Solid, heavy 4-6 foot waves greeted surfers in the cold, early hours of Tuesday morning for the start of the Experience Northern Cape Namakwa Challenge presented by Billabong Adventure Division.
Slade Prestwich scored the first ride of the day and it was game on for the rest of the 20 invited surfers. In this specialty event format, the best two rides from two heats will give surfers a total score with the top eight advancing to the semifinals.
Amandla Surf Foundation member Joshe Faulkner was the standout on Day 1, with the highest wave score of the day - a big, long tube ride which he closely navigated to get spat out for an excellent 8.17.
The next morning, it was 4-6 ft heaving beach break barrels again, but the expected offshore conditions turned into a cold, side-shore Southerly wind that made things really difficult.
Cape Town's big wave charger Matthew Bromley paddled out and found an absolute gem to screams and whistles from the handful of surfers back on land.
With a serious cold front slamming into the rugged coastline, surfers will be fastening down their tent pegs while organisers are hoping to finish in good conditions on the weekend.
Solid Surf Kicks Off Namakwa Challenge
WSL
Solid, heavy 4-6 foot waves greeted surfers in the cold, early hours of Tuesday morning for the start of the Experience Northern Cape Namakwa Challenge presented by Billabong Adventure Division.
Slade Prestwich scored the first ride of the day and it was game on for the rest of the 20 invited surfers. In this specialty event format, the best two rides from two heats will give surfers a total score with the top eight advancing to the semifinals.
Amandla Surf Foundation member Joshe Faulkner was the standout on Day 1, with the highest wave score of the day - a big, long tube ride which he closely navigated to get spat out for an excellent 8.17.
The next morning, it was 4-6 ft heaving beach break barrels again, but the expected offshore conditions turned into a cold, side-shore Southerly wind that made things really difficult.
Cape Town's big wave charger Matthew Bromley paddled out and found an absolute gem to screams and whistles from the handful of surfers back on land.
With a serious cold front slamming into the rugged coastline, surfers will be fastening down their tent pegs while organisers are hoping to finish in good conditions on the weekend.
Matthew Bromley
Introducing this inaugural Specialty Event to the Northern Cape of South Africa
Highlight footage of New Pier in Durban, venue for the Cell C Goodwave
Matt Bromley is seen in the water angle as he paddles into a beast and sticks the drop at Jaws.
Matt Bromley makes a bold statement by paddling into one of the biggest waves of the day.
Sequence: Matthew Bromley at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on January 27, 2016. Photos by Adam Carbajal. An entry into the 2016 Paddle Award category.
Namakwa Challenge
Episode Two shows Finals Day at the Namakwa Challenge
A special two-episode series from this inaugural Specialty Event
Recap from the final day at the Namakwa Challenge
Northern Cape aims to boost surf tourism in the area.
The Namakwa Challenge gets underway from 23-31 August 2021.