Mr Price Pro Ballito 2011

Nat Young making an unbelievable barrel at Bog Bay.

Yesterday saw the start of the Mr Price Pro Ballito, the conditions were epic and probably one of the best days we have seen in a very long time. Each heat was absolutely mind blowing, the guys were getting some of the sickest barrels across Surfers Point.

Some contestant getting barreled of his nut at Surfers Point Pic M Adjes

While the contest was going on there was an all cast side show going down at Bog Bay to the south. It was hard to pull away from watching the 'Pro' but when you saw what was going down at Bog it made Modern Collective seem a little dusty. Added to that Bog was heavy ..very heavy. And guys like John John and Nat Young were showing everyone up. I have some sequences with John John smacking the lip and then doing a 12ft air drop with a gaping monster barrel coming down.

The high light of the whole sesh was watching Nat get a monster backhand pit that has to be one of the most insane things I have ever seen. The wave broke over him at the top of the point and he disappeared into the foam ball. I stopped swimming thinking that he was history. But next thing he pulls through the foam ball and sets up inside the sickest pit I have seen in years. Because I stopped swimming I was a little out of position but got some great wide pics of the barrel. (pic above) I also got the video of the barrle which is now on my phone and gets played over and over and over!

For those of you who missed the action yesterday here is the Youtube highlights of the day:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjTc8TExNG4

The only disappointing thing was them running the last 2 heats in the wind. Which i felt was so unnecessary as there is loads of good surfing coming. Jordy surfed the last heat and got so skunked it wasn't funny. I think every one was so keen to see him surf they put the heat in. But it was a total waste, the waves crapped out and it was a dud heat.

Never the less the next few days have got some great conditions so I am sure the action will be hot!

Coatesman

Save Ballito's Beaches - New Pics

April holidays back 87 before the rocks were blasted out of Surfers

I am not sure when this pic was taken, but look no rocks in the channel!!

I have a whole bunch of pic of the beaches in Ballito from as far back as the late 30's. There are some really interesting observations like the pic above that shows that there were no rocks in the channel between Boulder Bay and Bog Bay.

Go check out the rest of the pics at Ballito Beaches Back Then

I am still looking for more old pics of the beaches and of the surf especially from the 70's & early 80's. Please drop me a mail if you have any or know some one who might have.

Cheers

Coatesman

Resurrecting Bog Bay

This is what Bog can produce and more - Sean VO digging deep.

Bog Bay finally has a shot at being revived. More than 20 years ago the Ballito municipality put in rocks to form a tidal pool, and it landed up stealing the surf right from under our feet.

But now that the Mr Price Pro is hitting Ballito's shores the lights and focus are on surfing for a change. I have been chatting to some of the key figures involved and we really need to get our act together to make this work.

If you haven't already joined there is a web site called Resurrecting Bog Bay

There is also a Face Book Group Resurrecting Bog Bay

We have a small window of opportunity with this .... lets get cracking!

The first step is just joining the groups, keep in touch and spread the word!

Coatesman

Big Swell Bangs Bog

An insider rolling through Bog Bay, the Sets just closed out across the bay.

After a weekend of cold miserable windy weather, the sun came out and the wind conditions were perfect. I grabbed the board I am using, a 5'10" twinfin ... mine snapped a couple weekends ago and went to check out the surf.

I knew it was going to be big, but I though with the high tide I might still get a couple waves. That was not to be, as I drove down Surfers Lane a set pulled in breaking outside of the end of the point and all hopes of getting in were drowned.

I had a look at Bog and it was insane ... even if you could some how get out you would be in for a beating of a life time!!

The conditions seem to hold and with the swell dropping a little maybe tomorrow will have some waves.

Lets see,

Coatesman