Thandi Africa

The Bukit

2009-02-07T19:47:00.001-08:00

"Discovered" in the early '70s by traveling Aussies, Bali's Bukit peninsula is blessed with tradewinds, an open swell window, beautiful cliffs and small pocket beaches, warm water, and barreling lefts. We spent some quality time on the bluffs, on the sand, and in the ocean.

Canggu

2009-02-07T19:28:00.000-08:00

Canggu, Bali is a rural region that has recently captured the eyes and hearts of the world's best surfers as a sanctuary and retreat from Bali's hustle and bustle. Moni and I enjoyed our bike rides through the rice paddies and villages to the ocean each day, sharing the road with motorcycles, barking dogs, and children around every corner yelling, "Hello Mister!"

Bali 2008

2009-02-07T19:05:00.000-08:00

Moni and I visited the Island of the Gods, Bali, in August 2008 to celebrate our honeymoon. We started in the rural backwoods of Canggu, biking to the beach each day and visiting local temples on the high tide line.

Girl Power!

2009-01-22T19:57:00.000-08:00

We had some epic surf over the past week, and Moni and good friend Rebecca were the only women in sight consistently charging double-overhead plus waves with the fellas. Here is a sequence of a wave the two shared. Rebecca paddled back out laughing, explaining that she was happy Moni went as she (Rebecca) was too deep. Good work, ladies --- charging steep and deep, sharing waves, and smiling afterwards. We could all learn from you! Photos courtesy of Pat Campion.

Kilauea Hale

2008-07-25T19:08:00.001-07:00

"Hale" means home in Hawaiian. After a few days on the island, we checked in to a hale on the cliffs above Secret Beach on Kaua'i's north shore, truly one of the most beautiful pieces of earth we have ever seen. Friends arrived, and the festivities began. At the peak of our celebration, we had something like 19 people living under one roof -- one big, happy family, an 'ohaha nui.

The view from the deck/lanai

Os and the Kid, enjoying the pool

Tailor made for romance -- the view from the master bedroom

The legendary Christer "Da Kid" Cole and his lovely Kai

A big man and his castle, Ryan Seelbach, surveying the domain

The soon-to-be married, legendary "Oregon John" a.k.a Johnny Bowling, with his garage sale find -- a choice 7'4" Terry Chung thruster, which he put to good use throughout the week.

Moni, living the dream.....

Kit, aquaman

Kaua'i the Beautiful

2008-07-25T18:54:00.000-07:00

We arrived on the island of Kaua'i on the first week of June, and got straight to business -- out of the 5/3 fullsuits and straight into the ocean!

Hawaiian Wedding -- Kilauea Male 'Ana

2008-07-02T15:41:00.000-07:00

So after four and a half years of dating, Moni and I tied the knot in Kilauea, Kauai, on Sunday, June 8th, 2008. We were joined by family and friends on the blufftop above Secret Beach and were blessed with all things great --- friends, music, food, laughter, memories. We hope you enjoy the photos --- courtesy of our pal and amazing photo-genius, Colin Vincent.

The old Stevie Wonder tune comes to mind about now .... "Isn't She Lovely?"

Grown Man Business

2008-05-13T22:13:00.000-07:00

So, it takes a real man to craft a board from scratch with his bare hands, and then paddle it out in triple overhead surf and put it to the test.

Case in point: Senor Daniel P. Hess, pictured below with legendary SF Bay Area foam and wood-carving hero Marc Andreini, admiring the bottom contour and rail-line of one of Danny's bonzers.

And Senor Hess putting a 9'6" pintail quad through its paces in maxing San Francisco -- steep and deep, behind the peak. This, ladies and gentlemen, is some real grown man business....

Click on images for larger views.

California Gold

2008-05-13T21:59:00.000-07:00

So the colonists labeled California "The Golden State" after they stole the land from the Native Americans, and despite their ethnocentrism, they chose a name that makes complete sense.

Here are some photos from our fall and winter of 2007-2008, all taken from Santa Barbara to San Francisco, 350 miles of California coastal gold. Enjoy.

Cape Town -- Final Days

2007-12-19T15:20:00.000-08:00

We arrived in CT without a hitch --- the storm passed and the offshores returned, allowing us to get in the water one last time before boarding our flight from Cape Town to San Francisco via London, a 30 hour travel marathon.

The Journey Home --- Road Trippin'

2007-12-19T15:12:00.000-08:00

Our journey home began with a quaint 8 hour drive from J Bay to Capetown. We encountered a radical rainstorm at sundown on the eve of our departure, so we took refuge in the small coastal hamlet of Wilderness. We saw raging seas just before dark, and anxiety set in immediately --- did we leave J Bay a day too soon?!

