Caribbean - update 1

Jesiah's Bay

Beauty in Devastation

My Euro Trip came to an end and decided to come over to Tortola, one of the British Virgin Islands in the Caribbean.

Yesterday we explored the island while driving to Jesiah's Bay. The mountain face here is hectic, there is no simply driving around the mountain as that would take a full day so what they have done is cut roads up the almost vertical cliff faces. The road zigzags right then left then right and you get to the top and all you see is open air until gravity pulls the car down and you go "oh shit I hope the brakes work". The bends have our car screeching as it is a little automatic jeep that drops gears very late and suddenly a burst of power comes through the wheels. A few weeks back the island, was hit by Hurrican Hugo so the roads are either breaking up, littered with debris or fallen away. Cars with wheels missing and broken windows, some still buried in mud are not an uncommon sight. The cleanup process seems to be getting underway but with so much damage the important things are taken care of first so you have to wonder when the little things like roads with branches and mud, fallen fences and long grass will be taken care of.

Jesiahs Bay used to be very popular. Well it still is if you want to drive to where the road used to be park on the side next to the trees and bushes, walk to the now newly formed swamp then to the old bar and jump over its fence. All that and you are onto a beautiful little bay. According to the lifeguards it gets really good waves. Looking out to sea to the left of the bay is a backdrop of rocks and trees and bush, it would be an amazing backdrop for a surfing photo if only the left that breaks there were actually surf able. There were small, about 1 foot waves, that broke next to the shore that looked like they have potential for an unbelievable wave but the guy said its too fast and breaks in really shallow waters. Every now and then a really good looking wave came through having me staring at it mind surfing wishing it was 4 feet bigger. But then I wouldn’t have had my board and I would have done my nut. So mind surfing I did and thinking of what an amazing photo it would be. To the right is a point which you can walk out onto and if adventurous like the two lifeguards were, get on a knee board and paddle to the other two beach enclaves. I’m struggling to decide if the intensity of color and clarity either matches that of Hawaii or betters it. Flying in it surpassed Hawaii, it really was something from the holiday brochures but on land you don’t see that and only have entering the water to compare. I haven't been snorkeling yet but there appears to be a tiny reef just offshore from our hotel. Once I have found a diving mask to purchase I will venture out there on one of my morning swims or a lazy day activity.

All days are lazy though.

Results of Hugos efforts

If only it were 4ft bigger

First International Cover - Swell#23

Cover of Swell#23

Swell Magazine is a Belgian surf culture mag, the cover of Swell#23 features a photo of mine from the Hawaii 09/10 Winter season. It is also my first international cover.

Being the season it was of big swell after big swell I took to shooting Waimea from the channel for a change of scenery when I felt comfortable. The surfers are (left) Bart Willems and (right) James Taylor, both from South Africa were there chasing waves in the Norther Hempisphere.

2010 Mr Price Pro Ballito

2010 Mr Price Pro Ballito Website

One of my water photos has been selected as the 2010 Mr Price Pro event image.

The event will commence in nine days time 2010 Mr Price Pro Ballito and is certain to be an action packed surfing extravaganza. Again the event will take place in Ballito and as this years edition coincides with the FIFA World Cup the number of international competitors will unfortunately be lower than before as a result of "World Cup" travel prices. This means the odds of a local surfer, including World Tour competitor Jordy Smith who lacks this one title in his already impressive list of accomplishments, is greater than ever before.

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.