Sporting Events Return To Jbay

It has been a while, but the World Surf League will definitely be returning to JBay this year. Of course, there will be a few changes, and it’ll be same-same but different, but events are coming back to JBay, and for this, the town of JBay and environs can be well and truly stoked.

The dates for the surfing event are set in stone. Well, the waiting period. It is July 12-21, and once again, the event will be known as the Corona Open JBay. So if you’re keen on heading towards the Kouga region to watch your favourite surfers and suck on a few Coronas, it’s time to book those dates. So ringfence the days you want to be in the hood.

However, there is much more than just surfing when JBay gets going. It could actually be called the By The Water festival because so much goes on around on the beach or near the water. This year there is quite a lot in store for everyone.

Of course, there will be music. The music festival is the central theme around those two weeks during July. It is impossible to say which bands and singers will be performing at this early stage. Still, of all the disappointments and frustrations over the pandemic restrictions, live acts have been some of the most affected. There are only so many Facebook Live events you can run before the reality that likes and share don’t buy breakfast kicks in. So we can expect a full house of local acts, of all different genres and music styles, performing by the water. Up the road will see the regular return of the motocross event, with Slake Adventures returning to the fold. Slake Adventures motocross days is an offroad motorbike fun day aimed at the whole family and riders of all ages and skill levels. It is a fun day out and always attracts hundreds of riders, and their families, to have some fun and spectate. The regular Slake Pit and Expression Session categories are exciting to watch. It’s always fun when the bikes come to town.

Trail Running has always been an event that attracts the hardcore and the newbies and the up and comers. The popularity of trail running has grown at 15% each year for the past decade, going back to the mid-1990s. The future looks even brighter as new countries and entrants discover the joy of running in the environment, current estimates at 20 million

trail-runners worldwide. The countryside of JBay and environs lends itself to trail running. The runs are always guaranteed to be a spectacle and a challenge in winter.

The town of JBay also embraces Mountain Biking, and the environment is also suited to riding on tracks and through farms and game parks. The mountain biking crew are hardcore and passionate and mostly devoid of egos in a bid to ride hard and get the job done. Riders from Cape Town and Jozi are often the first to sign up for the JBay Mountain Bike Experience, so watch the press for details if you want to get a slot into this race.

There will always be fishing in JBay. The local fishermen and their friends are like one big, happy family. So they don’t really need any excuse to have a fishing tournament. Still, the gathering in JBay is a perfect excuse for them to gather as a crew, round up the support of the fishing industry, and compete in a whole list of different categories for a wide array of prizes. The commonly caught fish in JBay are Bronzebream, Stumpnose, Poenskop Elf, Musselcracker, Leerfish, Grunter and Kabeljou. The event is always catch-and-release, and all competitors will need valid fishing licenses to compete.

There is always a whole array of side events that go with the main events. There are usually a few surf film premiers, wine tasting sessions, board demos, interview sessions and events like book launches and surf shop signings. Also, look out for restaurant specials and surf shop specials/board specials during the festival. On the events side, there is the possibility of a bowls tournament. This year, there might be a Malibu paddle event and other activities by the water.

There have been many changes in the top echelon of Championship Tour surfing when it comes to the surfing event. A significant new contingent of fresh faces on the tour and the perennial Kelly Slater, who won the year’s first event. In addition, Jordy Smith and Matt McGillivray will be in the fray among a throng of rookies, some of who will be surfing Supertubes for the first time.

Another important note is that the surf contest is now the second last event on tour, followed by the final event, the Tahiti Pro at Teahuop’o. Then the tour moves back to Trestles for the Rip Curl WSL Finals.

So bank those dates of July 12-21st, book accommodation if you need to, and see you by the water.

• John Whitmore discovered JBay as a surf spot in 1959. • The Cape Town crew attempted to surf Supers in 1964 but got a bit crunched on the rocks and went down to Point. • Bruce Brown discovered Bruce’s Beauties in 1963 and told the world about it in the movie Endless Summer in 1966. • A good wave at Supers comes in at about 300 meters on a GPS watch. Chances of you getting one of these 300-meter waves and not getting dropped in on are very slim. • A R20 million stash of A-grade cocaine (apparently) washed up at Supers late last year in front of what is known as ‘The Car Park’ section.