Tom Curren's first wave in J-Bay

When I was reading Riding the Magic Carpet by Tom Anderson, I was wondering what Tom Curren's rides at J-Bay must have looked like so that Anderson decided that this was his personal final surfing destination in the early 90s.

With the Clash of the Icons having been held at the Billabong Pro in J-Bay this month, old footage of Tom Curren has been dug out.

Check out these clips from the movie "Searching for Tom Curren" with Curren's first ever rides at J-Bay:

http://www.surfline.com/surf-news/occy-to-surf-against-curren-at-billabong-pro-j-bay_28293/

Dolphins @ J-Bay

While surfing in J-Bay during our last surf trip, once in a whila a family of dolhins passed by, checking the lineup. J-Bay is known for schools of dolphins enjoying the surf and sharing waves with humans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWauuX_1KH8

Video about South African Sardine Run

When going surfing in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, one comes across signs that you shouldn't go surfing during the sardine run because it attracts sharks. Also, shark nets at netted beaches are removed in order to avoid killing sharks and dolphins during that period.

During the annual sardine run, huge sardine swarms travel up the coast to Durban, accompanied by their hunters like dolphins, sharks, orcas and sea birds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBd4sNHBnYc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0ruKhhbISc

Day 2: Cape Town to Bontebok National Park

After a short night (there was a party in the bar of our backpackers, make sure to have some ear plugs with you...) we checked out and drove to Kalkbay to have breakfast with a friend. You'll get a fantastic breakfast at Olympia Deli where I had my best cheese omelet ever.

After being refueled we drove over to Boulders to take some photos of the penguins that live there. There's an area with restricted access which unfortunately had been closed because there were already too many people inside. In that area you can actually take a swim with the penguins. However you'll find penguins outside the restricted area nearby. Just walk across the parking towards the sea.

Then it was time to hit the road. Driving through the wine area of the Western Cape we arrived at Swellendam when it became dark. So we decided to look for a backpacker for the night. Driving through Swellendam we read our travel guide telling us Bontebok National Park is nearby including a campsite. Actually a great place to stay. See pics on day 3...

Arriving in the Bontebok National Park we've been received by a group of mountain zebras as well as a group of bonteboks. Shortly after that, a puff adder was crossing our way. Actually we found out that this is a quite poisonous snakes after talking to some people on the campsite.

more pics of day 2


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Day 1: Arrival in Cape Town

After a 10hrs flight we arrived in sunny Cape Town and received our rental car at Hertz. Cruising past a soccer staduim in construction we headed to Camps Bay (good view of Table Mountain) first for meeting a friend there. Apparently she was on a surf trip up the the west coast, so we decided to eat something and have a short nap on the beach.

With no waves in Camps Bay we headed to the other side of Cape Town to Muizenberg Beach. Waves were small and wind onshore, so we went down town to look for a place to stay for the frist night.

In Long Street which seems to be the party street in Cape Town we found a backpacker (Carnival Court), went out for dinner and a couple of beers.


more photos of day 1



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