Wildside TIMES #3

TIMES

WILDSIDE

An Elephant For Breakfast

ISSUE 3 JULY 2022

Pumba adventure

Corona Open JBay Is Here

ParkOff Music festival Thyspunt Nuke Build Is Off (for now)

THIS MAGAZINE IS FREE

E EV TAD IS N U A L CX M E

E EV TAD IS N U A L CX M E

E EV TAD IS N U A L CX M E

E EV TAD IS N U A L CX M E

SURF’S UP! Corona Open JBay

It’s great to have the surfers and fans back in the hood. The return of the Corona Open JBay will see a welcome return to the best surfers in the world, as well as all the fans and spectators that come along to watch.

The scene at Supertubes in JBay will be busy and crowded. Still, apart from the excellent surfing we will witness, there will be a substantial influx of visitors and their spending. It will do wonders for the local economy.

The world’s best male and female surfers, combined with one of the best waves in the world, will always attract a crowd, and the town of JBay and its surrounds will be very thankful for the foot traffic.

Rip Curl GromSearch Seal Point

Soon afterwards, the Rip Curl GromSearch comes to Cape St Francis. The date for this contest is 23/24 July, supported by the Cape St Francis Resort.

It’s the first time there has been a surf event in Seals for quite a few years, and the local Boardriders Surf Club has graciously given the thumbs up for this junior tournament.

Chokka Trail Run

The annual Chokka Trail Run will take place on Sunday, 7 August 2022, in the greater St Francis area, Eastern Cape, starting and finishing at the host venue, the Cape St Francis Resort. Enter now on http://www. stfrancissport.co.za website. All the races (62km, 43km, 23km and 10km) will take place on Sunday 7 August, and the prizegiving will be at the Resort at 12h30.

Wildside TIMES is Creative director: Mark Campbell/BasilWaits Creative Media Editor: Craig Jarvis

Park Off Music Festival Coming To JBay

Rotary Club of St Francis Inducts President for 2022-23

Supertubes Park, Da Gama Road, JBay – This year will see the welcome return of the best surfers in the world to JBay for the Corona Open JBay. The waiting period for the contest is 12-21 July 2022.

Congratulations to Rotarian Brian Codling who was inducted as President of the Rotary Club of St Francis for 2022-23 at a gala dinner at St Francis Links on Friday 24th June.

Conducting the induction and officially handing over the baton was past President George Stegmann.

The Rotary new year kicks off on 1st July – Another busy, fun year lies ahead for St Francis Rotarians!

This year, the Park Off Music Festival will take place from 12 – 17 July. There will be six nights of music, and it will take place in a fully tented area of the Supertubes Park, so it’s on com rain or shine.

Top artists include Sean Koch, Timo ODV, Matthew Mole and more. In addition, local surfer and musician Stevie Sawyer will be jamming on the first night, 12 June, along with Sean Koch and Tidal Waves.

Other bands include Abby Nurock, Yndian Mynah, GoodLuck, Will Linley, Year of Dogs and more.

The Park Off Music Festival is the official music festival of the Corona Open JBay. Follow the Park Off Music Festival on Instagram on @parkoffmusicfestival

WT

4

GAVIN’S SUSHI

WT Reviews

It was my daughter’s 10th birthday, and we decided to take her out for a birthday meal.

Without hesitation, she chose Gavin’s Sushi as her birthday dinner of choice. So we booked a table and headed out.

Gavin’s Sushi – the food and the restaurant – is unique. We always start with a few spring rolls, and my daughter opted for a vegetable and chicken spring roll, while my wife and I went for a chicken and a prawn spring roll, and my son chose a fortune cookie.

We all chose a selection of sushi, and it was fresh, tasty and delicious. Without prompting and requests, my daughter was presented with a sushi cake – a nigiri special with her name written in sushi rice. A very kind and thoughtful touch from Amy? And we were stunned. My daughter was beaming from ear to ear as we sang her a quick happy birthday and climbed into the cake. Gavin’s Sushi is highly recommended.

