The week that was...

© Marcus Ducker

Holidays are drawing to a close and the frenetic festive season is winding down. Line-ups are returning back to their locals, you can now find a spot on the beach for your towel (although still don't leave it unattended as apparently it can grow legs and walk off). Coupla waves, bit of wind, bit of sun, bit of everything.

© At the Beach

If you ever gave any PE peep a word association game and went "Port Elizabeth" they would no doubt say "wind". Despite often mucking up the surf it can do some cool things - like this rad lil sand sculpture.

© Heather Nel

And sand we have aplenty - anyone flying outta PE will have seen the massive dune fields at Sundays River. Officially known as the Alexandria Coastal Dune field it is the largest and least degraded coastal dune field in the southern hemisphere. 

​The dune field has a surface area of about 15 800ha, stretching over 80km in length, with a width of up to 5km in places. The dune system is extremely dynamic with sand being continually blown in, building up and traversing inland. Some 375 000 cubic tons of sand is deposited into the dune fields each year.

© Dean Cothill

Another possie with plenty of sand is Cape Recife. Lekker place for a walk when the wind's not blowing, and turns into a gritty, stingy, sand-in-your-eye's affair if the breeze comes up. Local photags always hook some kiff shots there. This week was no different.

© Luc Hosten

© Joey Nel

Not just sand at Cape Recife, now and again the penguins escape from Samrec. Well, not escape - more like released after their stay at the penguin hotel. A few boxes full of the dudes made a run for it this weekend.

The Coastal Water Rescue team got some training in at the pier this weekend. They are a crew of volunteers who are on hand to assist the local municipal lifeguards with any emergencies. We're lucky to have a double whammy of water watchers in town.

© Coastal Water Rescue

Speaking of lifeguards - check out this classic vintage shot posted by George Davey of his pop, also George Davey, who was employed as a professional lifesaver by the PE municipality at Humewood beach in 1938. With the job came a free house in Forest Hill - perks were good back in the day!

The carpark can be a dangerous place. Sometimes the ou's break into your cabbie, or steal it all together. Or else you could fall prey to the topless chiroprator. Jakes not sure what he's signed up for...

The first grom trial of 2018 kicked off in great conditions at Kitchen Windows. Plenty frothing lil peeps enjoying the conditions and making their bid for team honours. 

© Nelson Mandela Bay Surfriders

Maitlands may be the end of the road, but there's always something on the go out there - generally always a wave as it's the wave magnet of PE for sure, but sometimes some classic characters as well. This dude has some seri-ass dreads. Pretty much almost to the floor. Respect!

© Etienne Stassen

The Beck bro's have done a location swap - with Brad and Hannah going from Mex over to Sumba, and Grant going from Sumba to Nicaragua. Doesn't look like either of them are complaining! Life of a luxury surf guide can be pretty schweet for these Seals locals.

Brad's new front yard. Nihiwatu.

Grant swapping shooters for logs at Panga Drops - and seems he has an admirer in the shorey

Super stoked to have got to try out an electric skateboard for the first time. Had a coupla days layover in Singapore and hooked up with the guys from Arc Boards EV . They make one of the world's lightest electric skateboard and damn, that thing was a blast. At only 4kg's it's perfect to cruise around town and then still be able to carry about in the shops or wherever you going.

Their bigger board is a carbon fibre beauty, and only weighs in at about 5kgs, so also super lightweight. Go check em out if you're in the market for a board, cos their prices are really competitive (Singapore dollar is 10:1) and the boards are well made with great specs.

That's it for the week - good luck to all those heading back to school and varsity and work and whatever this week. Luckily the surf gods do have a sense of humour and aren't throwing out any cooking surf to make you stress about missing out.

© Loggers Union