The collective term of Durban's Golden Mile breaks is ‘Town’. Town doing it’s thing – 2004. All images by Kelly Cestari
One storm will go down in history as it coincided with an exceptionally high tide, notice the concrete slabs at the end of New Pier ‘bounced’ by the swells – 2007.
North Pier Jump 2008. In Durban we can get lazy with the Pier jumps but during those big swells its a gift but get the timing wrong & you will be doing the walk of shame. The Piers were also my shooting spot when I first started.
Dane Logie Dairy Bowl – 2007. Good thing about the piers is that while ‘working’ shooting the contests you can shoot the free surfing too, this was captured during the Lizzard Pro.
Dan Redman Dairy – 2006. I’m not a fan of shooting screwfoots on rights as you mostly end up with ass shots but Dan throws it down well.
Jordy Smith Dairy - 2005. What cannot see on this crazy high air is that the inside fin of Jordys board is gone, snapped off on a previous crazy move
Ricky Basnett North Beach - 2007. Ricky before the Bobby days, this turn is virtually identical to the shot which got me my first magazine cover
Dairy Barrel - 2005. This is actually my first water shot ever, after this session I thought to myself f*** this is not easy and today 4 years down the line I’m still now happy with my fisheye skills.
Nikita Robb Dairy – 2005. One of the frames which went by unseen after a commission from SWG magazine.
Neil Millar New Pier – 2005. This is the only time I have ever been hit whilst shooting. The very next frame Neils board flew into my housing which in turn flew into my head, I still don’t wear a helmet.
John McCarthy New Pier – 2008. Cardinal rule of connecting for a barrel photo DO NOT DRAG YOUR HAND.
Warrick Wright Dairy – 2006. To this day I still do not have a decent photo of Wok which is something to work on.
Luke Patterson New Pier 2008. Nowadays you will see Luke bobbing around with his own photo rig. This angle is something I have been working on for a while, just look at Scott Aichner and you will see why.
Daniella Le Roux Underwater near scalping – 2006. Some days the water is clean enough in town for a decent underwater action at New Pier.
Wedge - 2008. When town gets good people have a tendency to develop blinkers and forget what goes on past New Pier.
Matt Kruger Wedge – 2005. Along with dodging the fishing lines you also have to avoid the Wedge sand dredge.
Jordy Smith Wedge – 2006. Jordy was boosting for Greg ‘The Sheriff’ Ewing this day and I poached a shot that went no where.
Richard Sills Wedge – 2005. Fisheye is all about getting close, I always tell my subjects “don’t worry about me I will get out the way”.
Empty Vetchies – 2006. This is one of my all times and is hanging on my wall. I was shooting New Pier for 2hrs when suddenly this lone wave rolled over the reef. Sadly Vetchies will never break again.
Empty New Pier – 2008. Nearly three years ago I discovered the joy of long lens in the water and have since produced some of my best photos with the ‘easy water option’.
Matt Kruger New Pier Bowl – 2008. The piers provide fantastic grand stands for the peanut gallery but also a disgusting fishing arena.
Dane Reynolds New Pier – 2007. This has been seen before but it was the frame that started my fascination with the long lens water option.
Sarah Baum New Pier – 2007. Lately there are a lot more girls in the lineup, some for the better some for the worse.
Kirsty Delport New Pier – 2008. Lately Kirsty is making a name for herself when town gets big and the regulars suddenly have old age ailments.
Greg Emslie New Pier – 2007. I’ve been shooting Greg for a while now and lately his airs have become more frequent.
Damien Fahrenfort New Pier – 2008. Another one I have yet to capture a decent frame of in town and with Dooma living in the USA now it may be a while before it happens
Shane Thorne New Pier – 2008. With three kids you don’t see Shane in the lineup as often as before but when it counts you will.
Mark Hill North Beach – 2008. Just because I get to burn old man Mark. 039_jj5767dbn08cestari_l – JJ New Pier - 2008. What is New Pier without JJ
Beyrick DeVries New Pier 2008. Beyrick is one of those kids that has upped his game big time and once he puts on muscle could be scary. Luckily I will have to capture some of that progression
James Maddocks New Pier – 2008. James was another kid progressing quickly but now lives in France so I don’t know but I do know on this day he shocked himself with that turn
James Maddocks New Pier 2008. The thing with the tight knit town crew is the level they push each other. Kirsty watches James let it all hang out.