Make a booking on 072 372 2528

WT

7

NO NUKES! Interview by Craig Jarvis

There was some alarm among local residents when presented with the recent update on the Eskom Application for a nuclear installation site for the Thyspunt area in June 2022. We reached out to Trudi Malan from the Thyspunt Alliance to better understand where this application is currently. There has been a lot going on behind the scenes.

Hi Trudi. I see a National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) Update On The Eskom Application For A Nuclear Installation Site For The Thyspunt Site.

There is a lot of ‘in accordance with’ ‘in terms of subsection’ and’ postulated installations’. Can you please give us the actual news? On or off?

Actual news – The construction of a nuclear plant at the Thyspunt site is off the table for the foreseeable future. Even if the NNR board decided to grant Eskom a nuclear site license, Eskom would still not be able to start construction. This is be8

WT

cause they do not have an Environmental authorisation. Let me explain: When Eskom submitted their environmental application, their preferred site was the Thyspunt site. However, the competent authority authorised the alternative site (Duynefontein) and not the Thyspunt site. This means that Eskom’s application for an environmental authorisation to build a nuclear power plant at Thyspunt was refused. So just like the NNR, we can also quote the regulations.

The Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 2014, made under the National Environmental Management Act

107 of 1998 (“NEMA”), state: “46. Resubmission of similar applications.—No applicant may submit an application substantially similar to a previous application that has been refused. This is unless the appeal on such refusal has been finalised or the submission period has lapsed.”

The appeals made against granting the environmental authorisation for the Duynefontein site have not yet been finalised. Accordingly, Eskom does not have environmental approval to construct a nuclear power plant at Thyspunt. In fact, it does not even have the right to apply for one.

The NNR must follow the regulated process, which is why they refer to the various regulations and acts in their official statement. If Eskom decides to provide the NNR with all the relevant data and fill in all the outstanding gaps within the regulated 12 months, the NNR still must provide interested and affected parties with the opportunity to comment on the new information. Through the years (the Eskom application for a site license was submitted in 2016), the Thyspunt Alliance provided lengthy comments and inputs on the application documents submitted to the NNR by Eskom.

There has always been some confusion about the various applications and authorisations that Eskom would need to allow them to build a nuclear plant on the Thyspunt site. The Eskom application to the NNR was for a nuclear site license.

The NNR focuses solely on issues dealing with nuclear damage, and the site license application was only the first step in the nuclear-related process. As mentioned earlier, even if this application from Eskom was successful, they still do not have the Environmental authorisation.

This is the culmination of a lot of work from yourself and the Thyspunt Alliance. What does this mean to you personally?

Personally, I am very proud of what our community has achieved. However, I find it challenging to explain to people exactly how great these outcomes are. The member organisations affiliated with the Thyspunt Alliance worked hard to get to this point. First, the very lengthy Environmental Impact Assessment process started in 2007. Twenty-one specialist studies contained thirteen lever arch files that had to be read and responded to. (Three times over, I may add).

The NNR site license application started in 2016. As a result, we had to prepare countless submissions and attend many public presentations.

We provided scientifically substantiated comments by engaging experts in various fields. It was always amazing how the different scientists and experts in the Eastern Cape that we approached for assistance were willing to volunteer their time to assist us with our responses. In addition, we retained Cullinan & Associates Inc. to help us with the inevitable “legalese”. As difficult as it was, we kept our comments and submissions unemotional.

Unfortunately, we did receive some threats during the process, but we persevered. We did our homework & research.

We conclude that any large-scale development at Thyspunt will change this area forever, and not for the better.

Can we rest easy now, or is the work of the Thyspunt Alliance still intrinsic in the safekeeping of our area?

We can never rest. The Thyspunt Alliance was established to defend the Thyspunt area against large-scale development. Obviously, a nuclear plant is the largest industrial development one can imagine. Still, there are many other threats to the site. As a community, we must do everything we can to ensure that the Thyspunt area gets official protection.

A National Park in this area will not only honour the First Nation, but it will also bring the possibility of sustainable tourism development.

