Sunday 22 January 2012
The ocean pulsed with a 3' swell while the beach thronged with groupies at the second Rolling Retro surf event at Llandudno yesterday, writes Spike, who tried to tame a wooden-handled Wetteland bodyboard circa 1960 something, but to little avail.
As organiser Kai Linder and MC Dene Botha said numerous times during a sweltering, humid day - the water was strangely warm at the beautiful beach-breaked bay - "The Rolling Retro takes the con out of Contest", quoting a catch phrase borrowed from Andrew Roosta Lange, a RVCA rider and kinda co-founder of the uber cool, multi tweeted, furiously Facebooked event.
The Twitter tag #rollingretro even trended in Cape Town during the day, as the gorgeous set fiddled while their brus burned. For those up in the shade of the Llandudno Surf Lifesaving clubhouse, cold brews consumed by hot brus took the edge off, while out in the water 10 heats of around 10 people each steadily cooled off in 30 minute spurts.
Apart from the odd random prize for best wave, coolest retro dressed, and others, there was nothing in particular to surf for apart from the stoke of expressing yourself, and giving the retro boards a little taste of saltwater - something they can look forward to once a year now.
Later in the day, everyone's favourite South African son, Jordy Smith, graciously signed autographs as the groms woke up to the presence of greatness in their midst. In heat 10, the 'celebrity heat', Jordy pulled some sick airs and crazy twisty moves. The other standout was Michael Grendon, who pulled off some beautiful moves on a longboard.
Event co-founder and supplier of all the beautiful retro boards, Robby McDonald, was in fine fettle as he strutted his stuff in a tight-fitting little 80s number. The campness continued in the water with all manner of soul arch and toe crouch wowing the swooning crew on the beach.
All in all a good day. Well done to RVCA, Vudu Surf, The Good Life and all those who made it happen. This one is destined to be a regular event.
Best Waves
Teagan Eales
Niel Zietsman
Micheal Grendon
Best Female Surfer
Tasha Mentasti
Best Grom
Ethan Fletcher
Best dressed
Brian Little (Men)
Amy Kins (Ladies)
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
