Watch: Ten Mesmerizing Minutes Of Skeleton Bay
Call it a primer of sorts...
With winter in the southern hemi swinging into gear and the westerly storm track running closer to the continents, many eyes are watching and waiting for an incursion up the South Atlantic. A big enough swell with just enough angle to get into Skeleton Bay.
But there's no need to wait in silence when the crew from Now Now have posted up raw footage from the biggest swell there last year. You know what to expect but I'll guarantee the footage will startle you anyway.
It's mostly a bunch of Saffas with advanced degrees in speed management, but there's Taj on the sand and Kiama's Aron Cox disappearing below the waterline too.
Comments
Great perspective from down the line looking into the barrel.
yeah loved that angle too @blackers.
tickets are booked for tomorrow...
Unreal, let us know how you get on, would be good to get a first hand account.
Yeah will see. The angles on the forecast look a bit off (south) for my liking but hopefully the size and period can help it wrap in there on a couple of those days. Maybe Craig can have some input here. Usually 222 minimum and the guys start booking tickets or packing the 4x4 and doing the Long drive (27 hrs from my house). But this swell doesn't get around that far at least according to some of the models.
Been 7 years or so since my last visit and I'm still remembering some of those barrels so even just 1 or 2 drainers and I'd be content.
Are you in SA mishad?
I certainly am GF.
Yeah looks a bit south and small. Should be some ok waves.
So we've had waves, barrels, beatings, broke 2 of my 3 boards, kited it today too when the wind came in...6 to 8 ft solid (west oz scale). A few pros getting around. Boards now in for repair in time for the next swell.
So we've had waves, barrels, beatings, broke 2 of my 3 boards, kited it today too when the wind came in...6 to 8 ft solid (west oz scale). A few pros getting around. Boards now in for repair in time for the next swell.
You lucky man.
Wow sick. I didn't look at the storm too closely but wouldn't have expected 6-8ft. 3x overhead?
Let's call it solid 4 to 6 consistent all day with 8 ft bombs occasionally to keep everyone honest. My first go around of the morning involved a solid set I wanted no part of and of every bit of 8 ft. But saying that the bank has changed since I was there in 2017...seems more bend in it and top 1.5km breaks further from the beach meaning a big wide deep gutter to paddle across before you get to the impact zone. It could of been the south angle of the swell too affecting quality but I found it more sectiony and random rips appeared in the lineup pushing you out to sea when you least expect it....a bit like Puerto. I think in a more west swell, it would improve as my previous trips were well above 225 up to 235.
I will say I was up there during that big west swell in may 2013 and that was scary as f$#k. But a couple of the sets on Monday had that feel to it. That day was def 6 to 8 with 10 ft sets and some Hawaiian there I remember calling it 12 ft...it wasn't fun, but intense and scary the whole time trying to snag a smaller one down the spit and then get in away from the death closeout at the end.
Awesome, thanks for the detailed run down. Interesting re the flash rips when it's more south..
They couldn’t think of any music to do it justice!
From an oldie - I just sat and watched 10 mins of barrels - each wave pretty much exactly the same, but I just sat and watched the lot in awe. Surfers never get sick of watching tubes.
Put on a 10 min video of guys doing airs, and half of us, at least, would close it before 2 mins were over.
I'm just saying....
The Donkey kicking! Great angles, jealous Friday mind surf, I'll have to settle for an early knock off schnitzel and pint instead.
Goodness me!!!!...so good to see a proper front on take instead of the helmet camera and drone business.
I keep seeing footage of Taj B frothing out on the waves when he visited.. but I have not seen any waves of his... did he score? or now that he is not sponsored, has he been blocked out (ala black mirror style).... never to grace our viewing lenses again?
Not blacked out - he’d be banking clips for his own project and would have bought out any other filmers to ensure none of his waves get leaked. same way you don’t see any footage of JJ or Nathan anywhere other than their own channels.
Looks tricky to get into if you pick the wrong one I just saw myself going over the falls.
A reality check for anyone not at the top of their game, one of those waves looked not that different from the rest but all of a sudden that guy early on had no chance, too slow to his feet, know that scenario!
A long way to go to snap your board on the first takeoff attempt
2:12 sand to be mig-welded into undies
lest we forget
Still beggars belief this wave.
Then there’s the sweep ,
Amazing wave, however, it gets a bit banal after 10 minutes. Why do these videos never show more take-offs and negotiating the lineup?
Agree, would be great to see more take-offs. I bet there would be a few lip launches.
It would be so difficult to pick the right line and manage your speed backhand out there and impossible to do little speed pumps like you can on your forehand. Explains why most of the footy you see is goofy footers. Would have loved to see some waves from Taj to see how he went.
I'm guessing by the amount of cameras there and the amount of footage out there, that question has already been answered.
It's easier than you think on your backhand, really helps you understand how high you can be on the wave, rail control to keep it high as possible and tight without getting pitched to maximize the speed. And get your pumps in in between the sections.
But yes goofys have an advantage for sure simply to be able to give it a couple of pumps within the tube.
it really sucks up below sea level
Thanks for sharing the line in the sand Vid Stu
As a bodybasher it's quite remarkable to see the intense bodysurfing from boardriderz.
