Hi all. I trust that everyone is keeping well.

Here in SA it's been nothing but sunshine and surf for the past few days! The guys (and I) have been spending a great deal of time in the water which has been paying off. Etiene has been putting everyone through their paces during the lessons and I've already noticed a marked improvement in the level of surfing that's been happening since we arrived in J-Bay but 5 days ago. Aisha has improved her paddling and is putting herself into some solid waves, Carolines' pop-up has become way more consistent and she's getting to her feet a lot more comfortably, Mike and Lucy have been working on their trimming technique, while Ed's back-hand attack at Kitchen Window's has grown in leaps and bounds.

We seem to be spending a lot less time on the land these days, but when we have made our way back to the shore (reluctantly) we've been keeping quite busy as well. On Friday evening we met with Maurene who runs a street kids development program in Jeffrey's Bay. Her project helps to get street kids involved in programs such as, soccer games, surf training, rugby and basketball in order to get the kids exposed to other avenues of life-orientation other than the streets. She also runs a program which feeds these little guys as many of them have no form of parental provision or supervision. We helped out with the food hand out and we'll be visiting Maurene and her team again this Friday evening to help cook and hand out dinner for the kids.

On Saturday we had an excursion of a totally different nature. I took the guys out to one of the game farms I used to work on. There are a variety of different wildlife species in the reserve including Blesbok, Wildebeest, Zebra and Giraffe, but by far the most impressive attraction are the Lions! Standing in the presence of a 250kg male lion is quite an awesome feeling. The thick lines of highly charged electrical fencing separating you from this mighty creature offers little comfort and its hard to feel comfortable when he starts to stare you in the eyes. The girls opted to get in the enclosure with the younger cubs. At 5 months old, a lion cub is the size of a big dog and can be just as playful. The cubs that the girls went to visit we're fortunately feeling quite lazy so they had an great opportunity to get close and pet them without any hassles. From the park I took the guys to see some of the spots I used to surf while I stayed on the farm. The conditions were even quite good so it was nice to see some of my old waves working.

Tomorrow the guys are going to meet with Alison from the Supertubes Foundation. She looks after a lot of the coastal vegetation which is often threatened with the increase of development in the area. But more about that in the next blog.

Till next time...

Take care
Bevan

Hi all.

Our time in Jeffrey's Bay is almost at a close but there has been no slowing down for our little crew.

On Wednesday morning we started the day with an early lesson with Etiene. The ocean definitely delivered for us and we had some awesome waves running over the reef at Kitchen Windows. The guys are really starting to look confident now and its almost time for everyone to be learning a few of the more intermediate skills. The on-shore wind held up just long enough for us to get in a good few waves and a good few rides before it was time to paddle in.

In the afternoon it was time to get our hands dirty. We met up with Alison from the Supertubes Foundation, an organization setup by one of the local surfers to help maintain and rescue the coastal vegetation in Jeffrey's Bay mainly caused by over-development. The foundation looks after many of the dunes which overlook the world famous surf spot Supertubes and has attracted support from many of the locals as well as businesses such as Billabong, who are the main contributors to the organization. Alison took us all on a tour of the base and showed us the various areas which are under the care of the foundation, then it was off to work.Today our job was to help Alison, Arno and Siya (who also work for the foundation) to uproot invasive grass species from the indigenous plant beds. It was tough work out in the sun, but the guys got stuck in and before long, our many hands had made light work of the task which was much appreciated by the guys from the foundation.

Back at the hostel and it was time for the guys to get stuck in again, this time putting our surfing skills to good use. Tom from the hostel, got the guys involved in the Joshua Project which is an organization aimed at coaching street kids how to surf. Poverty is quite a problem in South Africa and Jeffrey's Bay is no stranger to this plight, so it was great to for the guys to be involved in imparting a skill to these young guys who's lives would, ordinarily be caught up in the harsh realities of life on the streets.

