Wave to blow your mind Surfing a monster swell off Portugal that may break the world record

A-frame wedge that struggles to break, and when it does, it sort of crumbles from the top.

This is no Dungeons or Mavericks, when the whole wall convulses in one gigantic terrifying explosion.

Video footage of that day shows many of the waves not actually breaking, of guys riding a swell and kicking off when it’s still a swell.

And the camera angle – which looks down – seems to take in the area in front of the wave, making it look like part of the height of the wall. How do you measure it?

But notwithstanding the skinner, and the human trait of cutting down poppies, bigwave surfing took another giant step in its evolution. FROM what I remember of the FNB Wines to Whales mountain bike race – we will be riding Day 2 today – is how brutal the first day is.

Whines to Wails might be a better name for it.

You have to tackle a big climb within 500m of the start, the bone rattling rock-gnarled single track you ride.

This is followed by a 3km portage of your bike over the old Gantouw Pass – the historic oxwagon trail used by the Boers to access the hinterland from the Cape – with another 30km or so of riding until you end at Oak Valley 70km later.

In total, you ride over 230km, be it through pristine Cape vistas. TODAY, fresh SE to SSE going strongish, with 2-4’ SE windswell in False Bay. Other side 23’ at most in morning but check a nice 4-6’ west pulse with lekker period hitting in the afternoon, the SE is going more south and going strong.

Water will be freezing, Muizenberg rolls over and plays dead. Tomorrow looks 3-5’ easing to 3-4’ in fresh SE going strong SSE. Some fun ones if wind plays ball.

Water temperature freezing. Muizies looks mushballed onshore. @ w2wmtb official Twitter handle of the Wines to Whales

PETER KIRK READY TO TOUGH IT OUT: Renay Groustra will be tackling the sometimes brutal Day 2 of the Wines to Whales mountain bike race.