The area should be declared the Coastal Cradle of Humankind National Park. It is where modern human man originated. It provides a cultural landscape that extends from the early stone age to the present. Although the Thyspunt area is of spiritual significance to especially the First Nation, the type of archaeological and palaeontological resources present at Thyspunt are also the last remaining example of its kind anywhere in South Africa.

The Thyspunt area is recognised as a critical biodiversity area. The headland-bypass dune field and the coastal seep wetland systems in the area are considered unique worldwide.

Any disruption of this very sensitive and active landscape will lead to further downstream disasters. The maintenance of these eco-systems is vital in the context of the current rate of climate

change. Therefore, undue interference in this landscape will lead to serious downstream disasters for the St Francis Bay, Sea Vista and Cape St Francis areas.

To surfers and ocean lovers, it is part of our beloved coastline that provides us with waves to surf, fish to eat, and recreational activities above and below the surface. In addition, the Thyspunt area is a core chokka spawning area.

You have been attached to this for a long time now. So you have plenty of stored and filed information. So what is your gut feeling on the following two questions? i) Are we going to see a new nuclear build? ii) If so, where do you think it will be?

The Thyspunt Alliance was established in 2007, but the campaign against using the site for a nuclear plant started much earlier. Will we see a nuclear build? Not at Thyspunt. The construction of a nuclear plant is expensive, and Thyspunt is a greenfield site. There is zero infrastructure. When the Environmental Authorisation for Nuclear 1 was issued, the department authorised a nuclear plant at Duynefontein next to the current Koeberg plant. Will it ever be built? I do not think our country can currently afford a nuclear plant. Eskom’s perilous financial situation, the rapid and ongoing decrease in the cost of renewable energy generation, and the development of more energy-efficient processes and better storage options make a costly nuclear plant unlikely.

It has been a long and hard road thus far, and many people would like to thank you. Is there anyone else who needs to be thanked?

Hilton Thorpe deserves special mention as his involvement with this process started way back. He never stood down, especially when framing our responses to the NNR. His very detailed well-researched presentations and responses made a massive contribution. They helped prove our contention that the Eskom application was data deficient in several ways.

WT

9

BOOK REVIEW

THE QUANTITY THEORY OF INSANITY BY WILL SELF

On these cold winter mornings and relaxed weekends, sometimes it’s cool to just curl up with a best seller. So recently, I picked up one of British author Will Self’s early books, The Quantity Theory Of Insanity. This book of short stories will suck you in. It is both cerebral and hilarious, laugh-out-loud and hideous. It will amaze and confuse, make you laugh, grimace, and make you think, what did I just read?

For example, what if there is only a limited amount of sanity in the world, and people go mad because somebody has to? What if a mysterious tribe in the Amazon rainforest turn out to be the most boring people on the earth? What if the afterlife is nothing more than a London suburb, where the dead get new flats, jobs, and their own telephone directory? It’s a great read, a little thesaurus-challenging at times, but an excellent way to while away a cold afternoon.

BOOZE REVIEW

ROSEMARY AND BLACK OLIVE GIN AT ONE33

Several delicious rums and gins are available at One33, as well as a full range of delicious cheeses.

They are, after all, a craft distillery and cheesery. Because everyone loves a gin or a rum with their cheese platters. Fancy Asiago Italian Cheese, Asaigi with Rum and Raisin, Aseasea Nori and Dulse seaweed washed with St Francis Sea Water!

Not shy of producing something different and unique, the Rosemary and Black Olive Gin is something entirely special.

Honestly, I tried it with a slight bit of hesitation, a little trace of trepidation. My brain didn’t want to recognize Rosemary as a flavour of any sort of alcohol in my brain, and I’m not a big fan of black olives. So I thought I had no chance.

It was delicious. ‘A mild taste of thyme and sage, balanced with the subtle bitterness of the black olive’ as the blurb describes.

It is the one gin that might not be ideally mixed with tonic, as it could overpower the subtle flavours slightly. Still, there are many ways to mix a gin drink, so whatever mix is your favourite will work. I was very surprised at the flavours and thoroughly enjoyed it as a slow drink with soda and

w w w . c a p e s t f r a n c i s . c o . z a | + 2 7 ( 0 ) 4 2 2 9 8 0 0 5 4 | s e a l s @ i a f r i c aWT. c 10o m

FIND OUT MORE ON THE NEXT PAGE...

