The week that was...

Brad Beck in Indo © Jason Childs

Luckily East Cape locals are a well traveled breed, so even when the surfs pretty uninspiring at home you can be sure there's  a PE ou somewhere getting kiff waves. Brad Beck ticked the box in Indo this week scoring some of the 22 second period lines that graced our shore 10 days back.

© At the Beach

The bay did manage to ruffle up a coupla lines towards the end of the week. Nothing flash, but enough to inspire anyone who owned a board to go and get wet. Some fairly heavy crowds considering the mediocre wave quality. 

Pipe © Andrew Garai

The only guys getting air were the motorised variety, making good use of the ramps along Kings Beach. With the closing of the ramp at Hobie to emergency vessels only, all other pleasure craft have to launch down at Kings Beach, which has seen the jetski crew relocate there. 

© Dirk Erasmus

Wave quality and quantity aren't always directly related to the crowd factor. Evidenced this week by lank people and not so lank waves. The syndrome is even catching on in the normally wave-rich region west of here. Everyone has their winter froth on, but Neptune just ain't playing the game.

© Herman Coetzee

At least we had some good weather. Which meant photo angles were possible that would be a nightmare to try in the usual Windy City conditions. Like this cool shot by Luc Hosten that he'd get totally sand-blasted obliterated in if usual PE conditions prevailed.

© Luc Hosten

Production pumping along at the Boardroom. Anyone that's the wrong side of 40 should immediately recognise that spray towards the back of the room. 

It was from back in the day when Kelly had hair. On the Indies Explorer Quiksilver Crossing. When the King pulled a pretty rad loop thing whilst on board in Indo. Would pay money to get hold of the nav card from the chart plotter from that voyage. Must be sooo many amazing waves they found, and didn't tell anyone about. Martin Daly must still hold some aces up his sleeve.

If you spotted some brightly coloured peeps getting pounded in the rock pools out at Schoenies you would have been seeing the guys from the volunteer organisation Coastal Water Rescue practicing some rock gully drills. This is the crew that assists municipal rescue services in our bay, and we're damn lucky to have 'em.

© Dirk Erasmus

Bit of drama over the weekend when a big-ass tanker went walk-about for a bit. Things went pear-shaped when Tug Boat AHT Carrier, who was towing another boat, MT Order, to Maputo had the tow rope break and foul it's prop. Effectively making both boats dead in the water and at the mercy of the currents just off Cape st Francis. The SA Amandla salvage vessel was dispatched from Cape Town to come take over tow duties, and whilst she was en route the NSRI kept a beady eye on things. Thankfully all got sorted out in the end, and we were saved from having a rather large shipwreck along our coastline.

© Expert Tours

How often don't you wish you had a time machine to go back 100 years or so to enjoy waves in solitude. Imagine how many perfect lines used to fill into the bay unridden back then. Especially before the construction of the harbour. 

PE beachfront 1886

The blow hole at Avalanche is a perennial favorite with kids - what's not to love about having water explode all around you!? And if you really feel like a challenge you can try riding your surf ski through it like Chopper. Must dig those shots out - have them on file somewhere. Both Chopper and his ski survived the experience.

© Colin Hilder

The WSL Founders Cup went down at Kellys surf ranch this weekend. It was marginally less exciting than watching paint dry. Yes, I would absolutely love to surf that wave, but no, I have no desire to sit and watch a copious amount of (non-relevant) ad's, some guy floating in the water next to some poles and a net doing nothing for ages, more ads and then one wave every 5 minutes. Made even worse when the ou digs a rail and falls off on his first turn - and then you go through the whole boring waiting 5 minute cycle again. Definitely prefer the real ocean when it comes to surf comps. At least Jordys team won.

What would a week in PE be without it's pink/orange book ends to the day. Pretty sunrise. Tick. Pretty sunset. Tick. Aren't you glad to live in a lil dorpie by the sea instead of the big smoke. Tick.

© Luc Hosten

Again not much on the charts this week as far as surf goes. Early the following week may offer a glimmer of hope but the winds need to sort themselves out. Come on Winter - show your face!!

© Colin Hilder