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Alternative surfing accommodation in Tofo

Tofinho

Alternative surfing accommodation in Tofo

With the flurry of investment that has been going on here in Tofo the past decade, surfing accommodation in Tofo presents many options nowadays. Surfing accommodation defined as being in close proximity to all the breaks in the area – there are 14 with names here in Tofo so far, many more without.

Tofinho is the main draw card but with surf tours, jet skis and SUPs littering the once lonely line-up, it is nothing more than a decoy to hide what really happens around here.

Accessibility is one issue. Local knowledge the other.

We go by boat. And I live on these waters.

Our 4WDs will get us to at least some of the places we like to surf. The others are way out to sea. Sandbanks that run for miles. Superbanks without names. An ever changing stretching swathe of sandy coastline that goes for miles and gets moulded and brushed continually by weird currents, backwashes and rips. Interrupted occasionally by a cranking right hand reef break or slab or superbank.

If you are planning a trip over here and aim to score some really-hard to describe freaks of nature type waves, then time it with us.

February it hots up as the cyclonic systems hanging around Madagascar start to line up and spit the swells to us in the exact right direction. It’s a short period hard ground swell that hardly lets up. Paddle outs and takeoffs are brutal. You better be fit. Very hard barreling waves that are super fast over shallow sand. Hectic sections, but makeable. Thick lips. Sweet beatings. Roasties.

Casa Algodoal puts you right in the sweet spot
Casa Algodoal puts you right in the sweet spot – Krusty performing.

You gonna need 3 weeks or more, we don’t like coming back at this time, through to June, when the south swells and systems take over again. Boring. Back to Jbay. And Tofinho. Etc…But you can join us wherever we are easily enough. We arrange all of that for you. Just fly into Inhambane airport.

You got to come prepared for survival. Waterproof everything. Your own medical kit. All manners of communication, charging and entertainment equipment. Very strong boards and leashes. Tent and hammock. We gonna be camping, sleeping on the boat, the beach, and then a well-deserved lodge a few nights every now and then.

We gonna catch our meals and eat meat at restaurants we encounter. There are many local stores that carry beer, milk, fresh veggies, fruit etc…wherever we go. It’s an amazing lifestyle that for a few months of the year also produces waves like you will dream about forever after.

To get in touch, email me on umzimkulu@gmail.com

Alternative surfing accommodation in Tofo - in da barrel
Alternative surfing accommodation in Tofo – in da barrel

 

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Entries Still Pouring Through for Cell C Goodwave

Entries Still Pouring Through for Cell C Goodwave

Durban – the last month has seen a flurry of surfers applying for an entry into the prestigious Cell C Goodwave Surfing event that will take place in Durban next year. This competition, which is supported by Oakley and California Dreaming, is an invite-only event, but all surfers who are interested in competing in this contest for the R100k first prize need to enter the tournament. No entry – no chance of selection. Recent entries include Ricky Basnett, Warwick Wright, Jason Ribbink, Sean Holmes, Garth Weyer, Mikhael Vawda, Scott Venter, Lee Bisset, Tash Mentasti and Ethan Fletcher.

Ricky Basnett’s entry © Nic Aberdein Photography

Surfers need to apply by sending an email to info@craigjarvis.co.za with a few words as to why they think they should be competing in this event, along with a few images or a video that they might have. If they don’t have, that’s ok but they still need to apply, otherwise they’re not entered and can’t be selected.

You Have To Be In It To Win It!

Closing dates for entries is 30 November 2016.

All entries will be loaded up on the event Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/GoodwaveNewPier/ and the selection criteria and process are at the discretion of the event organisers, and no correspondence will be entered into.

The Cell C Goodwave surfing event is one of the most prestigious competitions in the country, and it is an invite-only event. The selectors will choose 32 of the best surfers in the country to compete in the event, as well as 32 alternate surfers.

Entrance fee for the selected surfers is one Rand, first place prize is R100,000, and the event will be hosted on the day by California Dreaming, overlooking New Pier on the beachfront. The contest is supported by Oakley.

The Cell C Goodwave is a South African Surfing Legends event, with Jason Ribbink the contest director.

The contest is sanctioned by Surfing South Africa.

The Cell© Goodwave – in loving memory of Lee Wolins.

For more information contact

info@craigjarvis.co.za

 

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Most fun accommodation in Tofo

The most fun accommodation in Tofo

Most fun accommodation in Tofo

Most fun accommodation in Tofo award goes to Lalaland, right on the beach, just up the beach, from Praia do Tofo. The beach.