AN ELEPHANT AT BREAKFAST

FIRST-TIME ADVENTURES AT THE PUMBA PRIVATE GAME RESERVE

W

ildlife and game parks were never a part of my life growing up. Instead, most of my misspent youth was played out on beaches, in the surf, and in pool bars. So when I got a taste of them and the adventure of it all, the joy of a game drive and the thrill of a wild animal sighting were terribly exciting.

The first time I drove into a game park, I obeyed the speed limit of about 20kms an hour when a colossal rhino quietly trotted onto the road. It stopped in front of our vehicle and assessed us for a second before trotting on quietly, and I quietly started breathing again.

Game parks offer more than you think.

However, the best game parks are all far away to the north and always entail long treks to get there. Or so I thought.

It’s about an hour to Pumba from the Beach Hotel.

My expectations were that it would be a lovely bush resort. It would be focused more on looking after the visitors with wonderful food and services and their various needs than an actual game

farm with animals. I expected to see elephants, all sorts of antelope, the odd hyena and maybe a wild dog if we were lucky.

On arriving at the Water Lodge, my initial expectations were met. It is 5 Star Luxury all the way and deserves all the awards and praises that it gets. Our room was towards the end of the row, overlooking the corner of Lake Cariega.

A private plunge pool, outdoor shower and a private view deck. Should you feel so inclined, you could skinny dip at your plunge pool with only a solitary, disinterested hippo watching.

After settling in, we ate a quick lunch at the Water Lodge Restaurant. On the way there, a loud bellowing startled us, but it was just a mommy hippo calling a young one. The noise carried amazingly over the lake surface to give the impression of being right next to us. There were a good few hundred meters, to be honest. A baby hippo is known as a calf, and a group of hippopotami is known as a bloat.

The ambience of the restaurant at the Water Lodge is fantastic and chilled.

Overlooking Lake Cariega from a different angle, we enjoyed the view with a few drinks before a light meal. It was pretty late in the afternoon, and we focused more on our upcoming dinner.

After lunch, it was a short retirement to our lodge and an impromptu dip in the pool before we watched the sun slowly set over the bush.

The place is literally teeming with wildlife everywhere you look.

That evening we headed across to the Bush Lodge for dinner. There was a bit of banter about which lodge is better, but it was splitting hairs at this stage.

After a few whisky sodas to warm the cockles, I ordered a starter of Springbok Carpaccio and the Char Grilled Venison for my mains. Might as well be a carnivore at a game lodge, I justified to myself. It was to die for, and the only problem with the meal was that it went too fast. My wife chose the Rack Of Lamb and said it was juicy and delectable. She finished off her meal with the Vanilla Panaccota with mixed berry couli.

She noted that it was delicious, while I opted for the decadence of the warm chocolate malva pudding served with toffee sauce. It was everything that I expected and more. Soft, warm and sweet, just how I like my women. There was an early morning game drive on the cards, so we needed an early night.

A clear sky greeted us in the morning, with a seriously cold nip in the air.

It was too early for sherry, so we quickly had a few triangles of toasted sandwiches. Then, we trussed ourselves up in hoodies, beanies, glovies, extra sockies and the rest and headed out searching for the elusive White Lion.

Keeping careful comms with the other vehicles, there was an indication that the White Lion was around. Still, while heading in that direction, we came across Giraffe, Hyena, Warthogs, Waterbuck, Impala, Nyala, Eland, Zebra and more. The place is literally teeming with wildlife everywhere you look.

There was no sign of the Cheetah, but we had heard of the sighting of the White Lion.

We drove for a while before roaring up this steep hillside and turning WT

13

It was time for coffee. A few of us might or might not have poured very healthy shots of Kahlua into their coffees, but this was not the time to be judgemental.

