R.I.P Black Rails

The waves at Caves keep on coming weekend after weekend. Although the banks aren't as good as in summer, there are still a few nuggets coming through. Strand has also come back to life. I had three amazing sessions there this past week. The waves are so rippable and fun.

My favourite board got snapped in half at Caves yesterday. Bummer. That thing was amazing.
R.I.P Black Rails

                      Last weekend at Caves. Photo by Andre

Boland Trails

Surfed Boland trails in Jongensfontein a few weeks back. Davey, Coetzer and I missioned up together. The waves were pretty out of control on the first day, but it cleaned up for the second day and we scored some fun waves. We also had fun sessions at Stilbaai Point and Kakgat inbetween heats. I had a few ok heats, but kept on getting bad waves in the semis and lost out. Davey surfed well and made the team.

Here are a few photos taken by Coetzer:

                                Me at Stilbaai point

                                       Davey throwing fins

                                     Fin waft at Jongens

                                   Davey going large at Jongens

Summer is Over

Winter is creeping closer by the day. The days have become ridiculously short and the temperature has dropped over the past few weeks. The sand is starting its annual trek from Caves to wherever it disappears to in the winter months. Nobody knows.

The waves have still been good though. Caves has been really fun. A bit wobbly, but good. The shower bank has returned and is getting better and better each week. The crowds are getting a bit rough though. The Strand ballies have been taking over at Caves, hassling for the little waves coming through.

Here are a few frame grabs from last Sat:

                                         Me inside a gem

                                  Adin setting up

                                       Me

                                  I found another good one

                           Adin flaring

10 Days

Summary of our short holiday:

I can't even begin to explain how good the waves have been these past few days. The Boland has been going absolutely bananas, dishing up some of the best waves we have seen all summer.

I got home from a road trip up to Noup with Marthinus on Tuesday. Noup is a amazing place. We went diving for crayfish everyday and did a bit of exploring around the coast. The braai's and beers were much needed after a tough first term.

On Wednesday, Andrew Smith, Peder Christensen and I surfed some flawless barreling waves at a secret spot. Within the first five minutes of our session all three of us had made it out of multiple barrels. The waves just kept coming. They were quite heavy though. Andrew snapped his board and I messed up my shoulder after being smashed into the sand on a closeout.

Thursday and Friday were spent at Caves. The banks were amazing and we got some of the best waves of the year (so far...), with only a hand full of guys out on both days. There were way too many barrels. Davey Gouws got too many barrels. I got too many barrels. Kyle Cabano got spat out of one of the craziest, wedgiest, thickest pits ever. Mathew Lombard was also going crazy, flipping out all over the place. We spent way too many hours in the sun surviving on only a bit of water and a pack of cookies.

On Saterday I surfed da Pipe. The Strand ballies were hassling, the longboarders were snaking. Andrew was busting out, Mikhail was throwing buckets. I was stealing all the set waves. It was a really fun session.

Today I went back to the little slab I came across last time. It was grinding. See the pics below.

Here are some photos of the last 10 days:

                         

                        Grondpad

                          Marthinus

                    Hondeklip Baai

                   Hondeklip Baai little setup

                       Marthinus met sy kreef

                 

                     Boland boude

                            Caves going off!

                     Caves at Caves

                     The slab

                    Draining below sea level

Tomorrow we hit the books again. Term 2 here we go. Now we become weekend warriors again.