Bye for Now, J Bay

2007-12-19T13:25:00.000-08:00

Well, like the old saying goes, "All good things must come to an end." After nearly 2 months at Jeffrey's, Moni and I bade our farewells: to our friends, to the sunrises and sunsets, to the surf-checks from the Supers deck, to Woolie, to the aloes, and to the endless walls of joy. So long J Bay, we'll be back (boo hoo, sniff, sniff).

AVG from the water

2007-12-18T14:36:00.000-08:00

Of course, the days we dream of, read about, hear about, and lose sleep over, are the sunny, beautiful, perfect point break days, days such as this one captured by Cape Town photo maestro, Allan Van Gysen.

Flat Day Fun -- Part II

2007-12-18T14:35:00.000-08:00

Other flat days were spent in the tidepools, looking for octopus and other sea creatures. The waves at Supertubes break over a submerged lava shelf. On flat days at low tide, much of this lava shelf is visible. This shelf is not only responsible for Supers’ endlessly steep walls; it also makes for amazing natural aquariums that host all kinds of sea life including the unsuspecting sleeper set that occasionally rolls through unannounced.

Flat Day Fun -- Part I

2007-12-18T14:19:00.001-08:00

What many people fail to realize is that Jeffrey's Bay is tucked deep inside of a bay. It sounds obvious, but the surf media has a tendency of making surf spots larger than life. Many people imagine that J Bay is graced with double overhead walls and offshore winds nearly every day. The reality is that Supers does not break every day, even during the winter. The other reality is that J Bay is surrounded by the African wilderness. On one flat day, Moni and I decided to take a ride through the dunefields located in the innermost depths of the body of water called Jeffrey's Bay.

When water and sand collide

2007-10-10T19:46:00.000-07:00

When the big swells hit J Bay, waves washed up onto the sand dunes at high tide, and the retreating water took buckets of sand back with it into the lineup. The result --- numerous super shallow, sandy sections scattered from the top of the Supertubes lineup all the way down to the base of the point.

Here is an image of what you get when you mix a shallow sandbar with a good swell, coupled with a talented and fearless water photographer, and finally sprinkled on top with one of the best tube riders on earth: a tiny miracle, captured for our enjoyment, courteousy of the Indian Ocean, Allan Van Gysen, and Mr. Kelly Slater. Photo courtesy of AvG via ZigZag via Deon.

And here is the beast that made this moment possible.

When the surf finally dropped....

2007-10-05T20:45:00.000-07:00

Well, after the series of storms made their way past the tip of Africa, the waves calmed down, affording us the opportunity to visit some of our favorite places close by before packing up and heading on to Cape Town. Stuey and Helen decided to load up the cooler, the kids, Moni, and me, and launch the boat to watch the sunset from the dunes behind J Bay.

Being a good South African, Stuey is handy with an open fire, a fishing rod, a bottle opener, an outboard and attached skiff, and various other "man-tasks." Hels and Moni, on the other hand, just sit back and look pretty and let the boys be boys.

We landed at the base of a giant sand dune, where Moni and Lolo raced to the top to watch the sunset.

Surfing with Friends

2007-10-05T20:13:00.000-07:00

One of life's joys is sharing good waves with friends. Here are images of some of our pals whom we surfed with, who inspired us, and with whom we love to share the ocean.

Our legendary host and good friend Stuey, one of J Bay's hardest chargers and a stylish goofyfooter (below).

The Wolfman, a J Bay local since the early '80's and one of the spots primary enforcers. Respect this man; he has shed blood and sweat to protect this wave.

Some guy with gloves named Kelly, enjoying a moment of effortless glide.

Deon, local artist, friendly neighbor, closet gardener/chef/yogi/karate expert.

Unknown sap lucks into one of the best waves I've ever seen -- look at the lip line!

True pointbreak gliders.

Hand Jive

2007-08-29T08:19:00.000-07:00

Deon is a good friend of ours who lives just across the street from Supertubes. He's a good man and it shows -- lovely wife, happy-go-lucky dog who can also guard the house when he needs to, nice home with garden, steady work as a land surveyor, nice car, great friends, and a budding quiver. He also is one of J Bay's best tube riders. He sent me these shots in two installments -- the water photos are from Cape Town's AvG, who swam at Impossibles for hours on the biggest days; Pete Frieden took the beach shots a month later.

