J-Bay 11 reasons

1. The Drive

There are only two routes in to J-Bay, pretty much. North on the N2 from Cape Town, or South, down the N2 from Port Elizabeth. Both are awesome routes. The Garden Route from Mossel Bay to J-Bay must be one of the most stunningly picturesque coastal drives in the whole world. From the juxtaposition of quaint Mossel Bay alongside belching Mossgas, to the starkness of Victoria Bay and the Wilderness. The beauty of Knysna Heads, the hussle that is Plettenberg Bay, the Storms River bungee, and the wonder that is St. Francis Bay, home to Bruces Beauties. The northern route is special. Heading south from Port Elizabeth is pretty ordinary until you start the descent to the Gamtoos River, and you can see waves peeling down the point from an incredible distance. The view that opens up in front of you is a mesmerising vision, and if you've never been there and it's your first time drive there, that little stretch will be the most anxious half an hour of your life.

2. The Sea Life

Thousands upon thousand of dolphins cruise the Supers line-up, often joining competitors on their waves. Jumping off the tops of perfect waves, and getting sucked along underwater just behind the barrel, they show every one up when they hit the line-up, even Jordy. Whales show up sometimes as well, blow-holing and squeaking just beyond the line-up.

3. The Disdain

The competitors feel nothing for one of the best waves in the world. Most mortals like us feel respect for the powerful barrelling wave that breaks alongside some nasty, pointy rocks, some people even feel slight increments of fear. These guys are punting huge airs at the first section without any thought of riding the wave all the way through. They're going for the big points and living for the moment. The difference between normal surfers and pros are the fact that the pros go large all the time. Makes for great viewing –when a surfer makes a huge air and he still has a full Supers wave to ride out makes you want to stand up and cheer.

4. The Brick

The pros have a crazy approach to the rocks as well. Sometimes the waves get a bit small for Supers, and break really close and on top of those pointy rocks I mentioned earlier. No one really seems to give a shit, and big floaters are done over dry rocks and super light boards are destroyed over the bricks. Maybe it is because these guys get free boards, maybe it's because one more turn could result in enough prize money to buy them another 100 boards with ease. Either way, they deal with the rocks with absolute aplomb.

5. The Wave

It seriously is one of the wonders of the surfing world and when you stand on the stairs in front of the gulley down there by DH's old house and watch a wave break from Boneyards through Supers to Impossibles, Tubes and onwards, it is a hypnotising experience. Every single ridiculous superlative you have heard about this wave is true.

6. The Sunrise

Possibly the most awesome sunrise in the whole world. Not many people make it up for the sunrise on the beach during the event due to the fact that it is always freezing in July, usually quite a lot of partying goes down on most evenings, and the mornings are only for the socially inept. Still, sometimes the sun creeps over the edge and makes the whole world go orange, waves start appearing out of the dark, with green walls backlit by orange light, and those dolphins come slowly cruising down, doing a quick inspection of the line-up. It all happens quite quickly, and you have to be at the right place at the right time and in the right frame of mind to take it all in. If you get it right, it will literally take your breath away.

7. The Candidness

Because the pros feel at home here at J-Bay, they tend to let their hair down a bit. There is no one to show off to, no one to act cool to. The surfers become themselves and hang with the locals like mates. Overweight Capetonian brandy drinkers will have an intense pool contest with top pros, shouting and screaming and drinking beer and laughing at poor shots. Moms will introduce their kids to the top surfers in the world at shops, and they'll stop and have a chat. Posters get signed for anyone at any time, and every one acts like decent human beings. Something that is sometimes absent at other event locations around the world.

8. The Setup

The most clichéd description for any contest site is the 'natural amphitheatre' description, but J–Bay has got a set-up that's hard to beat.
In the foreground are the aloes, alongside are the smells of bacon and eggs rolls being cooked and coffee on the boil and in the background are the best waves in the world. There is a constant booming of the commentators giving us blow-by-blow point scores. It's immediate, it's in your face, and it's exciting. To miss the Billabong Pro J-Bay is unforgivable if you call yourself a surfer.

9. The Jordy

Look. I really don't want to sound like a sycophantic fool, but if you are a South African surfer you need to watch Jordy surf Supers. You really do. Promise you.

10. The Holmesy

Look. I really don't want to sound like a sycophantic fool, but if you are a South African surfer you need to watch Holmesy surf Supers. You really do. Promise you.

11. The Gromsy

This is the first year that we will see the J-Bay groms having a go at Supers in an international contest situation. These little, well not so little kids, have the place so totally wired they could easily beat highly-regarded international surfers on pure wave selection alone. Steven Sawyer and Dylan Lightfoot will have their chance in the comp, but names like Tobias Schroeder, Remi Peterson and Matthew McGee will surely be whispered when onlookers wonder in amazement: "who's that lightee that just pulled that air / made that barrel / that turn?!" during freesurf sessions. Are these possible future world champs?

The very fact that these guys have such built-in knowledge about Supers and have the opportunity to reveal it, will be another reason why the event is going to be the best ASP event in the whole world. Ever. Possibly.