The week that was…. – Featured Blog

The week started out with a pretty spectacular sunrise, but unfortunately it was one of those weeks where the sunrises and sunsets were far more impressive than the surf! Conditions were pretty perfect the whole week – light winds, glorious sunshine, but bogger all waves in the bay (unless you knew some sneaky spots, and even then it was tiny).

Travel further west and you know the story – always bigger up the coast…

CarPark John has been upgraded from just being available on tap to now getting it’s own bottle. Rumour has it you might start seeing it pop up your favourite watering holes soon. Move over Heinekin – CPJ gonna be sponsoring the next world cup…

From World Cups to World Champs – CT local Jared Houston won the World Bodyboarding title – and ended up with a trophy almost bigger than he is. Things were pretty tense cos he got knocked out early in the last comp and had to sit there biting his nails til the wild card ou wiped out his main rival and the title was his.

​Here’s hoping Jordy takes note and makes a plan to win us a surfing world title soon. At least he’s back in the water now after a prolonged absense due to injury. He’ll be surfing all 3 event sin the Van’s Triple Crown.

A couple more of these cute lil critters washed up on the beach at JBay again during the week. If you spot them, pop em in a container with a little bit of sand a a teeny bit of water, then get them through to Bayworld in PE, who will look after them til they big enough to be set free. This lil dude is only 4cm long.

If you have any bust boards – consider donating them to the Supertubes Surfing Foundation, as they can be re-purposed into signboards to remind peeps to keep off the dunes. The SSF guys do a great job of looking after the beachfront area along the famous point, planting vegetation, keeping the decks and boardwalks sorted, and trying to keep the dunes stable by keeping ou’s off them.

Friday evening saw the PE surf community pack out the Boardwalk Amphitheater to watch John John Florence’s View from a Blue Moon. Crikey, that kid can surf! Impressive movie with some insane cinematography and kiff soundtrack. Always lekker to watch surfing on the big screen.

Shot to Brett Hoppe from the Boardwalk for arranging the venue, and to the Zag, Hurley, Monster Energy and Stance peeps for the giveaways & prizes. Reckon PE proved to the surf industry peeps that we shouldn’t be ignored in future! Here’s holding thumbs more premieres come our way.

Saturday dawned a lekker day – and the stage for the Guinness World Record attempt at the Longest Surf Marathon was set. Josh Enslin took to the surf at 12h00 – and proceeded to rip it to shreds for the next 30 hours and 11 min, catching 455 waves, collecting R30k worth of donated goods for charity, and claiming the new World Record – awesome effort Josh – PE is so proud of you bru!
Check out the wrap and all the shots here: 
​http://www.millerslocal.co.za/millerslocals-blog/josh-breaks-the-world-record

Spotted some rad fins on my newsfeed and went to check the page out, Ace Fins. They do custom artwork on fins. Decided they’d make a kiff Christmas pressie for my husband. Ordered a set of Spongebob’s (long story) and they came out insane. 

So if you looking for a novel present for the surfer in your life, a set of customised fins is not a bad option. They’re really decent fibreglass fins, nice and stiff, and you can choose from a coupla different FCS templates.

Yet another shark incident in Aus – again at Ballina – which has seen a number this year. Guy was bitten on the thigh, thankfully wasn’t too serious other than a bunch of stitches and a nice munch mark on his board. The Aussie government is considering putting up nylon eco-barriers at the beach, which will run from the seabed to the water’s surface, and from shoreline to shoreline, to create a protected enclosure for swimming/surfing. While the nets separate swimmers from sharks, they do not capture sharks or other marine life as other nets can.

Take a bow Josh Enslin – you are the new Guinness World Record Holder for the Longest Surfing Marathon! Flipping bloody awesome! Local is lekker, but yoh, when it’s world record local it’s as lekker as it gets!

In his 30 hours 11 min in the water Josh caught 455 waves on his 5ft9 Dennis Ellis thruster, and collected R30 000 worth of donated goods (food, blankets, clothes, surf equipment) for the Cyoh Surf Club’s Charity Drive. Respect!

Josh hit the water at 12h00 on Saturday, with a big crowd of supporters at the beach to cheer him on, and a big Nixon watch to keep time on proceeding.

Plenty of nervous energy around for the marathon task ahead. We’ve all clocked in long surf sessions – but nothing like Josh was about to attempt! 

Late arvo and he had to come in to grab a hoodie (and a kiss!) and some gloves to get ready for the all-night stint in the water. The wind was on it, which made things pretty nippy despite the warm water temp.

The CYOH Surf Club crew were there in full support of their man, with the guys behind the admin table to keep count of all the official stuff like number of waves caught, and rest times etc. They also made sure that there were always a coupla guys in the water with Josh for moral support.

The sun set, but the supporters stayed put. Coupla tents went up on the beach, a few bottles of OB’s circulated to keep the spirits up. Some of the groms took the night shift duties and took turns in the water with Josh.

Dawn broke on Sunday morning and with it some kiff clean lil waves. Despite a whole night’s surfing Josh was still ripping the peelers to pieces. No stand n straight to the beach for him, uh uh, snap, smash, carve – he was on it. Powering like a machine. With wings from Red Bull!

Plenty happening on the beach – DJ’s pumping out some beats, volleyball net, guys chilling on the deck. Conditions weren’t too bad early Sunday morning, but then PE did what it’s famous for. Wind. Lots of it.

The wind pomped midday Sunday – like only PE can. Nelson Mandela Waai – not baai. No worries – just chuck on a pair of goggles to keep the sand out ya eye’s, and keep going.

Just to make sure Josh had to contend with every condition imaginable, the rain blew in late arvo – but no probs, wet already. 

Finally the minutes and hours ticked away and the record was broken – and then smashed! He wanted to keep going, but his mates spoke some sense into him and he decided to hit the beach. The ou’s went mal as their new World Record holder left the water for the last time, carried on his dad’s shoulders. Champagne and hoots and hollers, perfect ending to a marathon undertaking.

An incredible achievement, and hopefully a record that’ll stand for a long time. Well done Josh on being the new record holder and putting PE on the map. Big up’s to the whole CYOH crew who supported their man the whole way through the event.

Shot to all the sponsors who made the event possible, Billabong, Chevrolet, Ivor Smith Electrical, Cape Courts & Civils, Green Secure, Trauma Net, Lifestyle Contractors, Surge Point Pictures, Innerview Film Art, Nutritech, Nixon, VonZipper, DPI Sign Industries, PEFSA X-Tra Foam, The Boardroom, The Boardtalk and Nelson Mandela Boardriders 

You’re a legend Josh – well done bru!

​And big up’s to your lady, Shelley Wells – cos behind every good man is a good woman!