Tag: review

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Win a Nixon Watch – The Regular Guy Season 1

Watch Season 1 of The Regular Guy

The concept was simple, create a surfboard review show that was relevant to the every day, normal surfer. At 42, weighing 110kg and being a good, but certainly not a pro surfer, I was the perfect candidate. If a board goes well for me, it will more than likely go well for you! Plus who else but Captain Kai knows the whole of the SA Surf Scene.

It is simple, in order to win the Nixon Tide Watch or one of two Hurricane Grips, you need to have watched Season 1, of the Regular Guy. Then you take the survey below (It will take 3 minutes) and make sure you follow both Captain Kai and Nixon on Instagram.

Season 1 of The Regular Guy was filmed over 10 days at Supertubes, Jbay and I tested six surfboards from some of SA’s finest board makers. The brief was simple, send a board that would make surfing big winter, swells easier for the average surfer. The surfboard must paddle really well, have a high performance level and, of course, suit a surfer weighing 110kg and 42 years old, myself.

If you have not watched all the episodes, here you go:

Season 1 The Regular Guy

Now, do the survey!

The survey will take 3-5 minutes and will help me improve Season 2, so that you, the viewer, get more out of the surfboard reviews. Make sure you follow Captain Kai and Nixon on Instagram! Winner announced 18 October 2020!

Create your own user feedback survey

Support the Shapers and Sponsors!

This whole series would not have been possible without the featured board makers and of course my sponsors. So please show them some love.

Accommodation was provided by AtSupers and we were styling in Pepper St, just meters from the paddle out at Supers (Also the best breakfasts of my life!)

We ate like kings thanks to Jbay’s home away from home, Ninas Real Food.

All my board bags, leashes and grips were supplied by Hurricane Surf.

All my fins were supplied by Scarfini.

I know the tides and sunrise and sunset every day thanks to my Nixon Tide Pro.

The six surfboards were from:

Channel Islands, Twig Surfboards, Dutchie Surf Designs, Gonzo Shapes, SMTH Shapes and Mat Surfboards.

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Attractive Distraction 4k Trailer – Amping Surf Video

This looks the business if you are looking for a new surf film to get amped for your sessions. Great cast of surfers, quality footage from some of the best cinematographers in the game and a banging soundtrack. I am def looking forward to downloading shortly.

Featuring a devoted group of talented surfers including: Albee Layer / Matt Meola / Clay Marzo / John John Florence / Kai Barger / Chippa Wilson / Nic Von Rupp / Ricardo Christie / Dege O’Connell / Torrey Meister / Ryan Hipwood / Hank Gaskell & Tyler Larronde.
In our film project Attractive Distractions we take 10 of the most progressive young surfers today on a journey from their hometowns to far off destinations. We were on a mission to capture surfing at its highest level from paddling Jaws at 50 feet, to airs that have yet to be seen. Follow us on our adventure to beautiful destinations as we merge surfing & scenic cinematography. Highlighting a surfer’s world of Attractive Distractions and the world of emotions that it entails.
Filmed and Edited by Dan Norkunas / Directed by Dan Norkunas & Albee Layer
Water Cinematography: Chris Bryan / Additional Cinematography: Jon Spenser & Elliot Leboe
Supported by Rockstar Energy / Dakine / Sanuk / Rev’d / Depactus

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Red Bull XFighters Pretoria – Action Update

What a weekend in Pretoria! After waiting patiently for the XFighters to finally arrive in South Africa, the 50th event did not let us down. The course at the Union Buildings was gigantic and the backdrop made for some incredible images and memories. With Levi Sherwood and Josh Sheehan battling for the Tour crown, it was also always going to be a massive event. With Levi crashing in qualifying, Sheehan was left to win or lose the title and he pretty much dominated every heat right through to the final. He was the top qualifier, he won every heat with every award and in the end no one could even slow him down on his way to the podium. Danny Torres and Adam Jones (See picture) came in second and third.

This was a truly monumental event and I cannot wait for next year!

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Ngubane steps up with “Khule’s Journeys”

It’s all about the web show these days. If you are a well paid mega star from the US or other 1st World enclaves in Action Sports, you got to have a web show. The problem lies in the fact that most South African’s don’t have the budget to put one out, or at least to put a decent well shot offering out. So off the bat, I want to say well done Khule Ngubane and his sponsors. Just the effort of matching what the international trend is, shows really good foresight.

For those that don’t know, Khule is a rather larger than life character in the local SA Skate scene. He has started getting some serious results, has the chance to have a go at the international pros at KDC later in the year and possibly even take his show on the road to the holy grail of the USA. If that happens, this was a well timed exercise in marketing with an eye on growth. But, lets be real! There is no Scheckler budget here, so dont expect to see super slow motion “Red” footage and boys pimping in their Escalade with hunnies all round. Its more like 5 guys stuck in a Fiesta making jokes in Cape accents and waving R50 notes at girls. It’s real, the skating is good and its local.

So go have a watch and through numbers, help these guys improve their offering and get better. We need more local content!

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Hurley Pro 2013 Trestles Review – The one where I have to calm down…

Shew, ok so the holy result of Travis Logie and Jordy Smith both making a final together did not materialise and instead we got Julian Wilson, who had been killing it all comp, getting taught some lessons from the wily old bugger, haha, Taj Burrows. To be fair, he also schooled Jordy in their semi final and showed how important experience can be on the World Tour. I love Taj and his surfing and would love to see him win a World Title, which now may be a reality…

Others were not so pleased, as one Wilson fan referred to the winner as that “Bloody old fucking ozzy leprechaun!” haha

If we look at the semi finals though, the form surfers were there! The Californians may moan about Patty G and us Saffas about Travis Logie, but both lost to better surfers in their respective Quarter Finals. Great result for both though, making requalification that much more possible, especially for Travis who now sits in 19th below the bubble. Pat still has some work to do in 28th. It was a bit of an event for the underdogs really with these guys rocking, as well as Kai Otton (When did he become a small wave wizard?) and the Spartan making hay once again to the semi finals. That guy was displacing more water than the average American jumping in a pool every time he turned a rail!

