theBOMBsurf blog

The Cultural Exchange Program
10 March 2010, 16:28
 

The Cultural Exchange Program
 
I'm not sure where the idea was born, but somewhere along the line on one of our CT trips we came up with the idea of a cultural exchange program between Cape and KZN surfers. The Cape and KZN are both so far apart they may as well be different countries. The surf cultures in the two cities is also remarkably different. Both unique in their way and definitely worth exploring and experiencing. So on Monday a crew of keen CT adventurers made up of the intrepid photographer Ant Fox, Matt B, Sammy, Lauren and Rich flew in to DBN and we quickly husseled them away from the crowd of the city to the quiet country areas of the North Coast of KZN deep in the heart of Zululand. 
 

Watching the Capies tackle 27 degree water was funny. The "Are you sure we don't need wetsuits?" question finally laid to rest. It's cool watching grown men behaving like kids. The surf we've had has been super fun and here's hoping tomorrow brings more.
 

John
 
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Bittersweet
5 March 2010, 07:57
Taj beat Jordy on wave selection. Shew. Bittersweet to say the least for Jordy fans. Jordy surfed better, Taj got the better waves. I do feel that Jordy was underscored on both his rides and I feel that Taj was overscored on both of his rides. The fact remains Jordy is looking phenomenal at the moment. He is not forcing anything yet his surfing is both polished and radical at the same time. Taj was trying so hard at times he looked like he was forcing it. Conversely Jordy looked as relaxed as he would at The New Pier in a free surf.You can see he is reigning himself in. Like a thouroghbred trotting around the race course his competitors are sprinting just to keep up. If Jordy can keep it together and play the same game at Bells I reckon he'll wear his competitors down and unnerve them, because they KNOW he's surfing better at the moment.

The Dane Jordy showdown in the semi didn't fulfill it's potential. It seemed Dane had the jitters. Dunno why, maybe he's starting to want it and realises he has something to lose. I think he'll get over it though and bounce back for Bells.

One thing is for sure to have Jordy start the year 2nd on the rankings is hell of a exciting for Saffa surf fans and it sets Jordy up for a good crack at the next event.

Now we can all finally get some sleep ... until Bells that is.

John

All imagery courtesy ASP/Cestari.
 
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3 Comments so far:
deon on 5 March 2010
jordy surfed better,
taj got bigger waves - often just comes down to that

jordy surfed hot,
but was lucky with a couple of tight heats especially against Tiago and Bede,
so can't really complain about the final

stoked for him tho,
he's surfing smooth and powerfully and is a far cry away from his early days as parko clone and has his own special thing going
Mark on 5 March 2010
Jordy is certainly looking very relaxed and it speaks volumes about his surfing. Having a look at the final I must say I disagree with you John, Taj got the bigger better waves... But at the end of the day Jordy's performance overall was mind blowing, never mind the 2nd place, the confidence boost to beat slater in the first encounter of the year will go a long way.... Let the games begin this year is going to be a cracker!!!
Paul on 5 March 2010
Haha. I was also up watching and falling asleep right now...
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Jordy beats Slater. Bede
4 March 2010, 09:04
Geez, it's all going down at the Quikie Pro in Aus. Jordy beat Slater in his Round 4 heat - the very first heat they've surfed against each other in a World Tour event (see the video here), then Jordy went on to defeat Bede Durbidge to advance to the Semis. It's gonna be Jordy vs Dane. What a match up. In the other semi it's Taj vs Bobby Martinez. Jordy's 2 heats away from his first ever WCT victory, now wouldn't that be something!

What do you folks reckon? Who's gonna take it...Jordy? Or Taj, Dane or Bobby? Post below.

Iain

Jordy ripping on his way to defeating Slater. Photo courtesy ASP.

 
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JMc on 4 March 2010
Jordy vs Dane in the semis, well well well... This is the kind of match up that makes modern pro surfing exciting to watch. Both of these guys seem to have slipped in and out of form through the event. That inconsistancy doesn't bode well for either of them but the whole world knows that if either one of them get the waves and goes to town the result will be crazy. If they both go off in the heat and get waves, collectively they have the opportunity to redefine the judging criteria and help usher in a new judging scale. Both of them have posted 19 point plus heat tallies en route to this semi and neither one of them looks even close to being maxed out yet. Competitive surfing can often be hugely anti-climatic if the waves don't co-operate. That said the combined potential in these two surfers is breathtaking. Dane is perhaps slightly more creative than Jordy. Jordy perhaps slightly more heat savvy than Dane but we're talking fractions here.

