The week that was....

© Robbie Irlam

Another Monday public holiday filled with waves. Unfortunately for those who didn't make the drive west, it was also filled with a bit too much wind to start with, and by the time the wind abated, so had the swell. Avo's had some crankers if you didn't mind the chop.

© Chris Taljaard

Managed to catch a few peeps out with an April Fool's photoshop of one of Dean Cothill's rad drone shots of Cape Recife. Flipped an aerial shot of G-Land over and popped it onto the pic. Ironically the top of Cape Recife does actually have a really good wave on it's day. It just not ridden often thanks to being flipping far out, and you sit out there feeling very much part of the food chain.

When researching the PE Surf History article, every old-timer I spoke to fondly remembered lots of sessions out at the top of the point - it was a popular spot back in the day. Just required plenty of commitment though, as in the pre-leash days it was a looong and lonely swim back in to fetch your board if you wiped out!

April fools

Dean Cothill's original pic

The WSL reckons the surfers, sorry athletes, are like soccer players now. Just launched the full range of jerseys on their online store, which you can buy for the hefty sum of $80 (R1200). It's a bit of weird concept, cos unlike soccer or rugby where a player is known by his number - it's not quite the same for surfers - despite each now having their unique number assigned. Anything to make a buck these days. Lucky the news was announced 2 days before April Fool's, else it would have been a legitimate joke. 

The week saw John Scheepers, aka CarPark John, celebrate his 69th birthday. Shot to the Beershack, who threw a lil impromptu gathering for John, laying on some beer and cake. Craig Cuff was the first ou to try the beer + cake combo, and declared that a pint of CarPark Pale Ale went down well with caramel filled chocolate cake. 

SANCCOB is a leading marine conservation non-profit organization, rehabilitating seabirds in South Africa since 1968. They're looking to employ a Marketing & Fundraising Coordinator to join their dynamic team in Cape St. Francis. For more information, please contact [email protected]

A hospitalized Sunny Garcia was left in a neck brace in a photo from his newest Instagram post after another driver—who was reportedly texting—crashed head-on into the former world champion and six-time Triple Crown winner on Friday. Garcia appears to be in fine condition, though he wrote an understandably frustrated message in which he made clear that the accident is not an April Fool’s joke.
​
Pretty sore right now thanks to a guy speeding and texting while driving hitting me head on but I’m living so can’t complain:) thanks @natedorman and @stonegarcia for taking care of everything after I got taken away in the ambulance #couldbeworst #noitsnotajoke #luckytobealive #fucktextingwhiledriving

​(from Stabmag)

CYOH held their first Surf Off Series of 2016 at Loch Ness over the weekend. Plenty of great surfing, good vibes and kiff prizes. You can check out all the shots from the comp here ​http://www.millerslocal.co.za/comp-news/cyoh-surf-off-12

© Petronel Posthumus

JBay spray-guru Stephen van der Watt not only does some amazing board art, but has also taken to canvas as well. If you'd like to get your hands on some uniquely local Jbay surf paintings, then Stevo's your man. Go check out his work at the Core Surf Shop in Jbay.

Anyone coming down to the beachfront will have noticed things are getting ready for the Ironman this coming weekend. Isuzu is running a kiff initiative together with Ironman 4 the Kidz, called #ITSAEMPTYTRUCK - Let's fill it with Books! You can donate previously loved books, which will then be redistributed to the various children's charities throughout the Eastern Cape that are sponsored by Ironman 4 the Kids. Empower the kids of IRONMAN 4 the Kidz South Africa through the power of education. Donate your old books at the Isuzu Trucks  ‪#‎ITSAEMPTYTRUCK‬ collection boxes.

Boxes can be found at Summerbreeze Spar Summerstrand, Summerstrand Shopping Centre, Waterfront Spar, Algoa FM, Boardwalk Hotel, The Bridge Shopping Centre, 6th Ave Shopping centre Walmer, Die Burger William Moffet, Newton Park library, Vodacom Cape Rd, Grey and Collegiate High Schools, Beach Hotel, City Lodge and more. Keep up to date with new collection points added via https://www.facebook.com/ITSAEMPTYTRUCK/

You know the saying that there's gold at the end of the rainbow? Well, Grant Beck's got a new one - there's surf at the end of the sunbeam! He was doing some filming with Dylan Lightfoot at Jbay during the week and captured this rad shot.

© Grant Beck

The Shark Rock pier must be one of PE's most snapped landmarks, so it's always cool to see a unique angle on it. Richard Saunders got a kiff shot of it looking like something outta Star Wars. 

© Richard Saunders

So that's the wrap for the week - signing off with this kiff shot from EL's Bruce Viaene.

​Looks like a good week to get some work done, as min swell and some funky winds.

© Bruce Viaene