Hello from Cape Town!

We are well underway now with five surf sessions under the belt. It’s been an energy filled introduction for the crew of our 2009 September Instructor Course.

The crew landed with us on Thursday and, as per usual on all our trips, we were greeted by a traditional South African Poijke (stew) around the fire and some wise words from the old man of South African Pro-surfing, Paul Botha. Paul has been with us since the beginning and there can’t be many more qualified surfers to welcome our crew to these shores.

On Friday morning we headed over to Muizenberg for our first taste of South African waves. With light North Westerly winds grooming a perfect mid sized swell, conditions were ideal with long lines of swell wrapping into false bay for long rides to rekindle jet lagged limbs. The level of surfing has to be right up there with all our previous trips and Nikki and I are already really excited to see just how far we can get the crew as they look to qualify as instructors over the next 10 weeks.

Following the lesson we headed over to the pitches of Noordhoek football club to assist Tim with a football tournament for the kids of the Ticket to Ride Foundation. With close to 300 kids from across five of Cape Town’s townships there was a carnival atmosphere as the crew got their hands dirty and dived straight in as referees. Toby and Sam had to make a couple of contentious calls and came under immediate pressure but seemed to cope OK. 1 day into Africa and already fully immersed in the culture!

The weekend charts looked great so we decided to run two double surf sessions. The swell had dropped slightly so we had everyone paddling to the backline and riding all the way in. We only have a couple of novices with us this time around, Alex and Steve, and both were cruising the long peeling waves with smiles on their faces. Kath also got a couple of bombs and there were stories of waves all round as we headed out for a few beers that night down at the Brass Bell. Standing on the decking, looking out over the breath taking expanse of False Bay, surrounded by the Kalk Bay surfing crowd and with a live band getting everyone in the mood, it was a good night and a lot of fun.

That brings us to today, Monday. We have some onshore coming for the next couple of days meaning we’ll be out of the sea and into the mountains and parks. With this in mind we made the best of a dying swell with a fun session this morning on longboards. With the sun shining there was a definite feel that summer is on the way and the temperatures soared to the late twenties. All exhausted after close to 3 hours in the water, we made the short drive to Kalk Bay harbour where we had tucked into some fresh fish and chips amidst the multi coloured fishing boats and the clamour of the traders and vendors. Kalk Bay is a little artisan suburb of Cape Town and there’s a lot of life there, a great place to spend a few hours and a little local secret.

Finally, Tim turned up later in the afternoon with the Foundation Mobile loaded with the kids. Monday is surfing day for the Foundation and capacity is usually limited to four. With our crew in town we were able to increase the numbers so around 20 kids turned up, all eager to hit the water for a quick session. The kids are still very new to surfing so it’s more a chance to interact and have some fun. All the crew took one of the children under their wing and took to the water. With the wind howling and the temperatures dropping the kids got cold quick so we didn’t last too long, but it was a great introduction and there will be plenty more time spent with Tim and the kids over the coming days.

Tonight we are back at Shaun and Lu’s awaiting a Malay Curry. Tomorrow we’re off up Table Mountain so it’ll be early to bed and early to rise!

Thanks for tuning in,

Till next time,

Bevan and Nikki.

Hi all

Hi all and welcome to Plettenberg Bay, the beautiful little costal village on the border between the provinces of the Eastern and Western Cape.

Our last few days in Cape Town were really packed with fun and activity – everything from climbing Table Mountain to visiting the Cape Point to local wine tasting, not to mention a few decent surf sessions tucked in there as well. The guys have also managed to spend a lot of time with the township community in Masiphumelele, which has been really great. One thing we African’s share in common with the British is a passionate love for the Beautiful Game, so there have been many games of football going on. We tend to do things a little differently around here and our fields don’t quite compare with those of Wembley Stadium, so we’ve had to teach the guys to adapt to the rules of beach and street football, but they all took to it well and ended up having an awesome time of it.

