The week that was...

Back to the summer doldrums this week. Flat, flatter, flattest. JBay's Dylan Lightfoot is thankful for an upbringing which includes having to grovel in teeny PE surf for the local comp's, as it's been good practice for the WQS. He was in China for the ASP Hainan Classic last week, and survived the tiddly-wink sized surf and just missed out on a quarter-final berth. 

Been so surf-starved lately that I bought a new mouse pad so at least can be reminded what a wave looks like cos most of the time it's a lake out front. Reckon they'd make pretty cool stocking fillers for Christmas. Hooked mine at the Country Feeling store in Jbay, but you can pick 'em up at the Surf Art gallery at Supertubes too.

The red tide disappeared as soon as it arrived thankfully, but not before local St Francis photag Clive Wright could snap a shot showing us that although it might be a different species from the last lot, it was also a glow-in-the-dark dude. Gonna depend on what sort of summer we have as to whether it'll show up again. If the east keeps klapping it like it is now, we're likely to stay red-free, but if we get beaut weather like we did last year then expect to see tomato soup.

Not sure if the red tide got him, but a lil dolphin washed up at Cape Recife. Bruce Campbell found him whilst on a training run through the Reserve. It certainly wasn't the strangest thing to wash up on the beach last week. Contents of the shipping containers that blew off the cargo ship are making landfall. 

The beaches at Sundays are strewn with long sheets of red plastic, printer cartridges and an assortment of kid's plastic toys. Plenty of the same have washed up at Cape Recife as well. Apparently the situation out in the bay is far worse than what's coming ashore and the guys on ski-boats reckon it's a huge mess out there.

© Mike Holmes

© Mike Holmes

© Mike Holmes

Welcome home to ballie surfer & sailor John Davies, who's gaff-rigged schooner The Millenium made it's way back into the harbour after a 2 month round trip to Madagascar. The ou's on board were so gatvol of eating fish that the first thing they did as their feet hit the quay was to chow a lekker take-away burger.

Gonna catch up with John soon to find out more about their adventure, which included spotting some good looking surf and catching plenty of fish.

Gone to the beach to check the surf, and find it's flat. No problem. You can just get cured from Aids whilst you there! Robert Jacobs snapped this classic on the side of a bakkie in the car park this weekend. Anything can be cured in Africa provided you don't mind spending a buck or two.

Following another dismal Bok performance Richard von Wildemann reckons the side should call in big wave hell-man Twiggy to help them with their commitment issues. Liked his hashtag - #GrowApair 

Twig is an invitee to the 30th annual Eddie Aikau Big Wave invitational. The event has a 2 month window from the start of December to the end of Feb, and will run if the waves reach 20ft (Hawaiian size). The competition has only been held a total of 8 times in it's 30 year history: it's inaugural year at Sunset Beach, and then seven more times at its permanent home of Waimea Bay. The Eddie was last held on December 9, 2009, won by California's Greg Long. Here's hoping the ocean delivers this year cos Twig has gotto be a favourite for sure. Small guy big heart.

Rad comp coming up this weekend, the Sunset Surf Night Surfing Classic takes to the water on Friday & Saturday night at Pipe. The comp is open to all, with a whole bunch of divisions to cater for everyone, including loggers and boogers. So pull in for a kiff event - gonna be live bands, DJ's, skate ramps, the whole shebang. Go stock up on glo-sticks! All the details here.

The first longboard comp of the year will be held on Saturday so you can surf yourself moer-toe this weekend if you want to. Remember to please pay for your trial beforehand, as no pay no surf.

Keep your wits about you when you go for a surf. A young couple got hijacked in the Kings Beach carpark on Sunday arvo. One of those gun-to-your-head-we'll-take-your-car-thanks scenario's. Would not be a good way to start or end a surf, so be vigilant.

To end off, here's a rad pic from DaLe Staples of everyone's favourite spot. For more of Duckies kiff aerial shots go give his new FB page a Like:
https://www.facebook.com/ducksshots