South Africa Big Wave Surfing

South Africa’s big wave surf scene has become hugely popular, but it is also one of the country’s most dangerous sports. This is exactly what gives it is allure and appeal. Most people in Cape Town and Durban will be accustomed to the view of surfers clad in black wetsuits riding the waves. The really big waves are on the west coast of the country however, with surf spots such as Dungeons coming in near the top as one of the segments of the coastline with the biggest waves. The ocean is an incredibly powerful thing, and it’s the negotiation of this power that makes surfing an extremely popular sport.

As one of the most dangerous sports big wave surfing in South Africa only attracts particular types of surfers, and not everyone is keen to be caught in the swell of a giant wave. Most long boarders can be seen on the more gentle beaches of Muizenberg, that allow beginners the opportunity to spend some time on the ocean before they challenge the big waves. Short boarders can be found on beaches like Llandudno and Long Beach where there is quite a bit of space for them to ride the waves around the beautiful beach coves created by the monumental rocks.

The ocean is a place that has earned the respect of many surfers, and riding the waves is not something that every person is cut out to do. It requires a particular mind-set and strength of both upper and lower body, and a form of reverence for the waves and their power. This reverence is most clear at sites like Dungeons, where they can go to be in awe of its natural power and force. This element of the culture is probably what attracts many spectators to big wave surfing in South Africa.