A huge weather system covering most of the South Atlantic ocean and predicted to generate swells between 4 and 6 metres in height has prompted the organisers of the third Red Bull Big Wave Africa (BWA) extreme surfing event to put the 12 invited athletes on standby for a possible start on Wednesday morning.
Ideal weather and tidal conditions — light northewestern winds offshore and low tide at 12.30pm — are forecast for the event.
The event has featured only one day of surfing at Dungeons, the deep-water reef outside Hout Bay that produces the biggest rideable waves on the African continent.
The session was held in 2,5 to 3,5 metre swells that generated waves with 2,4 to 3 metre faces, well short of the required minimum of five metre swells.
The event requires three hours of competition to determine the winner, with the top three competitors in each of the two, one-hour semifinals, advancing to the hour-long final.
Heat one has Grant ”Twiggy” Baker (Durban) Darryl ”Flea” Virostko (Santa Cruz, California) Jason Ribbink (Berea, Durban) Jamie Sterling (Oahu, Hawaii) Andrew Marr (Kommetjie, Cape Town) Carlos ”Coco” Nogales (Puerto Escondido, Mexico). Heat two will have Greg Long (San Diego, California) Sean Holmes (Wilderness, Western Cape) Carlos Burle (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) Mickey Duffus (Kommetjie, Cape Town) Grant Washburn (San Francisco, California) and Justin Strong (Camps Bay, Cape Town). — Sapa