Tag: surfing

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Jay Steenkamp in the barrel at St. Mikes

Jay Steenkamp in the barrel at St. Mikes (August 2014)

“Repost from August 2014: As we move into the south coast winter conditions we have all been waiting for here is some motivation to get onto the press ups and sit ups routines. Jay Steenkamp proving that it does actually barrell at Saints, sometimes…looking forward to Jay’s GoPro antics again this year…”

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Now this is how you take a selfie pal! (c) Jay Steenkamp

GoPro cameras have certainly changed the way we view surfing. Jay Steenkamp has mastered the tricky take-off to holding the camera behind out behind him as he negotiates some solid pits at Saints this winter.

A sand dredging tuberide view from the inside...
A sand dredging tuberide view from the inside…(c) Jay Steenkamp

And then while sitting around in the line up, if you have a GoPro, you can film the gamefish hammering baitfish around your legs…like this profile shot of what seems to be a Greater Barracuda…yeah, the ones with TEETH! Toes up Jay!

What could it be?
What could it be? (c) Jay Steenkamp

Thanks for the photos Jay, keep ’em coming!

Jay is also our sardine spotter in the air as he works for the Natal Sharks Board…who fly a plane up and down the coast in the sardine season, reporting on the action. Unfortunately, there is still nothing to report, it looks to be another bleak run for our sorely missed sardines.

You can keep up to date with the marine life and activity by visiting our Sightings section…an interactive map with markers reflecting the positions of marine animals, like whales, sardines and dolphins.

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Too hot to surf…

Too hot to surf…

…or do anything else for that matter, between 11 and 3 or so each day lately, here in Tofo, Southern Mozambique. With the thermometer climbing to over 40 degrees more often than not, even surfing is nigh impossible. It’s not so much the sunburn – rashies, hats and cremes take care of that challenge – but rather the sheer levels of exposure your body must go through to get out there and surf. Many beach accesses see you traipsing through that dark black sand that literally melts in the sun, finding it’s way between your toes and everywhere else it can. Fishing is no easier – it seems the only safe place around here is underwater!

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Too hot to surf…find a shady spot and sit tight! Even when Tofinho just keeps pumping them out.

 

Scuba diving is safer than snorkelling as the sun can really teach you a lesson as you drift around completely exposed with a layer of water to fool you that you are not being burnt at all!

Tofo Scuba has recently adopted new owners Brodie and Danny, who have revitalised the fantastic venue – right on the beach, a kilometre or so north of Tofo town. As dive operators Tofo Scuba has been around for a very long time – their team is highly regarded as real professional, and friendly to boot.

Aside from the scuba activities, the daily ocean safari’s search the crystal clean and warm water here for whale sharks, manta rays, turtles, dolphins, porpoises, whales and maybe even the odd shark if you get really lucky.

The restaurant operated by Tofo Scuba starts early and closes early…which suits us all fine since Tofo generally only get’s going each day after 9. It is called 23 degrees and the kitchen fires up at 7am! A really tasty breakfast and a good coffee sets you up for the day.

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Amped on the South Coast

Amped on the South Coast

Amped on the South Coast: The Sardine Newspaper is the culmination of many projects over the years, and went under successively different names. At a stage we called ourselves SurfTV.co.za, a fantastically successful name, but was stopped in it’s tracks, due to copyright issues with SurfTV.com.

Guy Bishop, one of our first cameramen when we were operating mainly in the Western Cape, joined us on this experiental road trip, with the Nicholson brothers, Simon and Peter. Starting in Cape Town, we toured up the East Coast to Durban as a team. Both Nicholsons are absolute rippers, and ambitious enough to go up against the ‘Zag, with their publication named Amped. It was a good effort but petered out fast in the face of such stiff opposition and the worldwide economic downturn.

Guy shot this rad behind the scenes video and put together the great edit, on that trip.

Watching it brought back many memories – faces including Q.J., Simon and Peter, Davey Weare, Gary Maisch, Andrew Banks, Carl Roux, and of course Roosta and Badger – the main SurfTV riders back then. We were on a program visiting schools throughout the country telling them that they can chuck school and go surfing. Simon and Peter made quite an impressive duo back then – flying high as sponsored surfers – and I think we got many kids out of school and onto the beach, with that effort. It was a wierd old time, Jordy hadn’t even decided to be Jordy back then, and he wasn’t even invited on the trip?!

Great video, thanks Guy Bishop!

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Bruce Gold spotted on the KZN South Coast

Simon Fish and Brucifire celebrating the moment

Bruce Gold on the South Coast

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Simon Fish greets Brucifire in a south coast carpark…

It was celebrity hour in the carpark in front Orca’s Bar and Restaurant on the KZN South Coast this past week. Simon Fish and Bruce Gold popped in with various excuses for coming all the way up here from the Cape, and surfing our winter waves…

Not as though they haven’t had their share of waves this winter either…imagine how all those huge swells that battered our egos us up here, must have looked at the famed Supertubes or those other right handers that favour a slightly east swell.

Simon is busy delivering new surfboards, and Brucifire is up here to visit family for a while.

Watch this space!

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Casa Algodoal for perfect waves…

Casa Algodoal for perfect waves

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Matt VW captured this sick shot of Dustin “Krusty” Volker sitting tight in the green room adjoining Casa Algodoal. Great shot Matt! Copyright Matt VW. All Rights Reserved.

Dustin Volker, in the proverbial green room, not far from Casa Algodoal, in Tofo, Inhambane, Mozambique, this week already. Casa Algodoal is top drawer modern holiday living…with unobstructed views out over Praia da Tofo.
Tofo is a favourite beach destination, and is scattered with backpackers, surfers, divers and travelers out in the warm winter sun looking for adventure.

The diving is world class and many Scuba operators offer all kinds of diving and all kinds of reefs. Humpback whales, dolphins and whale sharks frequent the clear warm waters of Inhambane, and you don’t have to blow bubbles to swim with them…take an ocean safari and snorkel if you like!

The famous calm clear waters of Inhambane Bay are home to seahorses, dugongs, starfish, panzy shells…all sorts, and the bay is great for swimming and snorkeling with whole family. And you can get a boat to the islands or Linga Linga across the bay.

The “manne” can book deep sea fishing trips to target tuna, wahoo, king mackerel and billfish…black marlin, striped marlin and sailfish are all taken off Tofo regularly…which is just down the coast from the famed Bazaruto Archipelago.

Inhambane town is a wonder on it’s own, attractive old buildings, some from centuries ago, characterise the overall state of Mozambique. The place can be challenging but if you maintain your senses and take it on…it’s extremely rewarding.

Contact Sean on umzimkulu@gmail.com to make a booking.

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