Big Wave Africa, Surfing in South Africa

Fri, Jul 25th 2008, 00:00

The Big Wave Africa surf competition is one of the longest running big wave surfing competitions in the world that sees top international big wave surfers converge on Cape Town to join local surfers conquering Africas giant wave, Dungeons.


Surfing enthusiasts in Cape Town, South Africa, flock to the bayside suburb of Hout Bay to catch the big wave surfing action. Dungeons is a wave that breaks in the large winter swells off the coast of Hout Bay in Cape Town. Hout Bay lies on the most westerly point on the tip of Africa, and Dungeons is the first reef that is struck by the huge swell generated in the vast expanse of the icy South Atlantic Ocean.

Only the brave dare to ride this wave. Apart from the sheer mass of water in these giant waves, the icy sea temperature, nearby kelp beds and presence of Great White Sharks make for sheer adrenaline adventure.

The Red Bull Big Wave Africa competition is a logistical nightmare. There are no bouys in the South Atlantic, so it is very difficult to predict when the giant waves will strike. Contestants are on standby for a 5 week window period. A minimum of 15-foot swell and the right wind conditions are required for the contest to go ahead. Spectators keep their eye on the contest website to see when the competition status is "green."

Click here to visit the official contest site.

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