each, allowing you to sign Fonzis board and stand a chance to win one of 6 awesome hampers from RYD, DC, Relic, St Francis Breweries, Hurricane and more. For tickets - you can buy at the shop if you'd like to sign Fonzi's board, or contact Debbie at the shop on 083 260 7264 for bank deets, or drop em a msg via facebook.

Speaking of Relic - the guys have some kiff new wax in stock if you looking for some eco friendly grip. 80 rond gets you a block.

Flying back from Maldives and scrolling through the sports channels on Emirates and guess what - there was good 'ol PE at 10 000ft above sea level. They were showing the City Surf Series, which featured the Nelson Mandela Bay comp, which miraculously had even had some waves. 

Not a hellava lot happening as far as surf this week, so you'll have to spend the odd buck on fuel to go searching. There are nuggets to be found slightly off the beaten track.

Otherwise there's always the sunsets to watch...

Eish, busy sailing round the Maldives at the moment so min time for blogging! Been some cooking surf in the 'hood. Here's some shots from what's been going down the last coupla weeks. Just a heap of pics of what's been happening in our lil slice of coast recently.

Some waves about. Which meant plenty of happy faces in the surf community. 

You didn't even have to drive out west to score. You just had to pitch up at your local spot and you'd be happy as Larry.

You'd be smiling even more if you did use a few litres of fuel and headde out west.  Unless you were Lippie who drove out to Bruces, got there too late, then went to Seals, wasn't happening and ended up back at the Point in Jbay for a few. Sometimes the moral of the story is if you see a wave surf it, don't go looking for something better as you may get skunked. 

Despite being waves it wasn't cranking all week, so some down time flat-water time was on offer if you were into a bit of hard work. The Kings Beach LIfesaving crew were spotted getting some boat-time in.

Foggy mornings always give rise to some cool photo ops. Might be hard to see what the sea is doing, but is neat to get the whole misty vibe going.

Local logger Alfonso Peters doesn't mind if it's ankle high - he froths on anything that moves

The small days are so much fun to mind-surf. Chris SCott is getting us right into the mini-kegs so we can get barreled whilst being stuck behind a desk!

Sunrises vs sunsets - what's your best?

Not in the bay at the moment so the Week that Was will be a collection of stories and shots that I glean off the wonderful world of social media in the absence of actually living over the road from the beach. Surf barometer (otherwise known as David Lipschitz) didn't seem to post too many sessions so am guessing the week was nothing special.

A pretty crazy story last week with local diver Rainer Schimpf being almost swallowed whole by a whale! Guessing that doesn't happen to you every day! 

Rainer was diving the sardine run when a Bryde’s whale got a little too close for comfort. The giant mammal was feeding on fish when it suddenly picked up Rainer by mistake. The whale, realising it had something that wasn't on the menu in his mouth spat him out and now Rainer has a pretty epic tale to tell. And the whole world knows about PE and it's sardine run. Double bonus!

There is always a silver lining to every dark cloud. Like this rainbow that Luc caught falling right onto the pot of gold at Noordhoek this week. Always a wave if you go looking for one.

It was a sad week for PE surfing, with the passing of 2 Millers Local's. Clive van der Riet left us after a prolonged battle with brain cancer. I remember many sessions sitting out there in the line-up chatting about the challenges the disease had thrown him, yet he remained philosophical about it all. He was a familiar figure in the line-up with his home-made board with the distinctive dolphin tail. It seemed to hold him perfectly whilst he glided along doing his trademark cheater 5. He'd always hoot people in to waves and then congratulate them on a good ride. Clive's memorial will be held Thursday 14th March at Walmer Methodist Church at 3pm,.

Phil Kolbe also passed away this week after a long battle with illness. Up until a few years ago he was a regular in the line-up at Millers. Phil was part of the Millers morning gang and we all used to sit out in the line-up chatting about nothing in particular whilst waiting for waves. Fishing tips, travel stories, how to get a Panamaian passport. Everything and anything. A big man with a big smile and a big heart. For at least a year I thought his name was Paul and called him such, and he was too polite to correct me! Will miss you Phil. I still owe you some sets for all those you gave me.