In the other semi Bobby and Taj will duel hard, but frankly neither of those surfers are as exciting to watch as Jordy and Dane. That said they have the competitive acumen and experience to win both heats and contests. I think the odds would definitely favour the experience of Taj or Bobby as the ultimate winner but....

Somehow I think Jordy is gonna do it.




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Old board, new tricks
1 March 2010, 22:37
I recently decided to try and surf a board that I haven't ridden in a few years. I used to love surfing this board, it was always super fast and turned well. I didn't consciously stop surfing it for any other reason than it was just getting old and as I got a couple more boards over the years it stayed in the boardbag at the bottom of the pile in the garage. So on the weekend I hauled it out, took all the wax off it and applied a fresh, new layer of freshly scented wax, screwed these kiff new FCS Good-1 fins in, put on a new leash and took it down to the New Pier.

The board just went like a rocket!

I really, really enjoyed that surf and I know that I havent surfed like that in a while. I could just feel the board so beautifully.

Anyway, the point is that I'm sure at the bottom of some of your quivers there is most likely a similar board, that's been relegated purely because it's a bit yellowish, the deck has sunk a little or it's got a few dings and battle scars and is a little blind to run down the beach with. But maybe, just maybe, there is some untapped magic still in there.

Iain

 
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warren loom on 3 March 2010
Hey Iain, Funny you should write that. I left my "normal" board back on the island and paddled out this morning at North on my old Evo. I have always enjoyed this board but had left it up on the shelf, too busy trying new and different boards. Yes, its a bit yellow etc. Anyway, I had a bunch of really good waves with 2 stand out ones I haven't had since I last rode her! She just felt good and the magic was still there. 100% !!!
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MMA
27 February 2010, 19:12
I went to watch my first MMA fight last night. I was pretty nervous about the whole thing, having a definite stereotyped pre-conception of what I'd see. I was thinking, tow truck drivers, mullets, aggro, bare knuckle hatred-cum-street fighting in a steel cage. I was presently surprised at how wrong I was.

Ok, there were a few mullets and some of the largest hulk-men I've ever seen, but these were generally the trainers. The actual fighters were all super fit, ripped, incredibly supple and lightning quick with their hands, feet and reflexes. But the thing that shocked me the most, was how much respect they have for their opponents, the skills and the MMA etiquette. The other thing I was shocked at, was how much I enjoyed it, and how exciting the fights are. The athletes don't actually hate each other. Hello.

What's the link to surfing? Beside the athletic nature of the fighters/surfers and the parallels between the sports, it seems a lot of surfers are into it. I saw Rudy Palmboom Jnr there, I saw a few other surfers I recognized from the line-up in and around Durbs, and I even watched local surf photographer (and clearly part time MMA fighter) Matt Donaldson clean some poor buggers pipes in a brutal encounter.

I've heard Makua Rothman and a host of other surfers are into MMA, even Kelly Slater apparently. Like I said, I don't know much about it, but it's damn exciting, damn inspiring and I wouldn't be surprised if it becomes the next 'cool' sport to influence the mainstream.

I couldn't find too much info about it in SA, but I found this clip on ESPN, to give you and idea - ok this is way more hardcore than the SA fight scene, but it's the same sport.  What do you folks think?


Drop a comment below. I'm off to the gym.

Iain
 
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13 Comments so far:
zane on 28 February 2010
Hey Iain, checked the vid, not so rad when the floored, knocked out oke is still getting punched/kicked/knee'd in the head, but maybe I'm just soft.....
roo on 1 March 2010
To stretch for a connection here is saying more about you.
Damien on 1 March 2010
Are you guys getting desperate to make people post comments? Fighters/surfer links-are you guys hinting at starting an MMA magazine alongside theBombrugby??Now I get it.
Grant on 1 March 2010
Human cockfighting....How amazingly cool! Not.
JMc on 1 March 2010
I agree this particular video of MMA is like watching some kind of sadistic crap that offends the senses. Maybe I'm old school but it is not cool to smack a guy when he is already down. That said the whole point of this is to explore the essence of cross training and how it will translate into improved performance in the surf. MMA is just one of heaps of differerent options that surfers have at their disposal these days. Recently we did some breath hold training with Wilma - super Triathlete and Hanli - SA Free Diving Champ. The benefits were immediate and amazing. We took breath hold times of 2mins and basically doubled them, just by stepping outside of the surfing niche and tapping in to the understanding of another sport. When we got back into the surf the effect was amazing. Also recently what I've been trying is to NOT ride the same board in consecutive sessions. So if you are not surfing then what do you do to keep in shape for surfing? Personally I'm into yoga, running away from the cops at Cool Runnings and bodysurfing.

