The week that was....

© Etienne Stassen

Not much happening in the bay cos of funky winds all week. Which meant ou's did a bit of wild-side tripping to get wet.

​Kevin, Etienne, Jorg and  Tony were grabbing a sneaky lunch-time surf at Beachview when they had a pretty close visit from a finned friend. Martin Hartslief was suiting up in the carpark and saw a decent-sized grey suit swim right up to the guys and then decide they didn't look like part of the food chain, so veered off and left them alone. ET had spotted it at the same time Martin did and gave the call for the ou's to baleka in. Poor Kev missed the wave and got stuck out there on his ace, but still made it in safely, although no doubt with the Jaws theme-music playing loudly in his ears!

Ari Kraak was flying his chopper to PE the next day and spotted this boytjie just off the backline at Sea View. Mighta been the same dude. Like it or not, the locals are always out there, and luckily we aren't really on the menu unless they get quizzy.

© Ari Kraak

Taj Burrow announced his retirement from the World Tour at the Margies Pro. After 18 years of wearing comp jerseys the Billabong rider has decided it might be fun to go and surf without getting judged. He'll be sorely missed, as is one of the most stylish surfers about. You don't get to second spot on the tour twice (1999 and 2007) without being pretty adept on a surfboard.  

A note for the diary - the 60th Anniversary of the Summerstrand Surf Lifesaving Club will be celebrated over the weekend of the 20 & 21st May 2016. This weekend is a week following the Old Grey Reunion weekend so for those of you who were at Grey, please make it a double celebration. Keep up to date with what's happening here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1000116730078533/

A bit of summer action this week thanks to the persistent onshore winds - plenty of blue bottles made their way inshore to sting the cr*p outta anyone taking a dip or getting wet on their boards. Not often they pitch up after the summer months, but with seasonal winds not being as predictable as in the past, and the possibility of consistent easterlies still prevailing for the next while, expect to see a few more of these guys about.

© Jared Cassidy

Ex-Pipe local Patrick Maguire sadly passed away on Tuesday following a fatal motobike accident in Bath, UK. He was a regular at Pipe, Main Rights, Millers and Tubes (JBay). There will be a farewell surf out for Patrick sometime in the next 2 weeks depending on his ashes arrival from the UK. Will give a head's up once the date is confirmed, and all are welcome to join in saying farewell to a lekker ou.

Still digging about into PE surf history and this classic shot of King's Beach turned up, taken from the slip road that the hawkers use right next to MacArthur Baths. Bruce Matthew, who took the shot, recalls how on spring tides the waves used to wash right up onto the road.

© Bruce Matthew

Nearly 50 years later King's Beach is still the spot to snap photo's, here's a kiff one of logger Jamie Morris by Brad Peens. Pity the surf wasn't cooperating so that there was a lekker peeler running off in the background. But then am guessing Jamie wouldn't have been standing around posing for a pic, he'd have been out in the water.

© Brad Peens Photography

It was the annual Ironman weekend, which saw plenty of peeps take their shot at the 4k swim, 180k ride and 42k run. Road closures for the event meant it was pretty tricky to get to the beach, and unfortunately unlike previous years there wasn't much in the way of waves to make the effort worth while. Lekker day and warm water, but wonky winds didn't do any favours to the swell that was running.

© Dean Cothill

Not a helluva lot on the charts for the week, so might entail a visit to the skatepark in order to get your glide on.

© Christo Zietsman

But looking ahead to when the winter storms start bashing the coast Billabong have launched a rad comp where you and a mate can win a day at Dungeons, checking out all the action from the safety of the channel. The adrenaline without the prospect of copping a 20ft'r on the head! Win win situation! Plus some kiff Billabong Adventure Division gear as well. Scoot along to the Billabong website to enter.
http://www.billabong.com/za/blog-post/4332/2016-04-01