The intrepid big-wave brigade have towed into some monster waves at Sunset Reef, the surf schools have been introducing the sport of Hawaiian Kings to hundreds of beginners, several rising stars have tested their ability in powerful Pacific waves and Long Beach in Kommetjie has been a hive of activity culminating in outstanding surf for the Puma WP Longboard champs on Sunday.

The absence of the customary South Atlantic high pressure system has led to a relatively windless start to the year and this in turn allows the swell generating frontal systems closer to the southern tip of the continent, providing plenty of waves for everyone.

The beaches all still have a wintery look with rocks usually covered by a couple of metres of sand still protruding through the surface and the wreck of the Kakapo on Noordhoek beach exposing more ribs and superstructure than for many a year.

Even the current version of the Cape Doctor looks short-lived and should blow itself out by Thursday, with another overhead swell predicted for the weekend. The seven champions of the Kahuna Surf Series enjoyed a two-day high performance surf camp in Kommetjie under the expert coaching of Dene Botha, learning everything from ocean awareness through fitness and nutrition to contest strategies.

Meanwhile Kommetjie's Brendon Gibbens and Matthew Bromley, both 15 and members of the 2007 SA junior surf team, spent a month in the global surfing Mecca of Hawaii during the school holidays.

It was Bromley's second trip to stay with the Brand family who have homes in Kommetjie and on the North Shore of Oahu. The 2006 SA King of the Groms scored epic sessions at famous breaks like Backdoor Pipeline and a two to three metre swell at Sunset Beach.

The WP longboard champs was dominated by local riders when the event reached it's climax in excellent waves at Long Beach on the weekend. Muizenberg's Papi Makonyane won the u/15 boys and Kwezi Qika (Ocean View) the Juniors, Muizenberg based surfboard shaper Dave Stubbs triumphed in the Grand Masters and Noordhoek's Richard Brummer and Deon Bing captured the Veterans and Senior men's titles.

Jimmy Bell and Simone Robb, both from Kommetjie took the honours in the Legends (over 60) and Open women's events while the Moir family from Kirstenhof secured a historic triple triumph when father Charlie won the Super Vets, elder brother Gavin the Masters and reigning ISA world champ Matthew added the premier open men's title to his list of accolades.

Mathew Moir - File Photo

The Deep South is also hosting a group of 19 gap year UK adventurers who are kicking off a unique three month surfing trip from Cape Town to Durban. Staying in Kommetjie and learning to surf at Muizenberg, the Ticket to Ride group will visit Plett, Jeffrey's Bay, East London, Coffee Bay and Umtentweni before taking the SSA Level One surf instructor course in Ballito at the end of March.