John Mc
TrevorG on 1 March 2010
After watching that video, I could not help but wonder if some of the heavy locals would be so keen to throw their weight around if they ran the risk of coming up against some of these mothers!!
Matt on 2 March 2010
If the fighter does not tap it is the ref's call to end the fight. No fault of the fighter at all!
JM Tostee on 2 March 2010
Glad you enjoyed the figthing Iain - a lot of surfers are into it now as back-up training, including Kelly Slater who took up Jiu Jitsu to improve his strength and stamina. The Sharks rugby squad are tarined at Shuriken Dojo to increase their strength too. Mixed Martial Arts fighters who get into the ring to compete are athletes excatly the same as the top level surfers like Twiggy ; Bertish; Jason Ribbink etc; or rugby players like Victor Matfiled and the Beast who train themselves to take MASSIVE blows at Dungeons; Jaws and Mavericks - or for 90 minutes on a rugby filed every saturday. The MMA guys who get to competing level train at least 2 hours everyday in the same situation you see in the ring. They can walk out of the ring any time by "tapping out" 3 times and the ref stops the fight - the reason they dont tap out is because they are CONDITIONED to take the type of pounding normal soft ou's like us cant. Twiggy takes an even bigger pounding everytime he falls off on of those monsters he takes off on - but hes okay with it because hes conditioned to take the smackdown afterwards. Funny how Twiggy keeps going back for another one after that when i would be heading for the dry land.. SAME thing with rugby - how many times have you seen Schalk Burger walk off covered in blood; or Victor Matfield .. its way more aggro than MMA fighting? The common denomintaor with all of this is that the MMA fighters conditioning allows them to take the pounding; heal fast and they cant wait for the next Fight Night. I reckon don't go knocking someone elses sport simply for a lack of understanding of the background - and also dont underetimate the unassuming guy in the pub anymore - you could be the one causing kak one night and the little guy wraps you into a pretzel.
matt donaldson on 2 March 2010
iam not one to comment on this subject cause it can be quiet contoversial at times, it seems alot more grusome than it is at times , this whole stereotype about it being human cockfighting is rubbish, the whole reason why guys like me and rory beach got into jiujitsu (the ground work of mma) was to become more flexible it has major advantages to your surfing, my surfing has improved ten fold since i started jiujitsu two years ago, i got into fighting because i got good at juijitsu and wanted to see how i could perform in a mma fight , there is two aspects in mma stand up fighting and ground game they can both improve your surfing , i think this is why the bomb has gotten a interest in it, and not to mention the people in the surf community getting involved (jp ras, rory beach) also more then half the people on the north shore of hawaii do it aswell ,not to mention brazil where its roots come from. what may look very violent to you may look like art to us. its just a lack of understanding is why people think it is violent , they have done tests and it is a known fact that it is safer the boxing and rugby , american football, do to the fact that it is not repetitive blows.anyways just something for you guys to think about. matt
JMc on 2 March 2010
Hey Matt, safer than boxing, rugby and american football? Shew it sure doesn't look like it. Either way I'm gonna think twice next time I paddle past you in the lineup at The New Pier. You guys are gnarly!
Marcel on 4 March 2010
Fight contests have been around for ages.
Look if a guy is willing to go in the ring and go down like that then thats his perogative. He knows the consequences and still CHOOSES to fight. They dig doing it. Just like we dig surfing.
The sport is growing at such a rapid pace not because of it's brutality but because of our inability to know the outcome.
Now in MMA you don't have 2 boxers head to head anymore - you don't know what you gonna get cos it's mixed fighters and arts.
I too was sceptic and i went to watch a fight and now i dig going.
The atmosphere is rad and you get so amped.
I met alot of the top fighters overseas and i tell you what they respect each other. Like JM said - they are conditioned for this. It's not WWE (bold and beautiful soapie) It's real with no smoke and mirrors and yes it is crossing over into surfing - just saw overboard fighter Minotauro at Quik Pro bells beach watching his mates surf their heats. Go watch a fight and you'll see for yourself.
I reckon this sport is gonna get massive (more than it is now)
Dieter Göttert on 4 March 2010
FYI, the only TV show that features professional MMA in South Africa on a regular basis is "Power Combat Zone", broadcast on Supersport.