Another Cape Town highlight had to be the buying of new boards in Muizenberg. Everyone spent a good few days browsing the store, looking for that perfect new board – the one that’s going to get them into that perfect wave. Eventually the guys managed to find something they liked and in no time our trailer was full of shiny new surfboards. The first thing that anybody with a new board wants to do is go surfing, so that’s just what we did. The wind had picked up quite powerfully from the south after a cold front made landfall so Muizenberg was a mess of chop and white-water so we decided to take the guys out to a new spot on the Atlantic coast. When we arrived in the Milnerton parking lot we were greeted by some pretty solid looking conditions. The waves were nice and sizey and the wind more offshore than in False Bay. It was going to be a big step-up for the guys but everyone was up for it. We ended up seeing some classic wipe-outs and some big falls – but we also got to see a few of the best waves of the trip for some guys. After our morning session we packed the van and headed further up the west cost to see what we could find. By that time the wind had shifted a little and the conditions became un-surfable so we headed back to Muizenberg for an afternoon feedback session with Sheldon.

On Monday morning we all got up early to pack the van and get out onto the road. We waved goodbye to our gracious hosts Shaun and Lucinda and headed eastwards towards our next stop in Plettenberg Bay. The early start meant a clear road ahead so we made some good time on the journey, stopping every now and then to refuel vehicles and tummies. This part of the country is affectionately referred to as the Garden Route. The road is almost always flanked by mountain ranges and the undulating fields are full of vynbos (a thick scrub indigenous to the Cape), which makes for a beautiful backdrop for any drive.

We arrived in Plett just after lunch and just in time to meet up with John and Donna from the International Surf School. The conditions were due to deteriorate throughout the week so we needed to get in as much time in the water as possible before things started to get messy. No sooner had we landed than we were suited up and in the water. The waves were definitely a step up from the mellow waves we were used to in Muizenberg. Plett tends to be a lot more powerful and challenging, so Nikki and I were really stoked to see the guys put in a solid effort in the trying conditions. It probably won’t go down as the session of the trip, but the way the guys rose to the challenge of the heavier waves will definitely hold them in good stead for when the wind turns offshore again.

Yesterday, with conditions wild and out of control, we decided to give surfing a miss and focused instead on the course aspects of the trip. Each rider needs to be able to complete a rigorous lifeguard assessment as part of the qualification so we decided to spend the morning on the lagoon to work on our fitness and water skills. It wasn’t all hard work though, as we made sure we brought along a rugby ball for a little touch on the beach.

In the afternoon we got out of town to check out a bit more of what this area has to offer. Our first stop was at the Crags Elephant Sanctuary where we participated in a 1-hour elephant interaction program. The sanctuary looks after rescued and abandoned elephants from all over the sub-continent, which are used as ambassadors to the public to educate them about the various challenges our gentle giants are faced with in a society that is constantly expanding into their natural habitats. As a nature guide I’m more used to seeing these magnificent creatures on foot in the wild where it is unheard of to walk up to them, however, I thought I’d make an exception this time just to get a closer look.

After the ele’s we made our way to the nearby Small Cat Sanctuary to learn more about the some of Africa’s lesser-known species of felines. Often times it’s the case that these little guys fly under the radar as they are just not as popular as their bigger cousins the Lion and the Leopard, however, this makes them no less important to the system so it was really good for our guys to get to see them and appreciate just how big a part they actually pay.

After a long and busy day it was time to rest some of those weary arms and legs and get mentally prepared for the infamous bungee jump!!

But more on that next time.

Till then, take care

Bevan and Nikki

Welcome back to Plett where we have a had a jam packed week of activities. The East winds have kept our surfing at bay so the group have been keeping themselves busy with some somewhat unusual activities such as throwing themselves off the highest bungee jump in the world. Strange and scary you might think to yourselves, well yes but the smiles on the groups faces as they come back up on that big piece of elastic express it was well worth it...after all exciting and new experiences are what they are here for.

Bloukrans Bridge (which means blue gorge) Bungee jump which sits on the boarder of the east and the west cape is the highest bungee jump in the world measuring 116 meters from the ground. In order to get to the jump sight you walk under the bridge over a long metal grid which you can see through to the bottom of the canyon which does your nerves no favours. Surrounding the bridge is beautiful hills on one side with a river running under the bridge leading to the ocean on the other. The sights are breath taking and once again Bevan and I were blown away by the groups courage as each one of them swan dove over the edge of the bridge coming up again with huge grins and asking if they could do it again. Hurting towards the ground builds up an appetite so after the bungee we headed to the small village of storms river in Tsitsikamma for some lunch. Tsitsikamma is a beautiful area known for its indigenous forest and black water rivers which is caused by the tannin from the leaves of the cape hard pear trees which fall into the river and cause a black solvent. The group filled up on sandwiches then we took the scenic route home which took us through the beautiful natures valley. With a quick stop off at natures valley beach, watching the waves gave us a hunger to surf so we heading back to plett to check the conditions with the hope the wind had kept away. The lack of surf lead to a chilled night, with Bevan cooking a tradition South African meal on the fire. Bevan is a skilled and experienced tour guide in South Africa and his talent shone as the group filled their bellies with several helpings!