We are always our own harshest critics when it comes to judging photos of ourselves surfing. Here is what Deon has to say about the Frieden photos:

"Here are some shots that Frieden got of me on the Green Mamba out for a Sunday drive. Not the greatest shots, but anyway... More bottom than turn - a little embarrASSed to send them - hope Moni doesn't think any less of me.

The board looks really small? What is of more concern is my decidedly Elko hand jive that I have not only in these shots but also in the cuttie shot that AVG got of me. Anyway - could be worse - could be doing the "Sideshow Bob" thing....

Classic Deon.

ENJOY!

Kit's RICH Fish

2007-08-12T12:00:00.001-07:00

Of the various boards we brought, my all-time favorite -- and the board that seemed to work the best -- was my 5'9" Pavel Speed Dialer. High lines, bottom turns, speed runs, tubes, and the odd cutback or carve, this board did it all. Thanks, Rich, for more magical moments birthed from your planer.

Dream Girl

2007-08-12T11:20:00.000-07:00

What kind of woman shows up at a world class surf spot with 2 bonzers, paddles out, and proceeds to surf with grace on her backhand? Well, Moni of course! She turned heads and earned respect out at Supers with her positive attitude, her bright smile, her warm-hearted laugh, and her willingness to push herself over the ledge. Countless locals and travelers alike were impressed by her overall act in the water, coming up to me and others saying, "Geez, she surfs good, aye?!" 99 percent of the time, she was the only female in the water; she became friends with all of the local heavies, earning her respect by charging hard and being beautiful, all at the same time. We love you Moni. (Photos courtesy of Sashimi Steve).

The COOKING continues....

2007-08-05T03:13:00.000-07:00

As low pressure #1 moved away, a new storm slid into its place. The result: larger waves than the previous swell, stronger winds, longer, more intense rides, longer hold-downs, and even bigger smiles at the end of the day.

Absolutely COOKING!!

2007-08-05T03:05:00.000-07:00

The day after the contest, the surf was head high to 8' faces and perfect. The surf continued to pump as three mega-low pressure systems positioned themselves perfectly off of the South African coast. The result -- mind blowing rides, long paddles back up the point, long tubes, offshore winds, and in the end, noodle-arms and worn out adrenal glands.

Post Contest Bliss

2007-08-05T02:58:00.000-07:00

After the contest, J Bay slipped back into its usual rhythm -- beautiful sunrises and sunsets and cozy dinners around the fireplace. Local surfers were able to re-stake their claim in the lineup, and the rest of us were rewarded with instant karma for our patience -- 12 days of non-stop waves.

Bong Pro 2007

2007-08-05T02:28:00.000-07:00

Every year, the WCT lands at Jeffrey's Bay, bringing with it 45 of the world's best competitive surfers, a veritable boat-load of photographers and other media slaves, judges, coaches, fans, paparazi, wanna-be surf-pro rats, soccer dads, and other assorted kak (shit). Any sane surf traveler would avoid this circus, but Moni and I decided that we'd sit back and enjoy the show.

Highlights were Kelly Slater playing music at Pepper Street restaurant, Kelly free surfing, and watching a few others take Supers apart.

Side note: your average pro surfer lacks wave etiquette and behaves like a spoiled brat both in and out of the water. Of course, the best-of-the-best are well mannered; our favorites to surf with were Kelly Slater and Taylor Knox, both gentelmen in and out of the water. As for the others? Never mind.

Still, when the contest was over, we celebrated with locals and pros alike. Deon tracked down his childhood hero, Shaun "the Prawn" Tompson and had "Snips" take a photo. We laughed and sang and high-fived and carried on, and in the back of everyone's minds was the age-old local mantra -- thank you for coming, now go home! Ha ha!

Sunny Transkei Days

2007-08-05T02:18:00.000-07:00

Kit and Moni continued to enjoy the "vacation within a vacation" in the Kei, going on long hikes through the countryside, taking in the local colors, and gazing out at the ocean, alive during the annual sardine run.

Final Transkei Days

2007-08-03T02:41:00.000-07:00

More images from the breathtakingly beautiful Transkei. We left feeling recharged, relaxed, reborn! And we headed back to J Bay, ready to take on the circus that is called the World Championship Tour of surfing.

07/07/07 --- The Engagement

2007-07-23T03:34:00.000-07:00

The seventh day of the seventh month of the two-thousand and seventh year is meant to bring good luck. A while ago, Moni proposed that she and Kit spend this day together, thinking good thoughts and enjoying each other's company in a special place; she believes -- along with many mystics, yogis and yoginis, zen buddhas, seers and prophets -- good fortune will be gifted to those who honor this day.

