Surf Spots Jeffreys Bay South Africa
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
MAIN BEACH
A beach break that generally closes
out. But if you are in town go check out the local Surf Schools, who are
getting the next generation of locals into the ocean.
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