Cape Town, RAW Awards and Barrels

They were a year in the making, the O'Neill RAW Courage Awards and finally the prize giving was upon us. For a week I had been checking the cost of flights, I'd already decided I was going down but being budget conscious I scoured all the "low-cost" airlines websites. Somewhat humorous to find the one airline that brags about the lowest of prices was the most costly even with a 15% discount from my medical aid. Perhaps they need the funds to pay for all those witty commercials they create only to have their removal lawfully enforced. My chosen winged chariot was 1Time Airlines whom I shall recommend to any and everyone as they were the cheapest even without a discount and I booked my rental car through them at a favorable rate.

I travel a lot, 6 months of the year really, and this was the first time I departed from the new Durban King Shaka International Airport. This time being in the North and driving against the traffic it was a pleasant quick drive there. Only a rolling tumble weed would have confirmed my suspicions the airport was deserted and the old airport was in fact still operating. Straight to the check-in queue, pleasantries exchanged, baggage checked-in which was underweight for a change and I had my boarding pass. Wimpy breakfast later and I was sitting in my seat staring out the window heading to Cape Town for only the third time in my 30 year existence on this planet.

I don't know my way around Cape Town but my GPS does and I still managed to take a wrong turn. Why do trucks choose the route with only one lane up the mountain? At least I got to scenic route at a viewable pace. I was staying with Bromdog and his family and needed to arrive before a certain hour which never happened thanks to said trucks. Internet on my iPhone kept me entertained while I willed away the hours.

Pierre De Plessis is not a person I met, he may have and was most likely in the lineup on the occasions I was photographing Dungeons but the inescapable feeling of camaraderie while standing on the beach before his memorial paddle out made me feel part of the fraternity. Friends, family, strangers, kids, ballies and dogs all gathered in a circle on the beach said a few words, remembered their friend and proceeded to paddle out to the ocean where a large circle was formed for more words to be said prayers offered and champagne drank. I was moved, not only physically by the oceans rip current but spiritually by the human emotion.

The O'Neill RAW Courage Awards water ceremony might just have been a first of its kind. I've never heard of an awards taking place in the ocean before and I was happy to be attending not only because I had two photos depicting the feats of two surfers in contention for prizes but because it was a beautiful day for such things. Some said I was big headed some said well done, I told them power of positivity. I was adamant my photos were going to be the winners and thus I came to Cape Town. And my photos did win. Matt Bromley - Grom Charge Award. Frank Solomon - Phsyco Freak Award. Well done guys, told you we would win. Great fun was had on land after the intimate awards ceremony in Kommetjie. Tequila, beer and pizza all make for a good night.

A big girls blouse is what I am when it comes to cold water. I like the cold, I love snow but I have a deep seated hatred for cold water. It is not pleasurable to surf in a 4:3 wetsuit with booties and gloves. This was my third visit to Cape Town yet my first surf ever in the icy waters of the Cape.



Who goes flower shopping when visiting a friend for coffee? It was Friday and I was leaving later in the arvo yet I had to return my car before 12:30 to avoid paying for another days rental. My "Heeere Fishy Fishy Fishy" friend Hanli Prinsloo (free dive champion, trainer and fellow shark lover) invited me over to Kalk Bay mid-morning. We had breakfast at a little corner cafe a few steps from Kalk Hobbitville. Best damn omelette I've ever had. She then proceeded to give me a tour of Kalk Bay, it's only one road in and one road out so it wasn't too difficult and then we went plant shopping. More like I stood there thinking a plants a plant while Hanli promised to talk to the plants so they didn't die like the ones being replaced. I rubbed a plant whose leaves smell like lemon citrus and renamed some plant to Shrek Ear.

Flew home with a dose of the flu and waited an hour as my dad insists I told him a different arrival time to the actual time I touched ground. Avoided the Friday night activities as Saturday morning promised fantastical waves. And that it did. Semi-secret spots are great. Finally waves with a bit of juice behind them, one chom out, sheet glass barrels and blue warm water thank you very much. Three and a half horus later we were looking to the skies asking for the east wind to blow so we could head to the Green Dolphin for a maxi breakfast and not feel guilty about leaving the waves behind. The wind blew and we left.