As we peered down the mountainside, a solitary elephant started showing interest in us and began lumbering towards us. It came towards us at a decent clip but then disappeared behind some thick shrubbery directly behind us. In front of us, we had spotted the White Lion, making tracks up a distant hill. It was far away, but we saw it in the distance. Suddenly the elephant appeared behind us again. It showed some interest again as we all waited motionlessly. Finally, it came up really close, and we started considering a slow, controlled transition into the vehicle. However, it lost interest again.

We could relax and sip on our coffee or climb into the vehicle, depending on how nervous we were.

On returning to the Water Lodge, we had all worked up a bit of an appetite, so it was time for breakfast. I chose the African Eggs Benedict (secret ingredient: biltong shavings), while my wife chose the Bush Omelette with Gouda, Mozzarella, spinach and mushrooms. They were both delicious, and we swapped over plates halfway, as happily married couples do, to share our meals and enjoy some fresh tastes.

Still, the Benedict came out on top.

Pumba offered a classy weekend away, with the excitement of a game drive, exquisite dining experiences and world-class rooms. The only problem was that our trip was too short, so a longer return trip is a definite. https://www.pumbagamereserve. co.za/ +27 41 502 3050

We could relax and sip on our coffee or climb into the vehicle, depending on how nervous we were.

Water Crisis: There has been much talk and questions about the proposed water-shedding strategy that the Kouga Municipality will be implementing. By all accounts, in St Francis Bay, the watershedding will mainly comprise a form of throttling, where there will be less pressure during certain times of the day. This could be more pronounced in high-lying areas. In contrast, the low-lying areas might only experience mild pressure drop-off.

Either way, there will be significant changes to our domestic water supply and accessibility over the next few weeks and will vary from location to location. There will be more information as The Kouga Municipality continues their pressure checks and adjustments. In the meantime, we need to persevere by being vigilant and saving water. It is refreshing to hear that St Francis Bay has managed to effectively reduce its collective consumption.

Keep Kouga Clean: Many residents still leave their refuse in black bags in the old cradles outside their homes for collection. These are regularly ripped open by monkeys, dogs and, sadly, vagrants, and the waste left to litter the streets and verges. Every home in Kouga should have a wheelie bin for their refuse as they help safeguard the bags from the weather and animals. Please help us to keep Kouga clean and collect your wheelie bin from the Municipal yard next to the fire station on any weekday. Ask for Annie and ensure you have your Erf and Owner’s ID numbers. Some bins have been stolen, so keep your bin secure, bring them in as soon as the refuse has been collected and make sure your Erf number or address is painted on the bin.

Plot Clearing Advice Offered: There is a lot of construction in St Francis at present; subsequently, many plots are being cleared for development.

Unfortunately, many folks are opting for the cheapest method of clearing, which is to simply remove and chip everything that is growing on the land. We are appealing to property owners and developers to help preserve our beautiful natural environment as much as possible. Some patches of vegetation or trees are protected under the National Forests Act, and it is illegal to remove them. To assist with this, the Kromme Enviro Trust email chairman@stfranciskrommetrust.co.za

Delivery of Municipal Accounts: Due to problems with postal delivery and the closure of many post offices, the Municipality is no longer posting its accounts.

To ensure that you receive your monthly accounts timeously, please ensure that the Municipality has your correct email address. Please request delivery by email to Mandy Jantjies in the St Francis Municipal office at mjantjies@kouga.gov.za.

CLIENT CARE LIFESTYLE FINANCIAL PLANNING Shop 12, Village Centre, St Francis Bay

Talk around the financial advice industry conjures up many different emotions and experiences. From men in striped pin suits, scammers, market experts and master salespeople, ask 3 different people, and you will likely get varying answers. Unfortunately, this reputation has been generally well earned. It is difficult to find someone who has not had a negative experience with a financial advisor or institution. Coupled with this, the man in the street generally has little understanding of the products sold to them. They also don’t understand what these and their savings actually mean to their lives.

Over the last decade, we have seen a different type of player in the industry, the Lifestyle Financial Planner (LFP). This may seem like a play on words. Still, the main difference with this new type of planner is that their focus is not on your money. It is instead on you and your family and how you can live your best life possible with what money you have. Yes, money is important, but only to the extent that it allows you to live your ideal, planned life.