The SA MMA scene is maturing as we speak with a number of SA fighters having gone overseas to compete, notably Mark Robinson, having fought in the UFC circuit years ago.

Having said that, MMA can be very technical and demanding, and contrary to popular belief, does not advocate "no-rules" and "no-holds barred" (whoever coined those phrases should be shot as it has left MMA sport with a negative stigma).

MMA is anything but no holds barred, with proper rules, officials and medical personnel in place - just like in any other sport.

And yes, along with rugby, soccer and cricket, MMA will also attract your typical Southern suburbs stereotype breeker - but so what - what about the celebrities and other "normal" people that make up the majority of the audience ? They also enjoy the sport.

Best to try understand the sport first before passing judgement, but its cool that Iain has written something about MMA - thanks for that, Iain.











louis on 10 March 2010
Interesting comments.. MMA and indeed any martial art is excellent cross - training for surfing in that they emphasise fitness, flexibility, strength training and discipline..all key factors in surfing as well. I have also attended MMA and found it professional.
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Heavy locals in Mauritius giving SA surfers stick
25 February 2010, 11:59
North Beach local and Durban shaper Warren Loom writes from Mauritius:


I stumbled across what must surely be the last vestige of old school localism here in Mauritius. I was first in the car park at One eyes this morning (around 6am, which for here is damn early) looking at a nice clean 3 to 4ft left rolling off the reef. Perfect. A quick 2 hours and then I still have time to get to town for work without too much traffic.) Now I am coming here quite regularly so I don’t consider myself “local” but I am not a once off tourist flailing around either. I pulled my board out, put on my board shorts and (note to everyone reading this: here’s where the wheels fell off) went over to another black 4x4 that had just pulled up, and asked the 2 guys if they were going to use the boat or were they just paddling out?
 
“Where you going?”, asked the guy.
 
“Thought I would get a few at One Eyes before work” I innocently said.
 
“We do not share our waves here” he said glumly.
 
“????” Is this guy for real? Is he serious? There is no one else out there! Have I just shot back to the eighties? Am I wearing lumo sunblock? I thought localism died with the Dodo? (pun intended)
 
“We do not share our waves here” he said again.
 
But he was serious. Bruno (I found out his name later) was very serious. He is one of the last “white shorts” still dragging the name of surfing down the preverbial gutter while everyone else is trying so hard to open the sport up and improve its public perception.
 
So tail between my legs I slinked away, back into my car, wishing I was back home with guys who know the true meaning of surfing. All you boys and my friends in SA. Shame on guys like Bruno. I did leave with the reasurence that Karma will come back and fill his rash vest with a thousand jelly fish one day.
 
I will try again tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Warren.


What do you BOMBsurfers think? Anyone else had this kind of experience in Mauritius? Is it acceptable? Comment below.
 
 
 
 
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11 Comments so far:
mark on 25 February 2010
Bru-no man why did you not wait for them to go for a surf and let their tyres down?Bru-no would not have had white shorts by the time he had walked to the local garage to get a footpump.
What wankers but at least they cannot go anywhere else with their outlook.Bet you still come across him when the shoe is on the other foot and he gets his com-uppance!Even stress in the islands,where to next!?
warren loom on 25 February 2010
hey mark.I thought of a lot of bad things to do to there car while I watched them paddle out. But we are better than that. They will get there just deserves.
Dr Nikki on 25 February 2010
i went mauritius last year with my husband, and although one hears of localism, we have never really had a bad experience on our various surf trips to all sorts of places. stick to the rules, don't be rude and drop in or hog the waves etc etc. boy were my eyes opened! casually paddled out at tamarin bay, small and a bit too windy. we sit way down the line minding our own business, sussing things out. doesn't one guy (with his white shorts over his wetsuit!) just paddle up to us and start telling us to %*£@ off! the second wally who told us off could barely even surf. i really could not believe how pathetic that is. but shame maybe they have to protect their spot, because it is so piss easy, any dick can surf it!
one eye was more hectic, bummer you didn't get to surf it!
julian on 26 February 2010
Its ironic. Perhaps Bruno is correct in chasing you away, after all you are agreeing witht rying to "open the sport up" . Bruno is trying to empty it so the locals can get some waves. Then wishing "karma" will bring physical pain (on your behalf) to this dude?????
tut, tut,tut.........
What you should have done is stand your "righteous ground", and engaged Bruno in conversation, you could have diffused the situation through communication, instead you agreed with his attitude by leaving in silence, but covertly wishing ill on him.
warren loom on 26 February 2010
Hey Julian.Your comments are appreciated, but how do dialogue with someone who is so closed minded. They physically ignored my efforts to even just greet by turning there backs on me in the car park. And you expect me to try diffuse through communication? These guys are pathetic! I only got there attention because I "stood my ground" and insisted on being polite. It go me no where. And if I agreed with his attitude do you think I would have written the blog? To elaborate on the situation, there was not a single other person in the water. They actually wanted it ALL to themsleves. That is just disgustingly greedy. No excuse is acceptable here, no matter how you flower it. As for wishing him ill, sorry mate, but yes I do. I am no saint, but I am honest and open.
warren loom on 26 February 2010
Hey John Mc.
Thanks for the advice last night. Got on it even earlier this morning and arrived to an even better morning than yesterday. Got my fill of waves (3ft with slight offshore wind and pushing tide) and mixed it up with a few locals who were brilliant! Its these type of guys whats surfings all about. I'll be back!

