Posted on Leave a comment

Surfing Mozambique: It’s cyclone time again

Alternative surfing accommodation in Tofo - in da barrel

Surfing Mozambique: It’s cyclone time again

Surfing Mozambique this time of the is always very interesting. Two cyclones so far, have thumped swell at us this past month. The first, AVA, had us surfing places like Tofinho every day. And the huge dollop of sand there has seen surfing right through the tides. This syclone hit the east side of Madagascar where a huge escaroment of mountains sent it packing. It floated off down south and east, just shy of the exact place we need it to be.

The second was a bit more serious but stayed farther off the coast. On Saturday the ten foot sets arrived closing out the entire Tofnho Bay. On Sunday, Barra went off the scale again. There was no footage shot, nbut this clip of it doing it’s thing last year exactly this time, tells the story.

This clip only features the last third of the first superbank. It starts kilometres further up. The second superbank was also absolutely firing this day. A lot easier but still tubular bells. Top to bottom.

At one point, after my umpteenth wave, I was staggering back only to find my two surfing mates, Aladinho and Dave Charley, lying in a puddle of water, completely spent. I kicked them back both up and out there. Only to hear both of them howl their proverbial lament, over and over – “I just had the BEST wave of my LIFE!”. Over and over again.

I wouldn’t hesitate to say that Barra has one over the other superbanks in the area. It’s easy to get to. Has great pubs and restaurants lining the bay. There are many options, through the tides. It’s all very beautiful too. And very uncrowded. Even if it was, the point is so extensive, you would be surfing alone most of the time.

BUT.

It changes continually. Right now, the second superbank down at the mouth has been replaced by a huge natural swimming pool. As the ocean assaults the bars and establishments along the way.

The first one still exists, but also has a huge swimming pool where the 100metre beach was.

The good news. Is that further up the bay, the original superbank, the one that caused all the fuss way back then, is returning to shape and form. The swell really concentrates on this particular piece of Barra. It breaks real hard and underwater.

And gets 8ft!

And a video playlist of all things surfing Mozambique…

To get on up to Tofo and to enjoy the life here a while…check out our accommodation options at the following link…

https://thesardine.co.za/product-category/accomodation/

And other holiday packaged experiences here…

Fishing Experiences

https://thesardine.co.za/product-category/fishing-experiences/

Diving Experiences

https://thesardine.co.za/product-category/diving-experience/

Surfing Experiences

https://thesardine.co.za/product-category/surfing-experiences/

The Sardine crew have been operating in the tourism world in Southern Africa, for decades. We have assembled packages and options based on these years of experience and contact gathering.

We have tried and tested each option, and the facets therein. We are always on call and/or around.

If you need help with other logistics like travel, we can help.

Get in touch on umzimkulu@gmail.com or http://facebook.com/thesardine.co.za/ or WhatsApp +27 79 326 9671.

Share
Posted on Leave a comment

Surfing Sathanes

Surfing Sathanes

Surfing Sathanes

Surfing Sathanes with an energetic Dustin Volker aka Krusty, and a polished Chris Leppan, this film with camera lady Riz Laine and edit by Xonalanga, tells the real story of surfing the fabled Mozambican point breaks.

A fickle coastline at best, Mozambique surf spots much prefer east swells, which start hammering though as the cyclone season kicks into gear. The swells in this clip were south swells, and as you can see, the wave seems to warble a tad.

It’s great surfing as usual. Krusty kills it on his backhand whilst natural footer Chris is just loving his time up here in the tropics. Right hander after right hander after right hander.

It’s been a good summer so far. And with the first Cyclone, “AVA”, having already caused mayhem on the east side of Madagascar, it looks to be a good season into 2018. This cyclone made landfall half way down Mad, and the steep mountain escarpment that side broke it’s speed from 150kph right down. Where it careened off south-east and out to sea.

But not without sending us some of it’s juices in the form of a punchy east swell, that lit up the Tofo Bay at high tide, with some perfect shore-breaking waves, for quite a few days. It wasn’t big enough for the Barra sand to come alive. But that’s coming soon!

There is a tropical depression way up top, in the cyclone factory right now. Will it form up into a real spinner? The ones we want are not the ones that come into the Mozambique Channel at all. Those randomly cause havoc and chaos, and are literally completey unpredictable. No, the ones we want spin-off and hang around the very tip of Mad. Those are the conditions to watch for.

Get your paddling arms on! These swells are short period and very strong.

Check out our offerings in the Trips and Travel menu at top. Or click here.

And lets go surfing!

Catch us on Facebook at http://facebook.com/thesardine.co.za/

More from surfing this area in Mozambique…

Share
Posted on Leave a comment

Chris Leppan and Hate Speech surfing Mozambique

Chris Leppand and Hate Speech surfing Mozambique

Chris Leppan and Hate Speech surfing Mozambique

Surfing Mozambique in a trilogy of video collaborations shot at three of the best point breaks that Mozambique has to offer. Which means that Africa has to offer. The conditions were far from epic in any of the sessions, but Chris and friends made the most of it. This day however, shot at the picteresque Ponto do Ouro, right on the southern tip of the fabulously long coastline, was pretty much cooking. Well dredging at least.