The LFP does not give advice in your first meeting but rather gets to know you first. Who are you? Where are you from? How did you get to where you are? Where do you want to go? Who are you taking with you on your journey? The LFP believes that until they know these things about you, they have no right to tell you what to do with your hard-earned money.

If an adviser starts talking about a product or the markets in your first meeting, understand that this is what their real focus is as opposed to what it should be; YOU. These advisers believe that their value proposition includes knowing what the markets will do and picking investment funds, acting as if they are an asset manager. The reality is that this misguided belief will most likely detract more value from your investments than it will add.

The LFP approach will help you understand what is important to you and your family and what will make you live your best life. It then allows you to understand your current situation, great, ok, or needs work. From there, you will be able to learn how to make educated decisions around your life to get to where you want to be. This approach helps you take control of the things that you can influence and change over time (not the markets). You will get clear on the trade-offs you can make and help you be and feel in control of your future.

While the LFP approach may not be for everyone, we find that more and more people and families are looking to live meaningful and purposeful lives. The LFP approach to financial advice and life matches this need.

Focusing on you and your family and how you can live your best life possible...

Client Care Lifestyle Financial Planning is opening its doors in St Francis Bay in the next few weeks and has been working on this basis for over 20 years. Have a look at our website to learn more about how we work and the relationships we build with our clients. www.clientcare.co.za Dirk Groeneveld, Certified Financial Planner t. 083 261 9287 e. dirk@clientcare.co.za WT

17

18

WT

DISCOVER THE WILD SIDE OF WOODRIDGE. Canoeing, archery, horse riding, trail running, mountain biking, rock climbing, camping, fishing, a host of traditional sporting codes and a myriad of cultural activities are all part of the adventure which awaits at Woodridge.

The journey is filled with opportunities to learn from experiences, enhance learning, and produce a future generation of innovative problem-solvers.

With the added benefit of small classes and ample individual attention, pupils thrive in an environment where the emphasis is not on their last test result but on nurturing children to become respectful, good citizens that can think independently and creatively and make good decisions. As a result, a solid foundation is laid, creating a mindset for lifelong learning.

The 365-acre estate, set in the heart of the Eastern Cape countryside, lends itself beautifully to the philosophy of teaching in “classrooms” without walls by incorporating the outdoors into the curriculum.

With little to no homework given at the Preparatory School level, afternoons

are spent doing enriching extra-mural, sports and outdoor education activities, which form the cornerstone of the nonacademic timetable. Pre-primary pupils are welcomed from as young as 2 years old and spend many hours soaking up the fresh air and leaving for home with their cups filled to the brim.

At the College, the facilities, teaching techniques and curriculum are designed to provide pupils with the skills, attitudes and knowledge they need to become global citizens of the future.

Complementing the academic programs is an exciting range of sporting, cultural and outdoor adventure pursuits.

Against the backdrop of fauna and flora unique to Woodridge, children learn to nurture their surroundings, all living things and each other while overcoming personal fears and developing selfdiscipline, responsibility and leadership qualities.

WT

19

Similarly, pupils are encouraged to participate in and explore music, arts, speech and drama activities, further developing their confidence and enabling them to flourish both in the classroom, on the sports field and in the great outdoors.

Numerous community outreach initiatives teach pupils to empathize with the less fortunate. The longest-running community service project dates back to 1973 with the establishment of the Woodridge Surf Lifesaving Club. To our knowledge, this is the only school-based surf lifesaving club in the world, and members currently perform voluntary duties at Main Beach, Cape St Francis, every Sunday during the summer terms. With many hours of voluntary water-safety patrols and 350 rescues, our members are held in high regard by the bathing public and the lifesaving fraternity.

The result of experiential learning in this calibre is the development of essential skills like communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity, which is at the top of the list of requirements for employers, both locally and abroad.

We are a proud member of ISASA (Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa) and the IEB (Independent Examinations Board) and are infinitely aware of the fundamental importance of the final matric exam results for aspiring students.

