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JEFFREYS BAY SURF
BREAKS
Now that you are ready to surf, what breaks are there to surf?
Here is the inside info on each surf break in town.
Enjoy; just remember that you will meet many hospitable and friendly
people but respect the local surfers. They
can make your trip a memorable one and you could even make life long friends
but if you are disrespectful it is almost guaranteed you won’t be getting
many waves!
SUPERTUBES
South Africa’s premier wave! A
stiff paddle out awaits the unsuspecting surfer. Rather wait and watch how
the locals do it. Timing here
is everything. You can get into
the line up without even getting your hair wet but get it wrong and you will
get hammered.
Once in the line up, pause and check out the situation.
Supers is the most localized spot in South Africa.
The locals tolerate no nonsense!
Due to the crowds that flock to the break each year, local surfers
have organized themselves to deal with the “invasion”.
However, if you wait your turn and show respect you will end up
getting waves. It might take a
few sessions but once your face is recognized and you earn a reputation for
being respectful, you won’t have any problems.
The wave is best in the 4 – 8 ft category. On the better days the wave breaks from the top of the point
and winds all the way along the reef, past the car park to an awesome barrel
section. Then its kick out time
before the wave closes out at Impossibles.
A SW wind is best. Due to
the sand dunes, the break is protected no matter how hard the SW blows.
NW is cross shore and often blows in the early morning.
It creates a bump that can make things unpleasant, especially on
critical take off’s. East and
SE winds destroy everything but are most predominant in the summer months.
A South wind can still be fun as it causes “crumbly” sections
that can be bashed.
The Billabong Pro surf contest is held each July at
Supertubes.
You can use the time to watch top quality surfing or start exploring
the many attractions in and around J’Bay.
The locals: The wave
is ridden by many of the locals but the established crew are: Mikey Meyer, Koffie, Arthur Joubert, Trevor Hansen, Thys
Strydom, Brad Davey, Wayne De Lange, Brenton Williams, Bossie, Brendan
Muldoon, Doc Van der Heuwel, Anthony Wulff and Warren Dean.
The closest accommodation is the Beach House, Supertubes Guest
House, Beach Music or the Surfpackers.
TUBES
Further down the point, one comes across a fun barrely wave aptly
called Tubes. It a short and
sometimes intense ride but loads of fun.
On the bigger days there is a strong rip and the wave is best in the
4 – 5 ft category. Offshore
on a SW wind, it also likes a S or SW swell direction.
There is relatively small take off section, which means Tubes cannot
hold a large crowd. Home to the
elder crew (and some youngsters) of J Bay surfers one will meet up with Jeff
Mc Carthy, David Yosh, Glen Bowles, Gary Yosh and Ian Vermaak.
The same accommodation can be used as Supertubes to get close to
the break.
POINT
The first wave to be surfed in Jeffreys Bay. Point was discovered by long boarders in the early 1960’s,
little knowing they had stumbled across one of the natural wonders of the
world.
Not as protected as the other waves on strong SW day’s, Point
does handle a large swell. The
bowl offers some heavy take-off’s but after that the wave mellows out and
becomes a bottom turn, cut back combination wave.
On a really good day, barrels can be found here as well. A low tide means waves breaking right on the ledge and you
can get fun waves here when it is too small to surf anywhere else.
A South wind can also be fun as Point offers sections that can be
truly blasted.
Point is the breeding ground of the J’bay grommets.
The pecking order in J’bay is strictly enforced.
The groms are only allowed at Tubes and then at Supers once they have
paid their dues. However, they
are well looked after by the elder surfers who make sure the youngsters get
their waves, no matter how crowded the surf gets.
This wave is the perfect place to start your J’Bay surf trip.
If you want to settle down and get used to the power and vibe of the
town paddle out here. There is a gully in front of the car park but again your
timing must be right. There is a long “danger zone” that has to be
negotiated before you reach the safety of the back line, especially on the
big days.
Point is best in the 3-8 ft range, depending on what size waves you are
comfortable with. Here you
could end up surfing with local legends Larry Levin and Bruce Gold, or one
of the up and coming groms like Sammy Mabetshe, Sebastian Coetzee, Josh and
Nick Rodwell, Dane Morris and Renier Van Staden.
Point Break is the nearest accommodation and actually overlooks
the wave.
ALBATROSS
One of the uncrowded breaks in J’Bay.
Slightly out of town, the wave works best on a NW wind and a low
tide. Can get epic but usually
better somewhere else. It needs
the right combination of wind, tide and swell direction to get it good.
No local crew as yet. Book
yourself into Bay Cove which is just across the road from Albatross.
BONEYARDS
The top section of Supers. Breaks
both left and right. Works best
on a NW – blowing lightly. The
wave has earned its name because it really breaks in shallow water.
Locals who have grown tired of the crowds at Supers have ended up
surfing Boneyards. So if you get asked to move down to Supers, it’s probably
better to go. It is rumoured
that the JBU, a local crew of surfers, have claimed Boneyards as their
sanctuary. You will find
surfers like Stephen Bibb, Ashley Walter, Gaybba, Matt da Cruz, Kevin
Calbarri, the JBU and if you see someone pulling into insane barrels and
popping out again, you can be pretty sure its Warren Dean.
Villa Delfini, De Duine and Sea Shells are the best places to stay
when surfing Boneyards and Magnatubes.
MAGNATUBES
Probably the heaviest wave in J’Bay.
It’s gnarly, unpredictable and sometimes just plain nasty! Best at
3-5ft and needs a NW. The SW is
cross shore and the break is quite exposed.
Likes a high tide, otherwise it tends to throw big close out
sections.
There is a crew of low key surfers who call “Magna’s their
home. They include long time local Reinke, Martin the King of Magna’s,
Mike, Gordon, Tyron, Ian and sometimes Porky.
KITCHEN WINDOW
Situated on Main Beach, Kitchens is a mellow reef break that is an
underrated wave. A light SW
wind is best on a mid tide. As
soon as the wind picks up, the spray starts feeling like buck shot. Kitchens is the home break for kids from Pellsrus, a poor
community on the edge of J’Bay. Surfing
is giving these kids an opportunity
in life. You could surf with
Kitchens legends Paul and Steven Jeggels or some of the groms like Marshall
Perils, Letitia Lee, Daniel Jeggels, Desmond Syce and Dominique Abersalie.
Jeffreys Bay Backpackers, Island Vibe and Main Beach Backpackers
cater for the Kitchen Window surfers.
MAIN BEACH
A beach break that generally closes out. But if you are in town go check out the South Coast Surf
School, who are getting the next generation of locals into the ocean.
Little groms like Dylan Lightfoot, Keane Hansen, Lomo Maarschalk,
Shaun Duvenhage, Roxy and Shelly Bowien, Kyle Van Heerden, Jason Levin and
Sadie Hansen are sure to grace the long cylindrical walls of Supetubes in
years to come.
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