The week that was...

© Luc Hosten

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.

© Barcroft TV

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!

Noordhoek © Luc Hosten

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.

Sards © Luc Hosten

The inclement weather gave rise to some cool photo opps.

© Luc Hosten

St Francis storm brewing © Clive Wright

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.

© Peter Schwartz

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!