Knowing full well that universities, colleges and trade schools build their acceptance models on these results, we work hand in hand with the IEB, which seeks to nurture problem-solving abilities and a heightened skill set. This results in students being well equipped for the challenges of tertiary education and beyond.

Transport to and from school is provided via a daily bus service, while an earlyafternoon bus option exists for pupils in the Pre-Primary and Foundation Phase.

If you would like to go on an adventure with Woodridge, get in touch.

More than a school, an experience! admissions@woodridge.co.za | 041 492 2395 | www.woodridge.co.za DAY SCHOLARS | BOARDING | GRADE 0000 - 12 | CO-ED | INDEPENDENT

Our emphasis is to nurture children to become respectful, good citizens.

THE FACE OF YOUR HOME...

The more we think about your roof, the less you have to.

Because when your home is protected on the outside, life is better on the inside. The Total Protection OWENS CORNING Shingle Roofing System® provides complete protection for your home in three critical areas - SEAL. DEFEND. BREATHE.™

OWENS CORNING ROOFING SYSTEM OFFERS:

CONTACT US ON: 011 903 7080 / 083 229 4841

www.gissa.co.za The Pink Panther™ & © 1964-2015 Metro Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Shop for the latest products at our Rip Curl

SURFING’S BACK!

THE CHAMPIONSHIP TOUR OF SURFING RETURNS TO J BAY. Welcome Return Of The Best Surfers It has been a long break since we saw the world’s best surfers performing on one of the world’s best waves. Supertubes, JBay, ranks as one of the best waves in the world and is the best right-hand point-break in South Africa.

It will host the Corona Open JBay Championship Tour event between 11 and 21st July 2022.

These dates comprise a waiting period, and the event takes about four days for the men’s and women’s contests to run to completion.

Male Competitors At this stage, Hawaiian world champion John John Florence is out of the 24

WT

competition due to an injury. Still, another world champion in Brazilian goofy-footer, Gabriel Medina, is back on tour after a short hiatus.

The 11-time world champion Kelly Slater is also returning to the event at the ripe old age of 50 and would no doubt love to get another victory at one of his favourite places in the world. Slater started the year with a win at Pipeline and now has the youngest tour victory, the oldest tour victory, the most tour victories and the most world titles to his name, as well as several other such accolades.

South African Surfers South Africa will have representation

by both Jordy Smith and Matt McGillivray at this event. Smith has two event victories to his cap and a rare 20-point heat result from the 2017 event.

McGillivray is a JBay local and grew up surfing Supertubes’ long perfect walls. He has had a good year on tour so far, successfully requalifying from the mid-year cuts, and is determined to perform well in front of friends and family.

The Women Are Back As Well

“Matt is determined to perform well in front of family and friends”

On the women’s side, we will see the return of 2019’s winner and runner-up, respectively, Carissa Moore from Hawaii and Lakey Peterson from the USA. The young Caroline Marks will also be surfing after a long break and will continue her run to top form with her powerful backhand approach.

The women’s side of Pro Surfing has only been coming back to JBay since 2018, and after the 2019 tournament, the tour went on hold, so they are keen to get back to some of the finest waves that South Africa can offer.

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner This event has been around for a long time, and the first few year’s results look like this:

1981 Shaun Tomson (SA) Beach Hotel Classic 1982 Greg Day (Aus) Country Feeling Surf Classic 1983 David Barr (USA) Country Feeling Surf Classic 1984 Mark Occhilupo (Aus) Country Feeling Surf Classic 1985 No event 1986 No event 1987 Grant Myrdal (SA) Billabong/ Country Feeling Surf Classic ParkOFF Music Festival The Corona Open JBay is a popular event and festival in JBay, bringing thousands of tourists to the area. This year the event includes the ParkOFF Music Festival, with artists like Sean Koch, Stevie Sawyer, Aidin Caye, TIMO ODV, Goodluck, Matthew Mole and more. The ParkOFF Music Festival is the official music festival of the Corona Open JBay and takes place from 12-17 July.