The highly talented Kate Lovemore was on the camera, which made it an absolute pleasure and a breeze through the studio process.

You can see the first in the trilogy at the following link…

Chris Leppan meets Napalma – shot at Tofinho, a bit further north in Inhambane province.

The final instalment will be coming soon. I’ll leave you guessing as to where this sojourn will take us next.


The cyclone season will be firing up pretty soon – February is coming fast. Balmy hot days and east swells marching in. Offshores to match. Well it’s a dream, but when one day, you do catch these very same point breaks, in these conditions, you shall never forget.

Bruce Gold experienced this phenomenon. Of east swells just appearing out of nowhere. Not predicted on any charts. And it was in August! Painted clean with Offshore winds, the current wasn’t even currenting. But the waves were mean!

Some sets peeled through with not a single surfer making the drop. As the tide dredged out it got meaner. Some of the best barrels were had. For two days the waves just poured through. Goofy foot renegade Craig Els was up from JBay. And fell into an amazing rhythm right off the bat. Thwacking the perfect rights until they finally stopped coming.

Luckily Bruce grabbed a camera and shot off some clips right in the heat of it all. His running commentary and the waves he filmed formed the core content for the surf film Shaloha. A Bruce Gold epic. Featuring many of the hotter surfers up and down this coastline, the compilation starts in Cape Town, and ends in Mozambique. In the most perfect waves.

Bruce ended up staying in Tofinho for a whole four months after the huge trip. And fell right in with the palmy lifestyle around here.

Enjoy the day…

If you want to come surf these waves with us…check out the options in the menu above, or follow this link…

https://thesardine.co.za/product-category/surfing-experiences

Catch us on Facebook at…

http://facebook.com/thesardine.co.za/

 

Share
Posted on Leave a comment

Cooking waves at Saint Michaels today this 18 July 2017

Saint Michaels today this 18 July 2017 (c) Jay Steenkamp

Cooking waves at Saint Michaels today this 18 July 2017

There are cooking waves at Saint Michaels today this 18 July 2017, as the attached super photo by undercover sardine spy Jay Steenkamp, shows. Jay has no sardine news to report, but these big swells and cold conditions are pre-requisites and precursors to their hopeful arrival.

Some other cool pics submitted lately, that portray south coast, living this time of the year…

Come and enjoy the sunny (well most days!) south coast of KZN Natal, with the team at The Umzimkulu Marina. Check out their website and get in touch here http://umzimkulu.co.za

For more information on the annual sardine run, click here for a listing of all recent 2107 reports…

https://thesardine.co.za/?s=sardine+run+2017

And a cool video clip from Offshore Africa in Port St. Johns, showing yet another baitball down south on The Wild Coast…


 

Share
Posted on Leave a comment

Excellent Surf Conditions Greet Top Surfers For Round 2 Of Corona Open JBay

Corona Open JBay

Excellent Surf Conditions Greet Top Surfers For Round 2 Of Corona Open JBay

Fresh news in from Jarvi…

Supertubes, JBay – The waves at Supertubes in JBay were absolutely perfect for the elimination round 2 of the Corona Open JBay. Four to six-foot lines peeled down the point all day from a10:30 AM start, and were still reeling down perfectly as the sun went down.

There were some radical performances throughout the day, a few upsets and a few surprises. Jadson Andre (Bra) eliminated Kolohe Andino (USA) in what was the biggest upset of the day, and Filipe Toledo (Bra) was the most outstanding surfer of the day with a 10-point ride and a heat total of 19.63.

Jadson Andre © WSL / Kelly Cestari

Eleven times world champion Kelly Slater was injured free surfing Boneyards today and has withdrawn from the event. His injury will give Filipe Toledo a pass through round 3.

An injured Kelly Slater is carried from the water © WSL / Sherman

In another close heat, Leo Fioravanti (ITA) defeated Sebastian Zietz (Haw) in a closely fought encounter. Fioravanti will now face lone South African Jordy Smith in round 3.

Leo Fioravanti © WSL / Tostee

Rookie surfer Ezekiel Lau from Hawaii had a close heat with Brazilian goofy footer Wiggolly Dantes, with the powerful Hawaiian emerging victorious from the exchange after a few powerful barrels through the inside Carpark section.

The forecasts are showing large surf over the next few days, and event organisers are spoiled for choice. Large surf has been called Tuesday 18th, and even larger surf for Thursday 20th.

Filipe Toledo banked the highest score of the day with a heat total of 19.63 © WSL / Tostee

Other happenings at the JBay Winterfest 2017 include the JBay Windfarm MTB Classic, The JBay Loggers Classic, the Endurade JBay X Trail Run, The Oakley X Over, a Kite Festival, the Fishing Skins tournament, a Funduro and more.

More details at www.jbaywinterfest.com

Co-sponsors include Oakley, Kouga Municipality, Vodacom4U and First Choice.

The event hash tag is #jbaywinterfest

The JBay Winterfest social media channels:

Website: www.jbaywinterfest.com/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jbaywinterfest????

Twitter: @jbaywinterfest

Instagram: @jbaywinterfest

Share