It’s fun for many reasons, but it has to be the quaint, elegantically rustic designed spaces all over Lalaland, where the feeling finds tenure. As you drive in, you can see how Lalaland came to be – yes, that’s the land rover Chad and Heidi arrived in. Parked right in the boma! The boma leads to the beach on one side, and the main building and kitchen on the other. It’s a great place – the many years of toil have paid off  – with absolute attention to detail and a good dose of pure style woven together. Other ingredients include friendly and helpful staffers, coconuts and things growing everywhere, hammocks and conversation areas, cool doggies (security)…

The gardens are filled with features and right in the middle, is the fire pit and boma. Where you can lose yourself completely on a starry night. The accommodations are a cool blend of bricks and mortar, and local materials, like reeds and chappas (corrugated roof sheets). The en suite bathrooms are roofed only by the stars and palm trees.

The beach out front goes for miles each way. A quick walk south puts you right in the mix – the Tofo Mercado. Colourful and vibrant, the beat carries through to midnight and beyond on most nights. There are many places to go, and many things to do, in Tofo town.

And during the day, putting to sea on one of many craft available puts you in the running for swim with a whale shark, or a dolphin, manta ray…or a cruise to the islands and back, under sail on a trendy and photogenic dhow.

Lalaland have a few of their own watercraft – great for catching the waves out front – Praia do Tofo has become a highly acclaimed beginner’s surfers beach. And another headland south is Tofinho (baby Tofo?!), which produces some class waves when it feels like it. A huge plastic paddle ski that can carry one to three people is also available, and can be launched and retrieved just in front of the lodge’s beach gate.

For more information and to see more of why we call it the most fun accommodation in Tofo, click on over to lalalandafrica.com and look around!

The Sardine team can assist you with your dream holiday to Tofo. Drop us a line on umzimkulu@gmail.com and let us know your plan.

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Oakley Partners With The Cell C Goodwave Surfing Event

Oakley Partners With The Cell C Goodwave Surfing Event

Durban – As interest continues to grow for the resurrected Cell C Goodwave surfing tournament, the contest organizer are proud to welcome Oakley onboard.

The prestigious Cell C Goodwave is a unique event on the South African surfing calendar, a contest that focuses entirely on the invited surfers taking part, and Oakley are very pleased with the core values of the event and look forward to a positive partnership going forward.

 “Oakley is proud to have become a partner of a cutting-edge surf event such as the Cell C Goodwave,” said Seth Hulley, Oakley Sports Marketing Manager. “Barry Wolins was the person instrumental in getting this popular contest back on the calendar, and working alongside the caliber of people involved like Barry and Jason Ribbink means it was an automatic response to get behind the tournament. I must say a huge thank you goes to Gavin Varejes for what he does for our sport, and surfing can be proud to have the support of Gavin. I have no doubt The Cell C Goodwave will be another major success.”

The Cell C Goodwave is an invite-only event. The best 32 surfers in the country will be invited to compete, and 32 alternates will be invited as well.

The contest has a one-day run-time, with 4 man heats and a sudden death format. The event comprises fifteen heats of high performance surfing, has a 1-year waiting period, with the call being made on the advice of surf forecasting guru Spike from www.wavescape.co.za

The kind of day at New Pier when the Cell C Goodwave Surfing event will run © FLANAGAN
The kind of day at New Pier when the Cell C Goodwave Surfing event will run © FLANAGAN

Entries are currently being loaded up on the Cell C Goodwave Facebook page, info . All entries will be posted on the Goodwave Facebook page, so please ensure that you have the necessary permissions for accompanying imagery and video.

Recent entries include Grant ‘Twiggy’ Baker, Matt Bromley, Davey Weare, Tammy-Lee Smith and 8-year-old Sergio Nogueira.

The selection criteria and process is at the discretion of the event organisers, and no correspondence will be entered into.

Entrance fee for the selected surfers is one Rand, first place prize is R100,000, and the event will be hosted on the day by California Dreaming, overlooking New Pier on the beachfront.

The Cell C Goodwave is a South African Surfing Legends event, with Jason Ribbink the contest director

The event is sanctioned by Surfing South Africa.

The Cell© Goodwave – in loving memory of Lee Wolins.

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O’leary Connor takes the Ballito Pro

O’leary Connor takes the Ballito Pro

Australian goofy footer O’leary Connor beat Joan Duru from France, at Willards Beach, to win the Ballito Pro a few minutes ago.

Ozzie surfer Connor holds the trophy high
Ozzie surfer Connor holds the trophy high

The waves were really good, albeit with long waits – but the organisers chose the black moon tides very well. The South Africans Beyrick de Vries and Jordy Smith went up against eachother, with Beyrick going through, only to be ousted by the Frenchman Duru. Beyrick was awarded the best wave of the compo.

The Ballito Pro mens results
The Ballito Pro mens results
The womens champion was Skye Burgess
The womens champion was Skye Burgess
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