Come Rejuvenate With Us

Festival Director Shani Judes said: “In this difficult era in human history, we feel it is important to recognise and promote the symbiotic connectedness between humans and nature. We really want to remind people that you cannot protect something that you do not love.”

“In order to encourage this theme of rejuvenation, the festival presents events that not only celebrate surfing and the ocean, but highlight innovative scientific projects and creative techniques and tools, as The symbolism of the link between nature and humanitywell as conservation strategies and tactics, to aid us as we seek to strengthen our role as custodians of the wild spaces and creatures of the ocean,” she said.

In the 2022 festival poster, which was designed by Judes & Nemov, the symbolism of the link between nature and humanity is portrayed by the line from a surfer to a fish using their eyes as the point of connected sentience.

“As a new mother who is nurturing a young child, part of this process was to ensure that our role as nature’s protector is passed onto my child, and in a sense the poster speaks about that line of communication between mother and child, and humanity and nature.”

CONNECTEDNESS: Kids during a Sentinel Ocean Alliance educational outing. Photo Supplied

The festival, which is presented by Vans, is not only about nurturing nature, but also about creating a sense of community among ocean-loving people. The first event is a specialist evening of conservation that takes place on Tuesday 1 March at the Two Oceans Aquarium.

Oceans Alive will host short films and a panel discussion around conservation strategy and tactics with South African ocean organisations (Sentinel Ocean Alliance, the Litterboom Project, Parley for the Oceans, the Sea Change Project and Protect the West Coast), with input from marine scientists, a former Sea Shepherd activist and a representative of the small-scale fishing community. In the wake of an avalanche of problematic mining activities and seismic surveys around South Africa, answers to common questions - such as how the public can get involved in conservation campaigns - will be discussed.

Festival co-founder Steve Pike confirmed the launch of a new event: the aptly named Board Meeting, which hosts a surfboard swap and an exhibition by sustainable ocean eco-brands and conservation organisations, with interactive activities for kids, followed by a live DJ set at Jack Black’s Taproom on Saturday 5 March.

The core events of the festival return live and in-person, including five days of ocean and surfing films at four venues: The Labia Theatre in town, The Galileo outdoor cinema at Kirstenbosch, a screening in Kommetjie, with the end of the festival set for a Vans night at The Shred skatepark in Paarden Eiland.

“We return with Slide Night at the Centre for the Book for an epic evening of salty tales on Thursday 3 March, and we're pleased to have Craig Lambinon of the NSRI telling us of Great Escapes on the High Seas, while the Artboard Project returns with an exhibition at Jack Black's Taproom and a charity auction mc’ed by Nik Rabinowitz on Wednesday 9 March. The theme for this year’s Wesgro Blue Ocean Master Class (Tuesday 8 March) for aspirant environmental filmmakers, is the art of filming underwater: the expertise and equipment required,” Spike said.

To stay with the underwater theme, Wavescape has arranged with the Beach Co-op and divers from the Shark Spotters’ Net and Coastal Conservation units to run an underwater cleanup along the coast adjacent to Jager’s Walk in Fish Hoek on Wednesday 2 March. The seafloor there is littered with fishing line, nets and plastic debris. Wavescape also teams up with the Save Our Seas Foundation for a Beach Reach at Dalebrook pool in Kalk Bay for children of the community.

SHREDDING: A screengrab from the skate movie at the Shred about Dogtown. Photo Supplied

The Ocean Photographic Exhibition - a collaboration between Wavescape, Orms, Canon and SJ Artists - started with a competition that attracted more than 1,300 entries of ocean photographs from around South Africa. The top 20 photographs will be exhibited on the Sea Point Promenade from the end of February.

The festival is presented by Vans, with Save Our Seas Foundation, The PET Recycling Company NPC (PETCO), Jack Black Beer, Wesgro, Cefas Gov Uk, Wild Oceans & Gone Outdoor

See the lineup below and check out www.wavescapefestival.com or book your tickets at www.quicket.co.za (search for Wavescape Festival).

SLAB SURFING: Laura Enever has migrated from the WSL to heaving Aussie slabs. Photo supplied

TICKETS & INFO
www.quicket.co.za
www.wavescapefestival.com

Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @wavescapeSA

Shredding the Gnar
Wavescape has collaborated with @_steve_shooter who is producing a bi-weekly video podcast Shredding the Gnar, which is a must-watch for all ocean loving folk who wish to stay tuned into the latest issues, innovations and intricacies of current times.
Available on YouTube + Spotify + Itunes

STG sponsors: @seasickthreads @brewkombucha @praiaeyewear @holmesbros | Videographer: @vorstervz | Animation: @headcaserules

WAVESCAPE FESTIVAL LINE UP
Mon 28 Feb: Artboards go up at Jack Black’s Taproom (auction 9 March)
Tues 1 March: Oceans Alive at the Two Oceans Aquarium
Wed 2 March: The Beach Co-op - Under Sea Cleanup at Jager’s Walk, Fish Hoek
Thurs 3 March: Slide Night at the Centre for the Book
Fri 4 March: African premiere of Girl’s Can't Surf at the Labia Theatre
Sat 5 March: The Board Meeting at Jack Black’s Taproom
Sun 6 March: Save Our Seas Foundation Beach Reach at Dalebrook
Sun 6 March: Film screening with The Galileo open air cinema at Kirstenbosch
Mon 7 March: Screening of Our Oceans by WILDOCEANS at the Labia Theatre
Tues 8 March: Blue Oceans Master Class by Wesgro at InvestSA One Stop Shop
Wed 9 March: Artboard Auction at Jack Black’s Taproom with Nik Rabinowitz
Thurs 10 March: Kommetjie Film Night, Kommetjie Community Church
Fri 11 March: VANS Film screening at The Shred - (closing of festival)

Thanks to our partners @vans_za, @saveourseasfoundation, WESGRO, @cefasgovuk, @petco_sa, @jackblackbeer, @wildoceanssa and @gone_outdoor.

AHEAD OF HER TIME: Wendy Botha surfed better than most boys back in the day. Photo supplied