The inclement weather gave rise to some cool photo opps.

Happy 60th birthday to Surf Centre manager Gavin Rother. A frothing grom despite being a big six oh now. Good motivation for everyone to keep to the philosophy of a surf a day keeps the doctor away. 

Comp for the groms coming up soon so pen it into your diary lighties. There is always the chance that the waves at Pipe might actually be good. 

Plenty of these lil guys washing up between Schoenies and Blue Horizon Bay. Please do NOT throw them back into the sea as they are exhausted . Get hold of Bay World and go drop em off there so they can recover and be put back once they happy lil critters again.

Classic shot of the Bell Bouy by Dr Peter Schwartz taken about 30 years ago. One can only imagine how many cooking waves went unridden back in the day when the surf community was still really small.

PE local Nic Flood, working in Taiwan at the moment, scored some typhoon swell there last week. The wettie is for reef protection, not cos it's chilly!

Always lekker to see some red on the charts for the week ahead! Enjoy!

Finally a burst of swell last week. JBay had some fun one's, so did further west, and even the bay had a few. The further south you went the better, as it didn't swing right through. But hey, beggars can't be choosers! And a wave is a wave. Sure beats having to go to gym instead.

Plenty of action out in the bay, as we are so lucky to still have it teeming with life. Cape Town marine photographer Jean Tresfon got some great shots. Hopefully our bay survives the effects of the deep water harbour and all the polluting ships it attracts, and we can successfully bat off the fish farm idea. Cos the more pollution we get, the less marine life the bay will support.

Waves in the water and wave son land too. JBay is home to some very talented artists, one of them being Stephen Bibb. He does some epic paintings of JBay and her waves. If you have space on a wall at home, this would be a great way to fill it!
http://stephenbibbart.co.za

Plenty of learn-to-surf action over the weekend. There was a Community Surf event held at Pollock beach in aid of Animal Welfare and surfing non-profits. Perfect lil teeny waves for the groms to slide about on. 

Then on Sunday Sunset Surf Club hosted a Learn 2 Surf event at Denvils, that included surf lessons, a tag team contest and flag races. Great fun had by all. Sunset Surf Club is the oldest surf club in PE. 

The Coastal Water crew were out doing some rescue training at Avo's on the weekend. These guys are all volunteers that put plenty of time into keeping well trained for any coastal emergency, and provide a complimentary service to the municipal services. So we're super lucky to have double sea safety support in the bay. 

A sad find on the rocks on the way up to Shark Point - the point between St Francis Bay and Cape St Francis. A marlin washed up. On the subject of Shark Point, apparently is now home to a growing seal population. Which may mean a few more finned friends in the area, seeing as seal rookery's are viewed as the aquatic version of a McDonalds drive-thru.

Brad and Hannah Beck from Seals continue their globe-trotting. Busy doing a trek through Chile in a van. After some leg bruners at Chicama (the world's longest left), Brad took on pumping Punta Lobos, which has a seriously gnarly jump off between those two big-ass rocks.

Move night on Wednesday - pull in to see Greg Bertish's documentary at the PE Deep Sea Angling Club. All proceeds to NSRI and children charities. 

We so lucky to have a lekker beachfront that is so easily accessible. You can be having a super kak time and all you need to do is take a drive down to enjoy the morning sunrise or evening sunset and it just re-calibrates your system and you'll feel a whole bunch better afterwards. Nature's very own happy pill. 

Schoenies photag Luc Hosten has a good eye for all things beautiful, and this week treats us with a cloudy fireball. A drive round the corner towards Schoenies and beyond is so worth while. Very lekker stretch of coastline to explore.

Sometimes being a moon can be tiring, and you gotta take a break on the bench!

Some good looking cyclone swell later in the week, but a lot depends on the winds. So hold thumbs!

Nup, that isn't PE. But it's just to show that even when we dead flat, somewhere else in the world is pumping! Aus is getting smashed with some insane cyclone swell at the moment and the East Coast is going off it's pip.

