Offshore in the Onshore
(by Roger Smith, surf guide with http://www.dawnpatrol.co.za/)

Some clever-dick from elsewhere decided this weekend that our home break was the ideal venue for a massive surf competition attracting surfers from the big cities in South Africa, just because it’s the most consistent point break in Africa, and delivered overhead powerful walls all day!

We were disgusted. After stealing overhead waves from us for two days, we hoped it would turn onshore. Nasty? Yes. But pulling into our normally deserted car park to find a mobile disco, prancing pros, and posturing wannabes, can you blame us?

It turned onshore and started raining. Our wish had been granted!Whilst they battled big onshore conditions, we slipped off for some of our private waves at a point that is offshore in an onshore.

Louis, my son Adrian, and I paddled out in challenging conditions to surf grinding rights to ourselves. The water was warm, (Louis’ hood is for his surfers ear), it was raining and it was offshore when the whole coast was onshore.

Louis and Roger run Dawnpatrol, a surf tour operator based in East London on South Africa’s south east coast. They and their support team move up and down the coast, surfing the best waves on offer between Jeffrey’s Bay and the Natal South Coast. Check out their site at www.dawnpatrol.co.za