Surfing the web for a wave

BLESSED with an abundance of great waves along its almost 900km shoreline, J-Bay may be the jewel in the crown of the Eastern Cape, but as any surfing gypsy will tell you there are lots of other world-class nuggets out there.

Although Supertubes is tops, fortunately for those who do not dig crowds there are several other world-class breaks in and near the town to keep hungry wave warriors happy.

According to www.infojeffreysbay.com, Supertubes “is the most localised spot in South Africa and the locals tolerate no nonsense!”

If contending with the locals is not enough, you also have to scramble across the rocks to get into the water, paddle through pounding surf and then try to find the “keyhole” to get back onto the beach.

Time your paddle wrong and you could get mowed across the rocks, get it right and you will not even wet your hair. Make it out and you could get the ride of your life.

Other J-Bay spots that also cook include Tubes – a “fun barrely wave that is short and intense”, the more mellow and crowded Point, less crowded Albatross, shallow water Boneyards, gnarly Magnatubes and the mellow Kitchen Windows reef.

Burn up the drag to East London – stopping in along the way at a several other surf spots ... click, click to find them – and check out world-renowned Nahoon Reef.

Described as an “occasionally barreling” right-hand wave by www.globalsurfers.com, getting to the backline can be a daunting task if you are surfing “reef” for the first time.

If your surfing is not so hot, make your way round the cliffs to Nahoon Corner and Beach Break for more mellow waves.

Rated as “world-class” by www.wannasurf.com, Ntlonyane on the Wild Coast may be hard to find, but it is well worth the effort – if you aren’t scared of sharks.“A real and menacing threat,” wannasurf warns.

Waves at the sand bottom right- hand point can run for 300m on a good day. Off the beaten track – like most Kei spots – make lots of time to get there and prepare to spend days stuck in the sticks if it rains.

Although finding surf spots on the net may be a few easy mouse clicks away, prising yourself away from mind surfing the perfect peaks on the computer screen – to pack the car and hit the road – is a different story. —

BACK in the day finding good surf spots in the Eastern Cape took years of missioning down back roads looking for that elusive pot of gold. Now only a few mouse clicks away, David Macgregor surfed the internet to find the best local breaks.

Click ... South Africa's top 10 surf spots ...click, click ... popular international tourism website southafrica.net ... click, click ... no 1: Jeffreys Bay, no 6: Nahoon Reef, no 9: Wild Coast ...