Hey thanks also to Mike Frew from Hurley for hooking me up with some local industry boys who gave me some great advice. You're a legend Mike!

See you all in the water soon! Cio!
julian on 26 February 2010
No worries Warren. It is always to difficult to travel, score waves and keep the peace. I have alwas found communication a good tool to keep the vibe good and soften local attitude, but most people back down pretty quickly when confronted with respect and common sense.
However, we will never hear Bruno's side of the story, which unfortunately taints your blog as one sided.
Glad to see you scored this morning.
warren loom on 26 February 2010
Hey Julian. You are absolutely right. I have travelled to many other countries from Australia to Europe, Maldives, Reunion, Mozambique, Tanzania and Kenya to name a few. Even with language problems in all these places I have always made new friends and work colleagues by being polite and open to the way they do things. But I have never been treated with such disrespect by anyone for only saying "good morning." Sorry mate its just wrong. Quite frankly Bruno doesn't deserve to have a say as he said it to me already when he said "We do not share our waves."
louis on 1 March 2010
Hi Warren. I'm with you on this issue. I was also kicked off the beach at le morne big pass by the same Bruno in a situation where i was just sitting in my car watching the crappy 2-3ft sideshore slop early one sunday morning. Bruno stomped over to my car and told me to leave the beach as there are no waves for foreign surfers in mauritius..man, i didnt even have a board with me. He and his 5 heavy mates then stood glowering at me until i did so. Julian, the piss poor attitude of Bruno and a couple of his buds is well known and many travellers have been through the mill with this guy. I completely believe Warren as it ties in with my own experience, unless you would maybe also like to hear Bruno's version of why he thought fit to remove me from the beach when i was just sitting in my car watching waves..hmmm?
kowie kid cum ballie on 1 March 2010
shame warren, that is heavy. I was at Supers the other Friday morning and I know most of the locals very well and also who to respect most (elsie, warren dean,brad davey,etc) and I was on the outside furthest out, after waiting my turn, when an old local who does not really know me (best I leave his name out) paddled up my inside fast and furiously, so I casually asked ( as a set was coming ) "Are you going ?" . He snarled and grunted " Don't f...ken talk to me, I will take any wave I want" and promptly did... Man that hurt me a bit but anyway, I laughed it off, and continued my surf, staying out of old fart's way... he he he, wait till he ever comes to my local spot...Ok no near as heavy as your episode but it came to mind again reading your story... hope you get more uncrowded waves there !
JMc on 1 March 2010
Guys some lessons I've learned surfing all over the world in some very heavy local spots that are not your own.
1. Surf alone.
2. Never arrive with a photographer.
3. Wake up very early.
4. Charge hard.
5. Never paddle around anyone in the lineup.
6. Do not back down (even if it means temporary bloodshed).
7. Remind yourself of why you are there. If you don't really want to be there then leave.

For a real local trying to look after his spot there is nothing worse than a truck load of tourists arriving with video cameras girlfriends and hangers on, be sensitive to that. That said a cool dude who is low profile and who respectfully does his thing is a hard act to challenge.

John
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Cleansing surf
24 February 2010, 21:33


As Iain said in his previous blog making mags doesn't get easier. This one was a whopper! Chris Bertish winning at the last mo. The most amazing selections of images I've ever seen for a mag courtesy of the el nino effect and some hard charging surfing plus the usual last minute ad schenanigans. Shew when we walked out this evening with it all done I couldn't believe it. What did I do? What any self respecting surf mag publisher would. I went for a surf in the howling onshore 1-2' bluebottle riddled dusk. I surfed The New Pier alone. I just needed to get wet. To rinse the accumulated filth of the deadline off my body and mind. I only had one good wave but damn it felt good!

