Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
There’s something shiny and silvery in the water ...
It’s East Coast sharkie season and the Durban ous are a little on edge
Matt and part of a crew of Capetonians staying at this South Coast surf spot 40 minutes south of Durban.
The debate went on for a while. Bromley was convinced he saw the long thin fin of a sail fish. The local surfer saw a big tiger shark. But no one bothered to get out. The waves were that good.
Bromley paddled a little closer towards the lineup … but not much. They don’t like old tough meat, he said, grinning. They like young meat like you he said. The local grinned.
The buster of the day before had gone. A light ruffled land breeze was dying off as double overhead concave walls bent across this popular KwaZulu Natal pointbreak.
Probably because of the sards, said Russell Symcox, a big burly fellow with a broad smile, very much like his dad Pat, former Proteas spinner. Are they around, I asked. They’re somewhere off the Kei right now, he said.
It’s the East Coast sharkie season and the Durban ous are feeling a little on edge. Someone in the water mentioned another shark scare in recent days.
Another surfer, who surfed the same spot 24 hours later, reported that a large white shark chased them out of the water, literally.
As you may know, Durban surfers have little to worry about. Over the last six decades, the infamous shark nets have effectively killed off local sharks, especially in Durban and its environs.
On the south coast, there are no nets but very few shark encounters, so it was quite strange to hear this cluster of shark scares. Maybe our False Bay sharks are in their hood at the moment.
But as surfers, we’re fairly fatalistic about the odds. Besides, I realised, the vibe at that spot when we were out has seldom been so friendly and chilled. Nothing like a bit of a scare to bring surfers together.
Winners
THERE were plenty of winners in the 2016 Tiger’s Milk Surf Classic at Muizenberg Corner last Sunday, and not just because 11 champions were crowned.
Held in clean 3- 4’ surf, Alfonso Peters won the men’s longboarding while Simone Robb won the women’s. Tarryn Chudleigh won the women’s surfing, while Jarred Veldhuis took the men’s.
Adin Masencamp won the Under- 18 boys, while Pippa Jones won the girls. The women’s SUP title went again to Tammy Foster. SUP star Thomas King won the men’s.
Soul arch fiend Deon Bing took gold in the over-40 longboard. In the varsity division, Gina Smith held on to her title, while Brandon Benjamin won the men’s section.
Rebel Sessions
THE Rebel Sessions is on for 2016. Held at Cape Town’s gnarly deep water reefs, the Sessions honour the hardcharging heritage of the South African Big Wave community over a 100 day-waiting period between July 1 and October 8.
Unlike traditional contests, the goal is not to stir up hype over one day but showcase our waves and the community whose lives revolve around them. See www.rebelsessions.com
Billabong Junior Pro
SOUTH AFRICA’S top junior surfers are ripping it up in Ballito at the Billabong Junior Series. Local standouts include Jordy Maree and Ford van Jaarsveldt.
There is a U12, U14 and U16 division, which are Surfing SA 3A Pro Surf Tour events, with the U18 boys’ and girls’ divisions WSL Junior Qualifying Series 1,000 events. These offer prize purses of R20 000 and R10 000 respectively.
French Connection
A NEW MTB and trail running event will take place in Franschoek on Bastille Day – Sunday, July 17. A taste of the alps, sort of, will face participants riding the mountains around the Berg River Dam nature reserve.
The 65km event is hardcore and technical, while the more forgiving 40km is tough enough for most. See http://energyevents.co.za. The Salomon Bastille Day Trail Run takes place the day before on the 16th. See www.trailrunning.co.za.
Weather Tip
LOVELY clean small surf today with light SE offshore and a 34’ west swell. Muizenberg Corner looks 2’ and light onshore. Tomorrow, winter is back. Strong NW winds, rising storm swell and ragged blustery conditions. Muizenberg gradually grows from 2 to 4’ by end of the day in stiff offshores.