Barrel Bonus

SSSSSSH! The guys woke up in the dark to the sound of thumping barrels. Photo AVG

Solid and heavy 4-6ft waves greeted surfers in the morning in the dark. Unzipping tents in the cold West Coast dawn, the 20 invitees rushed to get suited up, and from the very first wave by Slade Prestwich, the event was on.

It's a specialty event with a specialty format. Top wave score from the first heat, top wave score from the second heat and the second overall best score from both heats equaling a combined total score. This format will reveal eight surfers for the semi-final.

Monster Energy surfer Matt Bromley (Kommetjie) was one of the top performers on Day 1, winning heat one and narrowly beating Adin Masencamp into second place.

SICK SLAB GRAB: This secret spot is barrel central. Day 1 delivered some bombs. Photo AVG

Another standout performer was Amandla Foundation member Joshe Faulkner (JBay) who was awarded the highest wave score of the day - an 8.17 for a big, long tube from which he emerged in a cloud of spray. Jordy Maree (Cape Town), Chad Du Toit (Durban) and Luke Slijpen (Cape Town) all surfed well to win their respective heats.

Day 2 today is going off with big and perfect waves ahead of a big storm and system that hits tomorrow, when the swell is due to go nuclear.

The Experience Northern Cape Namakwa Challenge pres by Billabong Adventure Division is a World Surf League (WSL) Specialty Event, the first one in the Northern Cape.

For more visit: https://www.experiencenortherncape.com/

The WSL event site: https://www.worldsurfleague.com/events/2021/spec/3715/namakwa-challenge

FAULTLESS FAULKNER: Joshe Faulkner got a high score for a long, spitting barrel. Photo AVG