John
 
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Deadlines and 1footers
24 February 2010, 08:48
If you wondering why the blog's been so quiet, these last few days, it's NOT because the waves have been cranking and we're too busy surfing to post something...for a change. On the contrary, the waves have been pretty terrible here in Durbs the last week or so and it's been hot, hot, hot and the east has been raging as a result....The real reason, dear readers, is that we've been slaving over the lastest issue, which is going into print very very shortly...and looking pretty sick I might add!

As I quickly type this, John is pouring over the first proofs of the layout and furiously marking pages with his favourite lumionous yellow highlighter. We've published quite a few magazines together in the last 4-5 years, and you'd think it gets easier as you go, but nope...not the case I'm afraid.

Is it still fun?

Hell yeah.
 
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Surfing with your groms
21 February 2010, 20:12


Once a week at least I try and take my groms aged 3 and 6 down for a surf. We ride amongst other things an old longboard which we all share. It is so big I can literally push them onto waves already standing up. They get so stoked but I think I get more stoked just watching them learn. I'm trying hard not to be one of those pushy dads who ends up destroying the experience by pushing too hard. Today was a breakthrough of sorts. After weeks of flailing around in the foamies my son (3) kept urging me to paddle further out. Pretty soon we got out to the back (surf was only 1ft) and both caught a wave in together on the same old longboard. I haven't been that stoked in a long time.
John
 
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warren loom on 23 February 2010
Hey John. Isn't it amaizing how we get that stoked feeling all over again by watching our lighties going through the same steps we did when growing up in the water. Its amazing! The really amazing (funny) thing was when last Sunday I was teaching my 3 year old son to dive through the waves with me at Umhloti and he shouted at me "my wave!" I really didn't think I was going to hear that for a few more years at least. Little bugger! Gotta love em!
JMc on 24 February 2010
Hey Warren he's gonna be a hustler just like his old man ha ha.

Teaching anyone to surf and watching the lights go on is a cool experience, but you are right with your own kids it really is amazing.

Enjoy.
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The will to succeed
19 February 2010, 11:38
This morning a group of Durban's hardcore locals pulled into listen to Chris B talk about his Mav's win. I don't this story can be told enough, for a number of reasons.

Firstly, just listening to what Chris had to go through to get there - no money, no clarification that the event was even going to run, no organised travel plans and no belongings to speak of, Chris literally happened to be at the airport - then checked his mail, saw that the comp might run, so he borrowed cash, took his back up board that just happened to be in the car, managed to scramble a ticket and jumped on the next flight to LA. He didn't even take a toothbrush.

Secondly, the sheer physical feat of the achievement. After traveling for over 36 hours, not sleeping, arriving at 1am, then going straight to the contest site, surfing 3 heats in a row on a borrowed board, during which he charged over six 35-40 foot waves, suffered some of the worst hold downs of his entire career, including being dragged 1.2km underwater on one particular wave in his 1st heat when he was caught inside by a freak 60 footer, is insane. He still went on to surf 2 more heats and win.

Finally, the absolute belief and self-determination to succeed. Not to win, just to succeed in his dream to surf the Mavericks comp and representing for himself and his country, against all the odds, is incredible. The fact that he won, is almost unbelievable.

 
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james on 19 February 2010
Awesome achievement Chris! The story has the makings of a hollywood movie - how about Neil Blomkamp as the director ? :)
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10 Most Recent Posts
The Cultural Exchange Program
Bittersweet
Jordy beats Slater. Bede
Old board, new tricks
MMA
Heavy locals in Mauritius giving SA surfers stick
Cleansing surf
Deadlines and 1footers
Surfing with your groms
The will to succeed

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The exquisite Megan Galt is this weeks BOMBshell.

This weeks' Big Match Temperament rankings

 

Who blew up... and who just blew it...

1. Taj 3. Andy.

2. Jordy. 2. Mick.

3. Dane 1. Joel.

Click here to nominate your own BMT performer of the week.
 
  The Cultural Exchange Program   I'm not sure where the idea was born, but somewhere along the line on one of our CT trips we came up with the idea of a cultural exchange program between Cape and KZN surfers. The Cape and KZN are both so far apart they may as well be different co... <more>