Yesterday Etiene arrived at the hostel with the good news that the swell was angled just right for St Francis Bay. For those of you unfamiliar with Bruce Brown's surf movie, The Endless Summer, St Francis Bay was rated by him as the perfect wave and aptly named Bruces Beauties. So with that we got our bags packed and headed out, retracing the steps of Bruce's crew all those years ago. When we arrived the wind had not quite picked up just yet and so the sea was a bit of a mess from the previous day's on-shores, but it looked good enough for a paddle. The guys all managed to get out and into the line-up. As the wind began to pick up, so too did the waves and it soon became just a little too big for the guys to be out there, so the call was made to head back to the beach. Even though we didn't get to ride many of the waves, just seeing Bruce's Beauties breaking is worth the drive out.

Once back in J-Bay it was time to give all our tired bodies a rest and an afternoon nap. It's been good going so far and we're all smiles here in SA and the forecast tells us good things about the days ahead so I'll keep you all posted on how we're getting on.

Take Care
Bevan

Hi all

Our time in J-Bay has come to an end and now we find ourselves in the middle of the Transkei in the Eastern Cape. Firstly though, to sum up J-Bay:

On Friday we got in a good surf in the afternoon before the wind came up. The nearby city of Port Elizabeth isn't called the windy city nothing, so when the wind kicks up it can be quite a gust and very difficult to surf in. In the evening we met up with Maureen and Fortune again to help with the cooking for their street kids feeding program before heading back to our hostel for a meal of our own.

The wind beat us to it on Saturday morning and by the time we had paddled out for a surf it was coming in at full blast. We decided rather to spend the morning taking it easy and preparing for the Super 14 Rugby Finals in the afternoon. The Blue Bulls, the team from Pretoria were taking on the Chiefs from Australia so it was going to be a good one. We met up with a couple of the guys from the hostel and went out to the town to watch the games. 1st up it was the British Lions vs. the Royal 11, which got us all warmed up for the main event. The Bulls dominated the entire game, and by half time were in a commanding lead. In the second half the Bulls came out even stronger to complete a formidable whitewash victory. Most of Jeffrey's Bay are Blue Bulls supporters so the town was a frenzy of delighted fans waving flags and honking their horns in the streets.

After the game it was time to head back to the hostel to pack and get ready for the long drive to Coffee Bay. In the morning we piled into the van, waved our good-byes, and headed on our way. The road was long and tiring, but the spectacular scenery made it an awesome trip. You really get a sense of leaving all civilization the further along the road you go. Life in the Transkei is very provincial and the sands of time seem to have had little effect on this part of the country. As you meander through the small towns and villages on the way you get the feeling that time is slowing down. Many of the residents still live life as their ancestors did years ago. Young boys tend their father's cattle while the girls grind grain for the evening meal and in the night the sound drums and singing can be heard drifting over the rolling hills. This is Africa as it used to be.

Coffee Bay itself is a coastal paradise set among this background of rural living and a haven for travellers from all over the world. We pulled into the hostel in the late afternoon and got settled in. Our host Dave Malherbe came out to meet us and take us on a quick tour of the surf spots in the area. Dave is an ex-world champ from the days of Pro-Am surfing and has been living in Coffee Bay for over 10 years so his insight and experience on this coast is unrivalled. The evening was an absolute classic with the sky a wash of colours and the hills glowing in the evening light. For us though, it was off to bed to sleep off the drive and get rested for the days of surf and adventure ahead.

Yesterday we all headed out for our first surf in the Transkei. The water was warm and the waves were peeling down the point. Lucy clocked in the longest ride of the trip so far, catching her wave at the top of the point and riding it in all the way to the beach. We all spent a few hours getting to know the wave before Dave came down and gave us all a lesson on turning. At this point of the trip the guys are all getting consistently good waves and riding them well, so now its time to get into a few more advanced skills. Dave worked with the guys on the beach showing them all the basic body movements involved in turning, then was time for the guys to put it into practice in the water. The rest of the day was spent soaking up the surf and the sun and just enjoying our new surroundings.

The forecast looks good for us here in Coffee Bay with only one day of on-shore winds predicted so I'm sure we're going to be spending a lot of time in the water, plus I've got a few surprises up my sleeve...

Till next time

Take Care
Bevan

Hi all!