The next day conditions were still against us we turned our sights to fitness. For those of the group who are aiming to go for their life guard and surf instructors qualification at the end of the trip fitness and endurance is one of our top priorities. With this in mind on Thursday we once again headed to the lagoon in Plett where we played some more touch rugby, the flags game, (which involves some friendly competition and lots of sprinting) a run swim run and a duck diving lesson. One of the requirements of the life savers qualification is that group have to complete a 400 meter timed swim, so after our lagoon session we headed back for a quick lunch and then down to the local pool where the group put their swimming skills to test against the timer.

On Friday the wind had given us a much needed break and we headed down to the beach to meet John and Donna our plett surf coaches for a surf lesson. The day turned out to be a beauty as the group surfed all day with blue skies, sunshine and some special marine visitors. Plett is known for its wilde life and it was out in array for the group as Southern wright whales rolled in the bay behind them and dolphins swam behind the breaking waves. After a double session of surfing we packed up the vans and headed back to the hostel. If the day wasn't filled with enough surfing already half the group went for a quick check of a local break called look out on their way home and with cooking waves staring back at them they were in their wetsuit faster than you can say locals. The group surfed into the evening scoring numerous waves showing the time out of the water over the past few days certainly hadn't held them back.

We kick started off this morning with another early start at look out where the group all held their own in the surf and scored some great rides. We then had another session with John and Donna, it was another afternoon of fun surf, sunshine and more visitors. The group were treating to a display from a southern wright whales that was breaching 50 meters behind where they were sitting on their boards. Although the Easterly winds kept us out of the water for a few days, the group have had a packed week in Plett and are all ampted to get up to Jeffery's Bay tomorrow. Jeffery's Bay is famous throughout the world for its surfing and every year hosts the Billabong World Surfing Championships.

So goodbye for now intill Jeffery's Bay!

Nikki and Bevan

Hi all and welcome to Jeffrey’s Bay – the world famous surfing town in the Eastern Cape.

This is stop number 3 of our epic coast-to-coast journey and judging from these first few days it looks like we’re in for more classic days here in South Africa.

Our last few days in Plett saw the dreaded easterly wind finally subside and give our crew a good window for surfing. The more powerful conditions really meant that the guys had to rise to the challenge, but rise they did and we managed to record a vast improvement in the surfing of all our riders.

On Saturday, after a morning session at the local break, we met back up with John and Donna for another lessons at Solar Beach. The waves were just perfect for the guys to get in some classic rides under the ever-watchful eyes of our Plett coaches. John got the guys in the water paddling hard out in the line-up, working on technique and efficiency in the water. There were a lot of waves caught in the session and like I said before, the level of surfing in the group seemed to improve with each wave caught.

After the lesson, with conditions still looking good, we decided to stick around for an afternoon free-surf. We were joined for a bit by a trio of humpback dolphins who cruised past on their way up the peninsular, as well as a few massive Southern Right Whales who stunned the crowd in the water by breaching and slapping the surface with their immense tails.

On Sunday we got up early to get all our things packed and ready for the road. While we were getting ready John and Donna arrived at the hostel to say a quick goodbye to the guys and reiterate a few last-minute pointers for the group to remember. And with that we were off – back on the road, heading east for J-Bay. The drive from Plett to J-Bay has to be one of my favourites. The road meanders through the shadows of the Tsitsikamma Berg mountain range along a road skirted by indigenous bush on either side. I almost didn’t mind the roadwork detours we had to take which took us further into this magical part of the coast.

