Cobbles Classic coming up

The inaugural Cobbles Classic takes place this weekend. Vintage single fins and retro styling all the way. Props to EP Longboard Prez Gregg Clarke for making it all happen. If you log, you owe this man a beer! Check out his pre-comp wrap:

"So we all rate we are soul surfers and say we understand the essence of the surfing culture. That’s until someone starts talking about roll bottoms, spoons, D-fins, 20kg surfboards, etc. and we then go, “why the hell would I wanna ride a board like that??!!”

The reason is simple, to take your own surfing back to the original fundamentals that make surfing so beautiful to watch and to feel the glide under your feet! Surfing a “log” helps one draw new lines on a wave, and relies totally on ones own natural style and flow to evolve the way you surf a surfboard. There is no room on a log for arrogance and show boating, it becomes offensive to watch and looks forced- instead it is all about the wave and a surfer in its simplest form, having fun from take off to close out. This is why we have the re-birth of a traditional longboard contest, to bring the fun back into competing. Hence the Cobbles Classic…

We have okes all over the country pulling in (from Cape Town to Durban), to be a part of SA’s first traditional single fin longboard contest. We have a total of 73 entrants and some serious prizes up for grabs and are expecting some top class surfing, with really good longboarding waves forecast for the weekend, 2-3ft long running waves with a light offshore wind blowing.  

Top contenders for the Cobbles King crown include locals Dean Simpson and Ryan Anderson, who will have to watch out for Plett’s Ludi du Toit and 2 x SA Champ, Justin Bing from Durban. Underdog and style master Jamie Morris has also been seen around the Cobbles area lately, spending a lot of time on the nose! I would not be doing this contest justice if I didn’t mention Cape Town legend, Bernie Shelly. At 65 years old she is a strong contender to win the Cobbles Queen crown, and to show all youngsters how to never stop riding waves.

The weekend festivities kick off with an opening function/opskop at the Friendly Stranger on Friday night where the Cottonfields will be playing. Okes can enjoy some Jack Black beer, good chow and watch some classic surf movies! Gonna be big- even if you don’t surf- pull in!!

Saturday morning the contest kicks off at 8:30am and is set to close around 4:00pm. Sat night okes are gonna be frothing from a days surfing and will be keen to klap a joll at the Island (Pine Lodge). Josh, owner of the Island “unfortunately” also has his birthday joll on at the same time, so those who hate a big joll should probably stay at home. There will be more bands, more surf films, more rubbish chatting….just good times.

Sunday morning we kick off again around 9:00am and expect to be done around 3:30pm, with the winners being crowned King or Queen of Cobbles.

We want spectators to pull in! Pay your R30 at the gate to the reserve (all money goes to conservation anyway!), come watch what could be arguably SA’s most enjoyable contest.

See you there!"

Gregg Clarke
EPLSA President


Follow all the action here: https://www.facebook.com/eeastern.provincelongboards

Gregg toes on nose. Kody pushing shutter button.