Knowing this for several months prior to the trip and to the date in question, Kit spoke with his best friend, tireless romantic and "brother-from-another-mother," James "Oso" Carranza; the two hatched a plan one spring evening at sunset on the dunes of Noriega Avenue at Ocean Beach, accompanied by a six pack of Stella, the elixir of romantics. And on the 7th of the 7th of the 7th, Kit carried out the plan to perfection.

The day dawned sunny and beautiful, with no swell to speak of, the ocean's surface fanned by a light offshore wind. After breakfast, Kit proposed that he and Moni go on a walk to a beautiful cove about an hour away to spend the day together. Moni was thrilled by the prospect of it -- a day with Kit on a white sandy beach with no one around but the dolphins and other assorted sea life (note: the "cove" is actually called "Shark Point," a right hand pointbreak of some notoriety deep in the Transkei wilderness). Moni packed a picnic lunch while Kit haggled with local artisan children who were selling shell necklaces and wind chimes at their doorstep.

At 10:00 a.m., Kit and Moni began their walk, marveling at the beauty of the ocean, its sparkling surface, and the feeding birds, the breeching whales, the wave-riding dolphins. Kit took Moni along a meandering path which ran atop the bluffs over the ocean and then descended to the sandy beaches below. They passed several African children playing soccer barefoot on the beach while others swam naked in the shorebeak. Their path continued, past old rondaval huts and fishermen's shacks, over a river and past a stunning cove.

The path then wound around the top of a small headland, and Kit and Moni were treated to their first glimpse of Shark's Point. The two gasped at the beautiful sight before them -- a small, sunny cove of golden sand with a grassy headland in the southern corner and a rock shelf with a swimming hole in the middle of the small bay. Kit spotted a perfect, grassy nook where the two could enjoy a picnic, and the love birds made their way past cows sunning themselves on the sand, past tiny children with makeshift fishing rods, to a sunny, grassy spot nestled in the lee of the point with a stunning view of the headlands and bays that lay to the north.

After a quick lunch of boerewors rolls (sausage) and dried mango, Kit told Moni that he had a small surprise for her. The young lover showered Moni with several "sweet something" phrases and then reached into his bag and produced a necklace of "lucky beads," a strand of red-orange seeds and sea shells that he bought from one of the young salesmen earlier in the day. Moni was thrilled with her new necklace; she put it on and smiled in the sun.

But, in accordance with the Kit-Oso plan, Kit told his Sweet that he has another surprise for her; she was startled, replying, "but this [necklace] is so special! Why are you spoiling me so?!" Kit then got down on his knees and spoke words that only he and Moni could hear, would ever hear. A tiny tear ran down Moni's cheek as Kit spoke; his own eyes filled with water and a thousand butterflies flew in his chest. Kit then reached back into his rucksack, produced a small box of white leather, opened the box to reveal a diamond sparkling in the African sun, glistening on a gleaming ring while he asked for her hand in marriage.

Moni was shocked, speechless, her mouth open and tears streaming down her cheeks. After several moments of silence, Kit became concerned. "So, what do you say, Moni?" Moni snapped out of her trance-like state and gushed, "Yes, yes! Yes, Kit, I'll marry you!!"

Our two lovers lay in the sun in an embrace, Kit relieved that this day was going so well, Moni still in a euphoric state of dis-belief. As the couple lay back in the sun, admiring the view, a pod of dolphins swam past as if to give their blessing.

Kit and Moni then decided to go for a swim, first at the base of the sandy point and then in the small rock pool Moni had spotted from the trail on high. The two lovers laughed and smiled, swam and took underwater photos of themselves with Kit's waterproof digital camera (a purchase he made, incidentally, at the behest of Oso, one year prior). After frolicking in the ocean, Kit and Moni sunned themselves on the rocks and dried off, and then began their walk home together.

That evening, Kit built Moni a fire, and she produced a bottle of wine. The two sat, fire-side, watching the stars and the dancing flames, and marveling at their good fortune to have found each other in this big world, like two individual stars from an African sky coming together to create a brigther light.

Later that night, Kit and Moni fell asleep as an engaged couple for the first time ever.