Little is said of this Hand Surfing dominating this Wave.
Many are engaging 15-30 second bouts of high speed hand surfing.
Interesting how humans abort boosters to sensationally engage wave forces.
tbb recently shared suspended fly surfing technique on similar atmospheric clouded caped capsules.
Here we see a natural Need for 100% assimilation in monitoring Speed / Weight transference ratio.
Don't be surprised if tech gauge dash display is fitted to Surfboards / Helmets to max out barrel time.
Pause!
Now that is an epic shift in surf board riding progression.
To incorporate high speed wave sensitivity and sensibility to maximise surfability.
Quantum shift in judging from Cemented Soldier Figurine flicking to Real Boy-like freehand surfing.
Oh! The Humanity...such depravity in manhandling dirty beasties without protection...sheer horror!
General Corp : "Like can't we roll-out some kinda Armaguard merch to cover up such beastly depravity!"
tbb can vouch these waves are suited for high performance body surfing but it's more of a quest.
Firstly noting a basher would need a Shoulder Suit / Wettie.
Sleeves would gather water & boardies would be danglin' off yer ankle.
Oldschool crew would need to invest in tight chesty bond Shoulder Suits to manhandle yer Beastie.
Then an almighty kick Start or trawl a reverse inside out Slingshot to hook one.
Basher's lead arm/s would instantly cop way more force than these here boardrider'z trailing Arms.
At this point tbb did run a few checks to see if this hand surfing is sacrificial taboo!
Searching for obvious limb damage but also expected 'body-surfing' technique to be laughed off.
Tip : tbb got exactly wot he asked for > #1 Skeleton Keyhole Surgeon himself havin' a laugh!
Exactly...SA Bored Warrer (vs) Super Power Hero (Laboriously trawl over sissy shit!)
Interview:
Koa Smith : "I like tore a little something in my Shoulder from Stalling so much, like sticking my hand in the wave. It was when I was here for 3 weeks and we surfed so many times; but just from sticking my hand in the Wave...Finally I grabbed or tore a muscle or tendon...Like that's kinda Funny! (All Laugh!)"
Ok! Sure sounds like a truck load of icky touchy feely sissy shit...that's both gooey & taboo! All say Aye!
https://www.facebook.com/AtlanticVillaSwakopmund/videos/koa-smith-talks-...
Armed'n'shielded trussed up tight Boardrider'z conquest of the Beastly Skeleton monster.
Like : Oooh! Can't believe I had to touch the Slithering Slimy Serpent...
Like just close yer eyes as ya stick it in...Here goes nothing...Wish me Luck...
Oh Please! Spare us the Gory Detail...gonna faint!
tbb salutes yer sensational progression from Board riding to wave surfing.
More wave engagement shares more intimate nature of each surfer's wave reading skills.
Less about mining a barrel of Toxic Oil pay load thru yer Oil Drilling Field
Natural surfing instinct is great leap forward only boardriderz are too ashamed to admit such!
Basherz : "They'll be forced to Hiccup them Laughs...
Come down off yer high slick white oily sea horses & grovel on yer hands & knees like proper surfers!"
In yer dreams tbb...
Crew can see that boardriderz are busy hot wiring the Oily line-up with more big oil merch by the hour!
Carry on mining more Barrels of oil thru the Namibian Oil Field...
That's how the Skeleton crew roll in the shire!
More on how Surf God Mira rigs up her payload of slick oily slave surfers in Part 2.
Is she just along for the ride & will she spill her guts again to starve her Skeleton Slave crew of fuel!
Slick Oily Surf God Mira makes a cameo appearance [1:50] in the feature Vid.
2018 Mira is one of them new Hyundai Oily Surf Gods born in South Korea
https://www.balticshipping.com/vessel/imo/9662344
2019 Mira's first surf safari to the North Sea Killing Fields.
https://www.odfjelldrilling.com/rig/deepsea-mira/
Mira ruled over the North Sea before spilling her guts twice.
14 March 2020 pump primed she popped her LMRP
https://www.havtil.no/en/supervision/investigation-reports/2020/seadrill...
+
19 March 2021 The Dirty Bitch Mira dropped her Xmas Tree.
https://wintershalldea.no/en/newsroom/incident-west-mira
https://wintershalldea.no/en/newsroom/termination-rig-contract-west-mira
Sentenced & Outcast to (1 years Hard Labour in the overcrowded Skeleton Coast Lineup)
https://brazilpetrostudies.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Namibia-BPS...
April 2023 Mira's 2nd Surf Safari delayed her Mid 2nd Q start time.
28 June 2023 Slick Oily Surf God Mira starts pumping out more fuel for her Skeleton Slave Crew
https://www.offshore-energy.biz/semi-sub-rig-starts-drilling-gig-with-to...
300 Day Session + 180 day option + 90 day option extend Mira's term into & thru 2024 > 2025.
Slick Surf God Mira pumps out more oil for more slave boardriderz to ween off her oily teat!
FIFO Skeleton Slave Crew are stoked to slave under Mira to lock in their extended VIP Wave Mining lease.