The week that was....

Replace "S" with "P" and you get "PHARK!" Which pretty much sums up what went down in the finals of the JBay Open. Mick Fanning had a close encounter that no doubt he'll care never to repeat. Sitting out there wondering when a wave was gonna come and next thing a big-ass fin pops up next to him and the shark gets tangled in his leash, severing it. Being the good Aussie he is, Mick got a punch in, before being rescued by the water-patrol. Credit to Julian Wilson who when he saw the fracas started paddling straight over to Mick to see if he could help.

And with that, ended the 2015 JBay Open. WSL commissioner made a wise decision to call it quits, and both Mick and Julian got awarded second place points. Think sales of the shark pods are gonna be high this week???

The final day delivered © Kody McGregor

Thankfully the final day delivered some waves, and there was some great surfing going down before a finned friend popped in to visit. Props to the event organizers Koffie Jacobs and his crew. Despite there being nothing much they could do about the surf (and the shark) they got everything else 100% spot on. Nice one ou's!

Besides, even on the "flat" days there were still some super-fun peaks about if you didn't mind putting a bit of fuel in the tank.

Seek & ye shall find © Bruce Viaene

Even if the waves didn't quite co-operate, everyone still had a jol at the event. PA local Kye mcGregor (aka the Gremlin) will soon be seen ripping on the back-half of Glenn Micro Hall's board - after he kindly donated it to the stoked grom. 

Some ou's timed their vacations perfectly. Gavin Rother bailed for a cultural tour of Europe, and hardly missed a wave at his local, and fellow Millers local Kemble Whitfield pulled the trigger on a trip to Nias. And scored. Big-time. Watch out for his trip report coming up this week.

Shack attack. Kemble hiding out at Nias

The frikking cold conditions persisted this week. Besides making it feel like your feet were about to freeze off, it also gave rise to a cool phenomenon called a sun halo. Basically a trippy lil the "aliens are coming" ring around the sun thanks to how the UV light is reflected by the ice crystals in the cirrus clouds.

© Luc Hosten

Our aussie mate and surf guide had a gnarly experience last week. He was scoring a cranking remote Western Aus left point, when he pulled into a big barrel which pinched shut on him. Didn't hit the reef, but the shear impact of the lip detonating on his shoulder fractured his shoulder blade in 12 places and dislocated his arm. 

Paddling back in and climbing over the rocks with one vrot arm was no fun, nor was the 1-armed 4 hour drive back to civilisation over bumpy dirt tracks to find someone to put it back in! Eina!

Kelly Slater's new brand Outerknown finally launched last week. Ou's picking up plenty of stick about the pricing, with $95 for a beanie being pretty steep in anyone's books! But kudos to him for sticking to his guns with wanting to develop a sustainable clothing brand. Although am still not sure how you get to R1180 for a beanie. Maybe you knit it from wool you just pulling off the sheep as he's standing there chowing his grass?

Definitive proof that municipal councillors are seriously outta touch with what goes on in their communities. The St Francis lot decided that the most appropriate description for the sign showing the way down to Bruce's would be to call it Granny's Pool, which of course we all know is far more famous than Bruce's. Ou's come from all over the world to surf Granny's Pool. Or not.

© Greg Christy

The new wavepool in the UK has it's first round of testing this week. Not quite hitting the 2m swells that they reckon are possible, but must be a huge sigh of relief that the thing actually works as planned. Even with a fairly hefty entry fee of 45 quid of an hour or 80 quid for 2 hours, the Brits are frothing at the prospect of waves on demand. I would be too.

One of PE's surf legends turned 70 this week. John Macleod is an example to us all, still surfing regularly and frothing like a grom. And how best to celebrate your birthday? Grab a sesh with your sons!

Nanaga might soon be famous for more than it's pies. An application has been made by Aberdeen Offshore Engineering Pty Ltd to drill for oil just a coupla kay’s inland of Woody Cape Nature Reserve’s coastline. If you'd like to comment or keep updated as to development, then click the link to find out more, and to register as an Interested & Affected Party.
http://www.millerslocal.co.za/millerslocals-blog/proposed-oil-well-for-sundays-river-area

© Woody Cape Backpackers & Nature Lodge

When the bay finally gets some waves, make sure you ain't so amped to get to the beach you forget to mind the speed limit. Look out for this new lil critter at the end of the freeway just waiting to snap a shot of your surf-froth speeding and send you a fine.

© Marc Sing Key

Ever wanted a see through surfboard? Well, thanks to the Campbell Brothers your dream has come true. Check out those kiff coral heads as you skim over them, or have a clear view of everything swimming underneath you whilst you sit out in the line-up. Ya well no fine.

Man, these things are cute. Check out this lil crew of otters having a blast in the shorey, and even bodysurfing a coupla lil foamies. Proof that waves are just fun, whatever you are.