Mpande-- Part I

2007-07-23T03:24:00.000-07:00

After a day of relaxation at Cintsa, Moni and I loaded up the hire car and sped off into the Transkei. We crossed the legendary Kei river and stepped into a time-warp -- many of the people here live a traditional African life, free from technology, advertising, or consumerism. To walk in the Transkei is to glimpse an uncluttered life, one based on subsistence rather than excess. We ended up in the coastal region of Mpande, which is on the northern half of the Transkei coast. Moni was thrilled to be back in her childhood dreamland, and Kit was stoked too!

Cintsa

2007-07-23T03:19:00.000-07:00

Oso, the Kid, and I discovered Cintsa back in 2000 -- it is located 4 hours from J Bay, on the doorstep of the Kei. Moni and I stopped in for a day to prepare for our excursion into Transkei and also to visit some old friends and enjoy the sunshine and cold beer at Buccaneer's, a club med of sorts for backpackers and budget travelers, revelers, musicians, hippies, and the odd American or South African surfer.

On the Road Again --- Transkei, Part I

2007-07-19T03:24:00.000-07:00

So after a few flat days in J Bay, we got happy feet again. Our next destination: the Transkei, the ancient African homeland --- home of empty white sand beaches, empty lineups, feeding frenzies, sharks, sangomas (witch doctors), ancient secrets, old spirits, and bright song. Our first stop was in Cintsa, a small beach town outside of Oos London (East London).

Back to Jeffrey's

2007-07-15T03:17:00.000-07:00

After enjoying the Grahamstown Festival, we returned to J Bay for more cold fronts, long walls, and downtime spent in Deon's garden or in the sunshine on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. We love Africa.

Grahamstown -- Part 2

2007-07-15T03:13:00.001-07:00

We continued to take in the local scenery, both on the streets, in the hillsides, in galleries, and in the artisans' tents. At the end of the weekend, Moni was a happy though tired camper who had loaded up on all kinds of African beadwork for our home in San Francisco. Thanks, Moni....

Grahamstown Festival

2007-07-15T03:03:00.000-07:00

Every year, the university town of Grahamstown hosts a 10 day arts and music festival. Artists, musicians, college students, tourists, locals, Africans, Afrikaaners, rastas, and gypsys descend on the town to enjoy colorful art, music, and food. Deon and Tanja, our generous tour guides, loaded Moni and I into the back of their car and whisked us away for a few days. Highlights for us were Moni's performance as "Bloody Mary Vodka-tini," the Russian ballerina in the improv-comedy play, "Raiders"; groovy South African jazz fusion tunes; and shopping in the Village Green, a giant arts and crafts market in tents and the open air.

Sunny South African Days

2007-07-15T02:09:00.000-07:00

Once the surf dropped at Supers, we spent our time visiting old friends and also exploring the various coastal nooks and crannies nearby in search of surf. We found fun beachbreak waves and spent time with Stuey (checking the surf above) and Deon and Tanja, our neighbors and very close "tjommies" (pronounced "chommies," which means "friends" or "buddies" in Afrikaans). In the photo above, Deon is doing his best 'Merican impersonation, promising rides all the way from Supertubes to "Al-be-trawss!" Shot guys.

J Bay Life

2007-07-15T02:05:00.000-07:00

We soon fell into the easy rythm of checking the surf at dawn from the Supertubes deck, coffees in hand and beanies on head. We also settled into our home for 2 months at Stuey and Helen's spot, directly across the street from the world's greatest right hander. With Moni cooking dinners and Supers providing ample swell, Kit was in heaven.

On to J-Bay!!

2007-07-15T01:59:00.000-07:00

And now the moment we have all been waiting for.... After 10 days in and around Cape Town and the wine country, we were ready for the drive to Jeffrey's Bay. Kit phoned good friend Stewart Shelver for a surf report, and he said the waves were small but a new swell was due to arrive TOMORROW!! Kit drove like a grandma on the windy and crooked coastal road, and we traveled after dark, landing in J Bay at 9:00 p.m. The lineup shot below was our first glimpse of Supertubes' glory the following morning. Enjoy.

Franshoek and Surrounding Countryside

2007-07-15T01:54:00.000-07:00

We spent 2 days sampling the wines of the region, and also fine dining at several high end restaurants. Moni was in her element, critiquing the various menus and dishes; Kit got dressed up so that he wouldn't be denied entry to these finer establishments and was happy to be along for the ride.

Wine Country!!

2007-07-15T01:45:00.000-07:00

After saying our goodbyes in Cape Town, we loaded Meep Meep to the brim and hit the road; our destination: Franshoek, center of South Africa's wine region. We lucked into perfect weather and fine wine!!

WIND!!!

