Shooting from the lip

“You novices go up ahead. We’ll wait five minutes, then catch up with you.”

My mate and I took to the water. Soon we were flying – catching the hundreds of speeding wind-swells. Tap, tap – glide. Riding the runs. But the best was yet to come.

We neared the Strand, one nautical mile out – the off-shore reefs, “Die Poort”. The swell reared up tall – on its head.

Paddlers were well-advised to take a deep line, steer well-clear – paddle around the reef.

But we “plaas-japies” had other ideas. Our fitness wasn’t up there. But while they’d been paddling all those races, we’d been playing happily in the rough-andtumble of the waves. In the big surf, we were in our element.

We aimed for the eye of the sea-storm, the heart of the reef. A giant swell reared up – and we surged down its mighty face. Whooping. Then another.

Soon, we ran our ski up on to the beach. Looked back. No other paddlers in sight.

We waited. The time-keeper watched his clock. One minute. Two. He was confused: Where were the other paddlers? They’d been expected to overtake us – easily. Three minutes. Four. Five. Six. Only then the lead pack arrived. We’d smoked them.

Soon afterwards, the Strand Downwind Junkies was born – a gang of surf-skiers who liked to race, but also play. United by our love of the ocean wild.

Over the past 15 years, we’ve had thousands of delights, but also tragedy. Family traumas. Heart attacks. A suicide.

But the team has stuck together. Understanding: “The wind will howl. The waves will crash.

“But if we learn to harness nature’s energy, not fight it – we stand the best chance of surviving. Thriving. Together.”

This is written in honour of both of the Strand Downwind Junkies – and the hundreds of Neighbourhood Watches across the Western Cape.

For the principles are identical: Our numbers are small, we’re only citizen-powered.

But we’re built, above all else, on: Respect and resilience. Team spirit and trust.

Whoop-whoop!