Once in J-Bay, our crew unpacked all their things and got settled into the new hostel before Nikki and I took them all out for a quick orientation drive. It takes about 5 minutes to drive from one side of town to the other, but as far as surfing in South Africa goes, this is a BIG town! Anyone who knows anything about surfing in SA can tell you that J-Bay is the place to be. Home to the world famous right-hand point break Supertubes, J-Bay has captured the imaginations of surfers the world over who flock to these shores in the hope of catching the waves of their lives. While Supers is a very advanced wave which requires a lot of skill and experience to master, there are still loads of other waves in the area which are far more suited our crew’s level. In the evening Nikki and I decided to give the guys their first taste of J-Bay surf by paddling them all out at Kitchen Windows, the spot just below our hostel. The waves weren’t exactly classic, but with no one else out, it was the perfect way to end off the day.

Yesterday we gave the guys some time off in the morning to get into town and check the place out a little. In the afternoon, Nikki and I had individual meetings with the group to go over their rider diaries and discuss the goals and targets for J-Bay.

This morning the group started their lessons with Ettiene Venter, our new surf coach for J-Bay. Ettiene is the National Junior’s coach and has lived in J-Bay for over 20 years so his wealth of knowledge and experience in this area is going to prove to be most useful to our crew. But more on that next time.

Till then,
Take Care

Bevan and Nikki

Hi everyone and welcome back to Jeffery's Bay. When Bevan last wrote the group had just started their surf lessons with Ettiene who is the National Junior South Africa coach.. The group have been hitting the water hard over the past week, every chance they have had to get in the water they have taken with Jack, Sam and Pat even hitting the water just after the sun has risen, surfing has really got under their skin which is what we like to see.

The group have been making great progress with Ettiene, each member of the group have been upping their wave count and have started working on turning whilst on the wave. With the long rides available in Jeffery's Bay and Ettienes world class coaching the group have got the perfect opportunity to really push their surfing to the next level. With all the surfing that the group have been doing over the past week we thought it would be a great time to have a well earned break and take the group inland to a beautiful spot with a waterfall. Ticket to Ride have been visiting this waterfall for a past couple of years. The waterfall has a series of cliff jumps and a long zip wire over the pool of water below. Over this time there have been some impressive displays of courage as riders have thrown themselves off the largest cliff jump which is 12 meters high and hangs over a deep rock pool below. Steve whom we call Pirate Steve was the first to take on the jump, seemingly not blinking an eye as he threw himself off the edge. Only Sam Miller who is one of the Ticket to Ride Trip leaders and runs the Ticket to Ride Surf school in Perranporth has had the courage to drive off of the 12 meter jump but this year he was out done by our fearless group member Pat. Pat who comes from Chicago is a diving coach back at home and treated us to a somewhat impressive display as he dove off the 12 meter jump managing to squeeze in a double somersault before hitting the water with style, a treat for all of us who watched on. It was a great morning of jumping, sun bathing and piling as many people onto the zip wire at as possible at one time. After that it was back to Jbay for a surf check as the group out like to be out of the water or to long now.

On Friday it was another full day of surfing. A new swell has hit Jeffrey's and the group were back in the water with Etteine testing their skills in the bigger surf at Kitchen windows. I went out with the group and was sitting out back with Kat as we watched all the group paddle for the biggest waves they have had on the trip so far. The size did not faze the group as I watched Sam get his longest wave of the trip riding it all the way to the beach, he was still grinning after his long paddle back out again. The group made the most of the conditions before the wind picked up that evening and we headed out to the local Mexican restaurant to refuel on fajitas, burritos and huge plates of Nachos. With everyone surfed out and with aching shoulders from the days paddling it was an early night for everyone.

On Saturday morning we piled in the van and made our way towards Port Elizabeth to Sea View Lion reserve. Sea view is home to a couple of South Africans big 5 and is very close to Bevan's heart. Bevan used to work at Seas view so the group were in good hands he took them into one for the Lions enclosures to stroke the lions. These Lions were in fact 10 month old clubs so the group were able to experience them up close and personal as they held them in their arms and played with them, an amazing experience that you don't get everyday. The group also got to see some fully grown Lions in the park this time from the other side of the fence. Driving back through the park there was an abundance of mere cats, Zebras, antelopes and Giraffes... an interesting comparison to our British sheep and cows, needless to say the group were hanging out the windows collecting as many snaps as they could.

With one week down and another to go, the group have got more excitement to come with a great waves forecast over the next couple of days and Ettiene will be taking them on a day trip to the famous surf stops featured in Endless summer one, in Cape St Francis.

So intill then take care,

Nikki and Bevan