2007-06-25T05:25:00.000-07:00

We arose on a windy and cloudy Cape Town day, and saw that the swell had come up significantly. Unfortunately, so did the NW wind. We explored nooks and crannys along the coast; a highlight was finding a beachbreak churning out solid lefthanders with no takers. We also visited the "Muizenberg Pipeline," South Africa's answer to Linda Mar in Pacifica, a haven for beginners, kooks, and 2 foot-and-under wave slayers. Muizenberg is also one of the country's sharkiest beaches, and warning signs, flags, and sirens are everywhere (along with the kooks)!

Camp's Bay

2007-06-25T05:18:00.000-07:00

After seeing the sights at Cape Point, we visited Camp's Bay, a high end beach community about 20 minutes from Cape Town's city center. Moni and I made friends with two brothers from Central Africa who traveled for 3 days straight by bus to get to South Africa to make a living selling their art. The older brother is a painter, and the younger brother, Sam, carves figures from wood. That night, Moni reunited with her two other mothers, Amanda and Elizabeth, over a glass of wine.

Cape Point

2007-06-25T05:08:00.000-07:00

With the sun still shining in Cape Town, Moni and I decided to explore the legendary Cape Point Reserve, which is the finger of land that extends towards Antarctica and which divides South Africa's two oceans -- the Atlantic to the West and the Indian to the East. Although Cape Point is marketed as the southernmost tip of Africa, we later learned that the real title goes to Seal Point, at the tip of Cape St. Francis. Nevertheless, Moni and I enjoyed the spendor of Cape Point Reserve on a sunny and clear winter's day.

Search for Surf

2007-06-21T03:41:00.000-07:00

With light offshore winds and sunny skies, we loaded up Meep Meep and headed south, seeking some rideable waves. After checking a flat Long Beach (see the dog in the picture above for some perspective), we found fun peaks at a spot called Llandudno. Aside from having breathtaking views of the Twelve Apostles mountain range, Llandudno has a fun, wedging right hander in the north corner, similar to Ano Nuevo. Llandudno also comes with sharks. Fun!

The Sun is Shining

2007-06-21T03:25:00.000-07:00

After seeking shelter from the wind and rain, we finally saw the sun in Cape Town. Moni and I slowly overcame our jetlag and enjoyed a few cocktails on Cape Town's Waterfront, a much more beautiful landscape and less circus-like atmosphere than SF's Fisherman's Wharf.

We also hired a little red Kia coupe, which we named "Meep Meep," and began to re-explore Cape Town's breathtaking coastline.

First Days in SA

2007-06-15T03:35:00.001-07:00

We made it to Cape Town after 30 hours of travel and were greeted by cold wind and rain. On the day after our arrival, we went for a hike with our host and Moni’s godmother, Elizabeth Archer, and her horse, Wind Surfer, in the foothills below Table Mountain.

The Master

2007-06-15T03:13:00.000-07:00

Marc Andreini shaped a beautiful displacement hull single fin semi-gun especially for the trip, a true “one board quiver” that would work from 2’ – 12’ and which would excel in the J Bay power zone. The glasser at Haut created a color that mirrored a Bougainvillea flower that Marc brought into the shop in a zip-lock bag. The end result is a beautiful pintail single fin that Marc hand-delivered to Mollusk; resident artist and friend Serena Miller then designed one of her wonderful kelp/water creations in base coat on the deck, which Moni is tracing over in the image above.

Getting Ready

2007-06-15T02:47:00.000-07:00

Preparing for 2 months in South Africa’s winter takes a lot of careful scheming over cups of java and late-night meditation before drifting off to sleep. One of the most difficult decisions is selecting the right boards from a garage full of wonderful crafts. When choosing boards, we considered Jeffrey’s notorious length of paddle, the added weight of 4/3s and hoodies and boots, and which boards would provide unparalleled speed along J Bay’s racetrack; other boards would have to be versatile enough to handle the fickle yet powerful nature of Cape Town’s reefs as well as the varieties of beach breaks and points east of Jeffrey’s. After countless sleepless nights and conferences with international wave ace James Carranza and FISH connoisseur Jesse Faen, we packed 7 boards into two coffins:

5’6” Rich “Toby” Pavel twin keel, Micro Wing FISH
5’9” Toby Speed-dialer with marine ply fins
6’2” Larry Mabile Quad
6’5” Malcolm Campbell Bonzer 5 round pin
6’8” Gary Hanel 5 fin bonzer
7’2” Malcolm Campbell Bonzer 5
7’11” Marc Andreini Semi-gun Hull