Legendary Achievers

by Patrick | Jul 23, 2014 | Legends

Much is said about South African surfing history. But any conversation that did not include the name Tomson or Naude would be incomplete. Long before the world tour started, both Ernie Tomson and Paul Naude where putting down tracks from which surfing would eventually...

Sultan of Sheik – Wayne Shaw

by Patrick | Jul 4, 2014 | Legends

Raffles was a full-on disco club on top of the Maharani Hotel that overlooks the Bay of Plenty in the late seventies and early eighties. Even though it was anti-culture for many, the hot babes hung there so it was the epicentre of surf cool at the time. I remember...

50 Years of World Titles Surfing

by Patrick | Jun 16, 2014 | Legends

International Competitive Surfing Turns 50. On the 7th of June a gala diner was held in Manly Beach in Sydney to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the first official Surfing World Titles that were held at that famous break. This last Saturday morning, Max...

Spider Murphy

by Patrick | Jun 16, 2014 | Legends

It’s common knowledge that Spider Murphy was Shaun Tomson’s go-to shaper in the seventies when South Africa’s first and only professional World Champion was setting the North Shore alight with his high octane brand of tube riding. Who will ever forget Spider’s...

84 Country Feeling Classic

by Patrick | May 26, 2014 | Legends

View an awesome video clip of the best event that I ever attended. Wasn’t a CT or a QS, just a shootout between the best surfers in the world at one of the best breaks at its very best. The waves were that good that two man heats were an hour long. Late on the...

Something Happening Here

by Patrick | May 16, 2014 | Legends

How Tony Wright and John Batcheledor changed SA surfing forever in 1968. May 68. Back in Durban after nine months in the Navy in Simonstown, bright eyed and bushy tailed with my 9’10” Mike Hynson model three stringer Gordon & Smith under my arm, looking for a...