The bay, on the other hand, was flat as a lake mostly. Usual story, head round the corner and you could get a few. Head further west and get some more. Head to the end of the road, and by then you've spent so much on fuel you may as well get in for a surf. Luckily it usually has something rideable. Just depends on how far down the beach you wanna walk.

This awesome vintage shot came up during the week. Ou's on their ox wagon on the beach at Seals oblivious to the fact that it's absolutely pumping!

Ex-PE/Uitenhage local Lance Pearson dropped me a message about the shot, he remembers way back in the day chatting to an old tannie, Tannie Landman, at the caravan park at Seals. She and her husband lived on the wildside of Seals and bred budgies. She told Lance about when she was a child that their family would travel to PE by oxwagon, and it would take them 2-3 weeks to get there!

Alfonso Peters is a regular fixture of the Millers line up these days, but he can also surf left when he has to. Like this classic shot of an "I'll-be-visiting -the-chiro-tomorrow" soul arch.

Alfonso runs the Waves for Change program in PE and is instrumental in helping less fortunate kids get their lives back on track through the gift of surfing. So if you see a bunch of lighties out at Hummies learning to surf, throw them a shaka. Cos surfing keeps us all sane, and even more so when you life is really challenging.

Plenty of cool events coming up soon, so get out your diaries. First up is a great charity surf event next Saturday 2nd March at Pipe, everyone welcome! The Community Surf Clinic is a fundraiser for Animal Welfare & Waves for Change. Surf lessons R250 pp or R350 for 2 peeps. Great goodie bag with your lesson. Kids yoga, family swim, fun run, all sorts happening. Just a kiff day at the beach in aid of a good cause. Reserve your slots asap. Dennis Ellis making sure they have lekker sticks for the event. 

​Big wave surfer Greg Bertish will be PE and hosting a showing of his movie The Little Optimist on Wednesday 6th March in support of NSRI and local children's charities. Come grab a sundowner, watch a movie, be inspired, do good! Bring the family it’ll be fun! The documentary is super inspiring and is about Greg's 200km journey in a teeny sailing dinghy (an Optimist) around the Cape Point marking the 200 days he spent in hospital overcoming life threatening bacterial infection in his heart. He met some amazing kids in hospital who reminded him to fight for his life and have a DREAM. He now goes to children's hospitals and shows them his video and reads them his book and inspires very sick children to have HOPE and dream. Definitely worth supporting. PE Deep Sea Club, 6m, tickets R75 adults, R45 kids.

From lekker things to kak things. By now, unless you've bene living under a rock, you should know the fish farm project is back on the cards. Please register so you can object, and take note that the Public Participation meeting is on 6 March at City Hall (18h00). All the deets in the link below.
Get involved peeps. No good moaning about it if you just sit back and let it happen!
http://www.millerslocal.co.za/blog/fecking-fish-farm

If the flat spells are getting you down, don't forget that it doesn't take long to drive to the other side of town to find a few lil runners. Normally something to get wet on out that side. Good chance of bumping into Jorg on the Sards sand dune. Maybe SandDune Jorg as opposed to CarPark John!?

Those who have been spending big on their fuel cards at least have been able to nab a few at the end of the road. But with the proposed fuel hikes, expect your surf to start costing a bit more.

SANDF did their annual military invasion exercise on the beach at Muizenberg this year. Cos of course we all know that we have a very likelihood of getting invaded by sea. Or not. But nonetheless. (On a side note I think the tanks could provide an effective deterrent to SUP's!) Heavy things and sand don;t always play nice together, so as expected there were a few getting stranded moments.

SA Interclub Champs held at Muizenberg after the army had finished getting stuck. We had 2 teams from PE flying the bay flag high, Grom Blitz - the crew that Annie van der Merwe and William Van Rijswyk mentor from MIssionvale, and Sunset Surf Club, PE's oldest surf club.

And then there were the usual lekker sunsets. Never seems to be a week that goes by without one!

Nup, the charts aren't forecasting something like this for the week, but it does look a lil better than what we've been suffering through for the last while.