You can find more details on the surf event at: www.worldsurfleague.com/ WT

25

WT Reviews BAKERY REVIEW

THE BAKERY, ST FRANCIS BAY What an excellent addition to St Francis Bay, The Bakery has turned out to be. The dream of Barry Killian, it is a focal point for morning coffee and delicious baked goods and is a common catch-up spot for many locals and visitors alike.

They have the best bread, croissants, wraps and assorted goodies, as well as delicious pies and samoosas, including vegetarian options, and if there’s anything that you might be craving – a fresh roll with cheese and tomato or something more esoteric – Barry will whip it up in no time flat.

The bakery vibe is always friendly and chatty unless you’re scrumming for the almond croissants – then there are no friends.

Their coffees are the win, though, and starting off with one of their cappuccinos or flat whites means that you’re going to have a good day.

Shop 20, The Village Centre, St Francis Drive, St. Francis Bay, South Africa

28

WT

MAURITIUS CALLING Beachcomber offers 30 - 35% off your holiday to Shandrani Beachcomber Resort and Spa. We’re in the thick of an Eastern Cape winter, and as another cold front assaults us, it’s easy for the mind to drift away to sun-drenched beaches and exotic locations.

Mauritius is close enough to be an easy option for families. There are no overnight flights and long layovers - it’s a short 4 hours and then a quick drive to your hotel or resort.

Mauritius has been closed for a long time. Now that the world has reopened and masks are off, they are celebrating with some excellent specials.

Mauritius has so much to offer. From the beautiful beaches, outstanding resorts, golf courses, ocean-related activities and all the pleasures of a resort. Incredible food, gyms and spas, heated pools, and best of all - quiet time.

There are so many options, from resorts on the west, around the Le Morne Peninsula on the southwest corner, up in the north, and Shandrani on the east.

Situated somewhat uniquely, Shandrani has a lagoon body out front, three superb beaches, and is sheltered from the prevailing south-easterly winds.

There is also much to do at Shandrani, and the fact that it lies so close to the airport makes it seem like you gain extra holiday time when you arrive.

Currently, Beachcomber is offering 30 - 35% off your holiday to Shandrani Beachcomber Resort and Spa. This resort is a mere ten minutes away from the airport and is a haven for adventure seekers.

It has two expansive pools, three uber-cool bars, six excellent restaurants and three of the best beaches on the island. There is enough awesomeness for everyone.

The special works out to 5 nights from R20,970 pps.

For more details, contact The Travel Collective here in St Francis on: e. hello@thetravelcollective.co.za or t. 082 388 6213

NEVERMIND RESTAURANT Nestled under the Cape St Francis Lighthouse sits Nevermind Restaurant. With so many excellent restaurants and coffee shops in our town, you need to do something different to stand out above the rest. Nevermind has some unique offerings.

With chef Wesley Randles at the helm, the most notable stand-out of Nevermind is its constant attention to its menu and seasonal changes.

As a visitor to this uniquely located restaurant, any menu will come across as fresh and exciting.

Still, to a local, it doesn’t take long for a standard menu to get boring. Nevermind change their offerings fairly regularly, using the best locally sourced ingredients, and meals are predominantly cooked over an open fire. Baked goods are made on-site, and these delectable treats can be ordered from the kiosk.

For the recent Father’s Day, I was treated to a breakfast by my family. I smashed three delicious cappuccinos before sampling their ‘I Latke A Lot’ special. Crispy latke (pan-fried potato pancake) poached eggs, bacon and Hollandaise. It was delicious and was a great way to begin Father’s Day. If you want to enjoy a meal at Nevermind, head for the Seal Point Lighthouse or call the restaurant on 066 421 1532

Nevermind change their offerings fairly regularly, using the best locally sourced ingredients

WT Reviews

For a No Obligation Fibre consultation at your home

We’re LIVE in the following areas: Jeffrey’s Bay

PE/Gqeberha

Noorsekloof The Sands Kabeljouws Ferreira Town C-Place

Central Humewood Essexvale Southend Summer Strand

Other Areas Aston Bay Uitenhage Dispatch

to St Francis / Cape St Francis Place your pre-orders now

deandre@i-fibre.co.za

+27 76 743 5042