My apologies for the delayed entry. Unfortunately technology is a bit of a luxury in the Transkei so I decided to save it for now.

At the moment we are just settling into our new hostel at our last stop in Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal which is a little town on the east coast of South Africa. But before I go into all that, I'll quickly wrap up things from Coffee Bay.

On Wednesday the on-shore blew so we decided to spend the day exploring. Joseph, our guide from the hostel, took the guys on a hike to the famous Hole-in-the-Wall which is a bit of an icon in the area. The walk winds along the coast, over hills, through bushes and round headlands on small footpaths and goat-trails and offer some really spectacular views of the Wild Coast. It was a tough trek, but well worth it when the guys finally arrived at the hole. Waiting for us at the river was Kluas.also from the hostel, with freshly made, fire-grilled toasties. The guys got stuck in appeasing apatites and resting tired bodies before Joseph took everyone to jump into the hole and cool off in the river. It was another classic day in the Transkei and we all slept like babies that night!

On Thursday the wind swung westerly again and the conditions we're looking good for the point in Coffee Bay. We spent the day down on the beach surfing the perfect little right-handers that peeled down into the bay. In the evening I noticed that the sky was nice and clear - perfect for star-gazing, so it was up the hill for our lot to learn more about the southern sky. We watched as Scorpio rose over the sea and learned how to navigate using the Southern Cross. Apart from all the new info, just being out on the hill with no light pollution around was just awesome. In a place where time practically stands still, its hard to imagine that it could go any slower, but up on the hill that night, that's exactly what it felt like. Definitely an evening well spent.

On Friday the swell hit and it was time for us to go in search of new waves. We got up early to get on the road. The spot we were going to surf was a little east of Coffee Bay and we were chasing the tide so we needed to get on it! The drive takes you through the hills and villages until you come out at a small bay. From the hills I could already see the lines of swell running in and it was looking epic! We got ourselves to the beach as fast as we could go, jumped into our suits and headed straight out. The water was crystal clear and super warm, and the waves were just perfect for the guys to put in a few good rides at our new spot. We spent all morning in the sea until the tide came in. For lunch I took the guys to one of my favorite beaches in the area where we chilled out on the rocks and enjoyed a bite to eat before heading back to Coffee Bay for an evening sundowner on the hills.

Yesterday we continued with our lessons at Coffee Bay. With the guys comfortably up and riding and with all the input given by the various coaches along the trip, it was time to take things up another level. We worked on an exercise on the beach designed at strengthening the muscles used for turning. It's a simple but very effective way of improving any surfers turning abilities, not only that, but its also a really good work-out. After our session on the beach it was time to put it all into practice on the waves. It was another long day of surfing and many of the guys put in some of their best waves to date during that session. As our final day in Coffee Bay came to a close we all headed back to the hostel for another classic dinner and bag packing session.

This morning we left early and got out onto the main road in good time. The trek to Ballito is quite a long one, but, as with most of our dives, the scenery always keeps it interesting. Coming into KwaZulu-Natal was like entering another country. The brown, grassy plains of the Transkei are replaced by the green sugar cane hills of the Hibiscus Coast with the tall peaks of the Drakensberg way off in the distance. I call this part of the world home, so it was especially exciting for me to be back in this familiar setting which will be our home for the next 9 days. As a local, I'm really keen to be showing the guys around some of my favorite spots in Durban so these next few days are going to be good - add to that a tidy looking swell forecast and we're all set!

So until next time.

Take Care
Bevan

Hi all and welcome to Durban!

Our time surfing the coast of South Africa is coming to a close, but things are by no means winding down. If fact we've been busier than ever. We're based in Chaka's Rock in Ballito, a quint little town on the north coast of KZN. This part of the world is steeped in Zulu heritage with strong ties to King Shaka who was the first Zulu chief to graft the Zulu tribes into a nation.

Our hostel, run by the Smith family, is set on an old sugar cane estate. The homey feel and tropical surroundings make this a truly wonderful place to relax and soak up the atmosphere of the east coast.

