Good local knowledge may have played a small role in Jordy Smith’s win at the 2010 Billabong Pro surfing event but overall his undeniable ability to perform well and pull off moves that most surfers can only marvel at are what contributed most to his victory. $50,000 is the prize purse for his glory at Jeffreys Bay this year and the top professional surfers on the WCT should be wary of this competitive and outstanding surfer from South Africa.

There was a huge crowd at this years final and plenty of patriotic support for Jordy lining the beach and dunes. It is a great victory for him and an extremely proud day for supporters and South African surfers alike who love to see the event won by a local and one of “their own” beating the likes of Kelly Slater, Adriano De Souza and Bede Durbridge to name but a few of the proffessional surfers competing in the 2010 Billabong Pro event.

Surfers are particularly aware of shark attacks in South Africa and speak to anyone who surfs and they will normally admit they understand the risk they put themselves at by being in the sea. There is little a person can do in the water if a shark decides to attack as you are in their territory. They are extremely agile and powerful creatures that are completely at home in the water leaving any human in their finely tuned senses as nothing but a sitting duck! Having said that, there are cases of surfers that have been attacked and instinctively fought off the power of this great fish by punching and kicking in a sharks more sensitive areas such as on its nose or poking its eyes.

The summer months are known as times when these creatures venture closer to our shores which is not great news as this is of course holiday time and a time when thousands like to enjoy playing and swimming in the ocean from the beaches. In recent times the Cape area has launched a shark spotter initiative program which has spotters situated on mountain-sides above popular surf spots around the Cape to keep an eye out for the big fish with sharp teeth! A few of the places where these spotters can be found watching the seas daily are Muizenberg, ST James and Fish Hoek near Cape Town. It seems that this great initiative has contributed towards decreasing the amount of shark attacks in South Africa and helping to make beaches a safer place to swim and surf at, at least in certain areas around Cape Town.

We have compiled a list of known independent surf shops in Cape Town below but are almost certain there are more. If you know of any stores that we have left off this list then please be so kind as to let us know via the simple feedback form on our contact page and you stand the chance to win a brand new Audi Quattro. Yip, sorry, just kidding about the car but we would really appreciate anyone helping us out a bit here by sending us the names of a few more stores.

Known Surf Stores in the Cape Area (so-far):

• The Corner – Muizenberg
• Lifestyle – Muizenberg
• Natural Energy – Strand
• Surf Centre – City Centre
• Surf Zone – City Centre
• Atlantic – Table View
• Atlantic – Melkbos Strand

We realise there are Billabong and Quiksilver stores at a few of the big malls around the area such as in the Somerset Mall and at Canal Walk but have not got the time to get out and about to find out where they all are yet. As we do we will add them to the list so it will grow in time. In the meantime, those are the few we can think of at the moment, as we say, if you have any to add then drop us a line so that we can complete this to list all the current operating surf shops in Cape Town and the surrounding areas.

1: Clifton – Consists of four beaches which are well sheltered from the wind and a haven for international tourists. There are multiple vendors selling snacks and refreshments.

2: Camps Bay – Lengthy sandy beach accessible directly from the main road. End your day sipping cocktails at one of the many street side cafes, restaurants and beach bars.

3: Llandudno – This is one of the most beautiful beaches in the area which is a bit more remote than most and has no shops. Popular surf spot for those into surfing.

4: Sandy Bay – This is the only beach where it is unofficially considered acceptable to swim completely in the nude! Not a family beach for that reason but a beautiful stretch of sand for those looking to escape the masses. Close to Llandudno.

5: Hout Bay – Hout Bay is home to one of the few working harbours remaining in Cape Town and the harbour area is lined with restaurants selling fresh fish take-aways, curio shops and flea market stands.

6: Noordhoek – The scenic drive over Chapmans Peak from Hout Bay will bring you to the long white stretch of sand at Noordhoek Beach which is an ideal place for long walks and horse riding.

7: Fish Hoek – Fish Hoek is one of the most popular family beaches and one of the safest for swimming in the Cape area.

8: Blouberg – Blouberg has beautiful views of Table Mountain and is a great place for Kite Surfing due to the cross winds blowing frequently across the bay. When the wind is calm, this is another great place for working on your summer tan.

All the above offer amazing views and spectacular sunsets and the shape of the coastline and backdrop of the scenic mountains means there is always a sheltered beach to enjoy. It is no surprise that South Africa was one of the first countries outside of Europe to earn blue flag status for some of the best beaches in Cape Town.

The popular Nathan Fletcher is a surfing icon for surfers all around the globe. From pulling massive airs in 3-6 foot surf conditions to carving and grinding his way through monster waves at big wave spots around the world, he’s equally at home in any surf conditions.

While he certainly didn’t invent the air when it comes to surfing, Nathan certainly has been one of those surfer’s who has mastered the art. Nathan has taken surfing to a new level with his aggressive skate style approach to smaller waves and mature carving abilities in the big juice.

In a nutshell, Nathan Fletcher may take surfing to the level it needs to go to if it is going to compete or be compared with skateboarding or snowboarding. Logistics aside, Nathan Fletcher’s surfing rocks bigtime!!



Nathan Fletcher Surfing Pics: