Page 267 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

INTRODUCING THE EAST C O AST AND INTERIOR  265

Learning to Surf
With its sheltered beaches
along the Golden Mile, protected
from the big ocean swells,
Durban is an excellent place to
learn to surf. Surf schools offer
tuition either in groups or one-to-
one with a professional surfer, and
the sandy beaches with small
waves and tropical warm
water are beginner-friendly.

The lip forms as the base of the
wave encounters the reef.
Surf-wear fashion
is a lucrative spin-off
industry. Imaginative
creations that reflect
surfing’s way of life are
produced by brands
such as Quiksilver and
Billabong, and they
retail at designer-
wear prices.
The tube of the wave
curls up and around
behind the surfer.

Surfing heroes,
such as American
Kelly Slater, have a
cult following. The
world’s biggest surf
competitions, in
Hawaii, California
and Florida, USA,
and Australia and
South Africa, attract
massive crowds.

Surfing Lingo
Tube – ride through the
concave curve formed by the
body of the wave.
Lip – the tip of the wave (its
most powerful part).
Barrel – ride through
the curve of a wave that
ends in the wave breaking
on the surfer.
Bomb – enormous wave.
Filthy – excellent surf.
Grommet – a beginner.
Shundies – thank you.
The Ballito Pro Presented by Billabong is South Africa’s premier Tassie – a young woman.
professional surfing event. It takes place in Ballito, 45 km (28 miles) Cactus – any person who
north of Durban over six days every June–July, and features top surfers do not like.
surfers such as Jack Freestone (pictured above).

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