On Monday I decided to get the guys straight into Durban to get a feel for the city. Durban is an eclectic, cultural melting-pot and a bustling hive of activity, there's always something on the go. The city itself is built around the 3rd busiest port in Africa which was discovered by the famous Portuguese explorer Vasco Da Gama on Christmas Eve in 1497 and aptly named: Terra do Natal (Christmas country). Apart from it's position as a key African trading post, Durban is also a key city in terms of surfing culture in the country earning it the title of South Africa's Surf City.

Unfortunately the waves weren't really living up to that reputation when we arrived in town on Monday morning so I decided rather to give everyone the grand tour of Durban's surfing scene. We started off by visiting the Golden Mile, which is a famous stretch of coast in Durban which has played host to some of the world's most prestigious surfing events including the Gunston 500, which is the longest running surfing event in the history of the sport (known these days as the Mr. Price Pro). Then it was off to visit Clayton, a local shaper who is on the forefront of modern surfboard design and technology. He gave the guys a quick lesson on progressive board designs and helped them pick out a few hybrid boards and explained how they would help them take the next steps in their surfing development. Then it was off to visit another local shaper, Hugh Thompson. 5 time SA champ, 15 time KZN champ and current SA longboarding champ in his division, Hugh has definitely been around this business for a long time and has a wealth of experience and knowledge which he takes great pleasure in passing on. He took us on a short tour of his factory and explained the whole process of shaping a surfboard, from selecting the perfect blank to which fins you need to use. We even got to see his assistant Craig, putting the finishing spray onto a new board.

On Tuesday, with the conditions looking slightly better than the day before, we decided to go out in search of waves. The wind was coming straight out of the south which is not ideal for the north coast, but we managed to find a decent wave a few k's down the road at a little spot called Westbrook. It wasn't the greatest surf of the trip, but certainly worth the paddle out. In the afternoon we decided to head down to Gateway for a little go-carting! The girls were fist on the tack, laying some rubber as they got things underway. Lucy, set the pace out front while Caz and Aisha battled it out for 2nd. In the end it was Caz who prevailed and coming in behind Lucy who was the out-right winner. In the boys race things got a little heated as Mike and I made the early dash. I managed to hold off the field for a good while but unfortunately succumbed to Mike's dodgey, Irish cornering. My attempts to reclaim first place only landed me a warning flag so in the end it was Mike who took top honors and was sure to let everyone know about it!

Yesterday, with the surf conditions deteriorating again, we made our way in-land for a day of high-flying, adrenaline-pumped, skydiving action. For some bizarre reason, our crew thought it might be fun to jump themselves out of a flying plane and hurtle towards the earth at terminal velocity. While it's still beyond me, I couldn't argue with the big smiles on everyones faces as they came back from the air field. On our way back to Durban I thought it would be a nice idea to take the scenic route through the valley of a thousand hills. No prizes for guessing why this area got its name, the road oscillates over all the hills offering some awesome view as you edge closer to the city.

Back in Durban and it was time to get to the ABSA stadium for the long-awaited Sharks vs Lions game. We met up with a few of Mike's friends at the grounds and made our way to our seats in time for the kick-off. It was such a bonus to be able to watch my local team take on Britain's best at our home ground and while we didn't really come close to threatening the Lions, it was still quite something to be there to watch a spectacle that only happens in SA once every 12 years. It almost made up for all the gloating I had to endure on the drive home.

This morning it was good news on the surfing front. The wind had died down significantly and it looked like it was going to be a good one in Durban. We got down to the beach early and seeing that the ocean was still a little unsettled from the previous day's wind, we decided to go back to Clayton to get some of the guys kitted out with some new boards while we waited for the conditions to improve. Ed got himself a new Spitfire while Caz traded in her old mini mal for a more slender Evo shape. After lunch we headed back down to the beach for an afternoon surf. The conditions started out a little rough, but as the afternoon drew on the waves cleaned up a lot until soon we were surfing some rippers all to ourselves. The waves held out until the evening when we paddled back to shore. We left Durban as the sun was coming down. It was just another perfect day in Africa - we seem to be getting a lot of those...

Take care

Bevan