The week that was....

© Aiden McKenzie

A coupla waves here and there, and mostly awesome days leading up to Christmas Day. The wind did however come to the party the day before Christmas and tried hard to blow it's pip off. Ther predicted swell annoyingly didn;t arrive. A few lines snuck in at Rincon and Pipe but not much making it deeper into the bay.

JBay did this.... © Robbie Irlam

Whilst PE did this... © Jonker Fourie/Firefly Guy

Things got pretty wild n woolly out at Seals. If only the wind would listen to the road signs....

© Chris Scott

© Chris Scott

Despite the odd day of wind, the weathers been awesome, and the water even more so. Definitely trunkable if you feel like loosing the neoprene altogether. Spare a thought for Peter Coffey who had to layer up to the hilt to take on the Canadian surf whilst over there on holiday with the fam. Can't say even the beach looks friendly!

© Sandy Coffey

Pretty big feeshy landed at Bluewater Bay earlier in the week. Always easy to smile for a piccie with a Zambo when it's on land - not sure that many smiles for the camera if you met it in the water....

© Cameron Johnston

Kleinbrak near Mossel Bay also had their fishy moments, with a few big Whites spotted off the backline which meant the lifey's cleared the water pronto.

Ky-daaar! © Robert Davies

© Robert Davies

Pull in to the Richmond Hill Brewery down in the Baakens Valley for some Car Park John Amber Ale. CPJ was full of smiles on Thursday after Deno finished shaping him his new sled. 45 litres of volume packed into that sled, which should see John out-paddle just about everyone in the line-up!

© Lyell Watson

The saga of the washed up whale at Cape St Francis got sorted out, with the ou's from Xtreme Projects digging up the temporarily buried carcass and trucking it away - and making sure they mopped up all the miffy whale juices and stuff so no finned friends lurk about.

© Surf Camp Africa

© CSF Civic Association

Summer time means project time. Stefan Swanepoel tuned a tree into a toes on the nose machine. Read about how he shaped his own alaia here...

Seals locals Mike and Grant Beck, together with mom Karen, made a halfway round the world mission to go have a Chrissy in Mexico with Brad and Hannah. Reckon they're hooking some decent waves in between the tequilas and margaritas. 

Cannot believe that in this environmentally enlightened age that muppets still give away balloons during beach promotions. Yes - kids love a balloon - but generally let the damn thing go - and when the west is whipping that means cheers and out to see for the balloon - and into the marine food chain. Not so bright neh.

Shot to Andrew Stewart who approached the organisers and pointed out the obvious - and they thankfully saw sense and stopped handing them out. Hopefully the beach manager will in future advise anyone awarded a license to run an event on the beach that balloons are banned. 

Holidays mean plenty of time to read. Finally got round to buying a copy of Hagen Englers "In the Maid's Room" - and really enjoyed the ex-Pe locals take on life, love and jolling in the 'hood back in the late '80's/early '90's. Really funny read. you can grab a copy at Surf Centre Humewood. There's even a bit of surf stories thrown in.

Thumbs up to the beachfront's DA representitive Dean Biddulph and the NMBM for some excellent work in keeping the beaches clean this festive season. Every day I check the ladies cruising up and down the road and grass area's picking up rubbish. Great to see everything looking so clean!

Santa unfortunately didn't bring any waves for Christams Day - well, I guess he did if you didn't mind onshore bowls! Probably find there were many happy wives and girlfriends that didn't have to deal with grumpy surfers cos they were stuck at Christmas lunch whilst the waves were firing!

© Christopher Stephenson

Christo Zietsmann © @carmsvdm123

That's a wrap for the week. Hopefully the New Year will grace us with some epic surf. Here's holding thumbs...

© Stuart White