Costa Rica is our dream surf trip destination. But we would take Maldives, Bali, Hawaii, Long Island or even Mauritius if you threw it at us. But you didn’t, so we gathered our battered Rands and set off for Melkbosstrand instead. We left after work on a Friday, so we missed the traffic. The journey from our home in the South to…
Tag: surfing
Surfer’s Ode
I went to the seaside on one misty day And there, on a perch at a dip in the bay Was a cross surfer man with a camera phone He was tight lipped and grumpy and stood there alone. He filmed with that phone and he spoke with those lips He reported on wave sizes, wind, tide and rips. But sometimes he laughed…
Book Review – Barbarian Days – A Surfing Life by William Finnegan
The prose in this book is sublime, pure poetry in places. William Finnegan (author of many other books and columnist at The New Yorker) is a skillful, lyrical writer and his words are a pleasure to read. He is able to take essentially indescribable experiences and bring them to life with beautiful words. He achieves this in such a way that you, as the reader,…
The essential guide to travelling with a surfer
So you’re going away with a man in black? (Albeit a slightly musty black, with pads on the knees, and a zip with long strings? Me too.) Whether you’re a rookie or a keeper, here are NINE things you need to know : Earplugs. No, no. Not for the surf. For the packing experience. You might not want to hear what he has…
Girl Power with Style: PE’s graceful ladyslider, Mia Baard
I happened upon Mia Baard when a couple of amazing Cobbles Classic pictures and videos crossed my social media feed. I was struck, firstly by the grace with which she rides the waves, and secondly, by the beauty of Cobbles, the spot down at Cape Recife, just outside Port Elizabeth. I was keen to know how women’s surfing is doing in PE and if it’s…
Talking Fiji with Tarryn King
I had a quick chat with Cape Town’s ultimate Wahine, Tarryn King, who just returned from the ISA SUP world champs, where she and her husband Tom King, and the rest of the SA team, did so well, coming seventh overall. Tarryn competed in the technical race (7th place) and is stoked with a 4th place in the sprint race, which…
When the locals are friendly
I’ve had such a great time in PE. It’s kind of bittersweet because I helped my parents pack to relocate to Cape Town and now my roots feel exposed. But today, my last day here, I went down to the beach and some if the locals came by to tell me not to worry. Everything is gonna be alright. Click…
Spike’s Winter Swell Course-my review
If you let go the fear, the fear let’s go of you So said the surfer I passed on my first grim and terrified march down to the waterline at Muizenberg. Easier said than done, you Crusty Old Salt. But since knowledge is power, (And I already got a handle on the shark side of things HERE ) I decided to enroll in Spike’s Winter…
The Kook Diaries Part 3: Paddle Outs and Pop Ups.
I choose to Stand Up Paddle because of the paddle, really. I prefer going into battle upright, with a weapon. So when they (they = Tarryn + Tyran @ XOTB) decreed that we were going out on surfboards (it was too windy to SUP), my heart sank a little. I have never surfed a surfboard before because of the paddle out. (At…
Finding her balance – the journey of a SUP mama
One of the first things you learn when you get on a stand up paddle board is to bring your big girl panties. It’s not for the fainthearted. The second is to learn to balance. You start with a wide board, a wide stance, some flat water and a fully engaged core. With a little ocean knowledge, courage grows and with…
Melissa A Volker 