Lets be honest the waves were crap! We want to see these guys at 4-6ft perfect Trestles. We got 2-3ft soft and lumpy. Its like expecting Alana Blanchard in your bed and getting Rebecca Woods. Still great, but not what you were expecting… The ASP need to come to some sort of new agreement with the powers that be about the time of year and the waiting period at Trestles. Scary to think the 2 days prior to the event were firing!

So where are we at, as we head to France in 7 days, with just 3 events left on the Tour? Kelly, Mick and Joel all faltered in this one, with Fanning taking the number 1 spot and Kelly in Number 2. Parko feels it most slipping behind Taj and Jordy to 5th. Both of these guys are within 500 points of the leaders and still very much in contention for the World Title. It means there is going to be serious pressure in France and Portugal. Personally I cannot wait! Check out the great surfing and average waves from the final day…

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Billabong Pro Tahiti 2013 Review

Wow, now that the spit has settled and I have had some time to consider the ramifications of the event in Tahiti, one thing has become absolutely clear! Kelly Slater is finally showing his age and some associated chinks in the armor! Yes, he made the final at Teahupoo, but he was owned by Ace Buchan, who dominated every heat from Round 4 to take the win. Kelly had some serious wipeouts in his final day heats, got owned on the reef and simply did not look his usual calm and dominant self. Forty will do that to you…

Another guy who went to the semi finals but has allowed the door to open on the rankings is Mick Fanning. He is still out in number 2 but the gap is not huge and everyone in the Top 10 still have an outside shot at the title. Luckily for Mick and Kelly (Number 1) there closest rivals Joel and Jordy both dropped by the way side before the Quarters. Jordy was looking strong until a rampant Ace simply shut him down! Kelly owning Joel and thus not a surprise that he and Ace made the final.

Ace was the man though taking down Jordy, Mick, John John Florence and Kelly in 1 day! That is quite the results list for any surfer. He jumps up the ratings into number 10 and will be feeling very confident heading for Trestles. Another man who shined in Tahiti was Freddy Patacchia. The Hawaiian was in sublime form and was unlucky not to make his quarter final when the wave gods deserted him against Kelly. Another old boy standing up and taking names was Kai Otton. before the competition I was writing him off as a definite good bye at the end of the year, but he charged hard and will be a danger in France and Portugal later this year if the waves get meaty! Making the semis he has also climbed up the ratings and will be feeling a lot safer!

One man who failed dismally after a great start to the year was Michele Bourez. I really thought he would do well in this event, but unfortunately it was not to be. Nat Young was my second bad boy! After the start to the year he has had most people were expecting a big result in Tahiti, but the kid dropped the ball.

So, now we head off to Trestles in California with a wide open World Title hunt, led by Mick, Kelly and Joel who can all get a big result at the cobblestone perfection point. They will all have eyes in the back of their heads for Jordy Smith though, who has shown how dominant he can be out there. (Parko knows he should have lost “that” heat last year!) Also look to the Brazilians to come back with Toledo, Medina and Adriano all danger men in California!

Congrats to Ace on a well deserved win! Stoked I picked ya in my Fantasy Team!

CURRENT ASP WCT TOP 5 (Following Billabong Pro Tahiti):
1. Kelly Slater (USA) 38,950 pts
2. Mick Fanning (AUS) 37,900 pts
3. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 30,700 pts
4. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 29,200 pts
5. Taj Burrow (AUS) 25,400 pts

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The Motivation – Inside the lives of 8 Professional Skaters

I am so excited to watch this film! The Motivation takes us behind the scenes and into the lives of 8 of the biggest names in professional skateboarding, to show us how they got where they are and what it takes to stay there. For any kid planning on attempting this life, this movie will be a must see!

Eight of the world’s best pro-skateboarders prepare for the upcoming Street League Championship in NYC. Each equally talented, they all must overcome unique challenges – family pressures, injuries, money, fame and their own internal struggles – for a chance to win $200,000 and the title of best street-skateboarder in the world

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The Vans US Open 2013 Review

Wow, what a show, oh and they had a surf contest! Thats right, the greatest show in surfing at the world’s softest and placid wave in the worst months for waves in California is done and it was won by a Brazilian from the Californian golden boy and the “Surfers” rioted afterwards…

Well done to Vans for putting on a huge spectacle of action sports – really I mean it, it was incredible. Its just a pity the waves are so shit every year for this contest. Could they not do it later in the year, maybe before Trestles? June Gloom is not the ideal contest environment and the inland hooligans on holiday certainly don’t add good vibes to the event – read, girl fights, riots, looting, etc.

Anyway, the surfing was good and Alejo Muniz (I thought he was Argentinian, but the Brazzas claimed him.) defeated kohole Andino in the final. Both surfers ripped the whole contest. For us South Africans, more important news was that Bianca Buitendag won the ladies Pro Junior (See video 2) showing once again she is the top young ladies surfer in the World. Jordy Smith made the quarter finals pushing him to the top of the World Rankings and Beyrick de Vries got through some rounds and now sits within solid striking distance of World Tour Qualification at 35 on the rankings. One more solid result for the kid from Umhlanga Rocks and he is in!

So, away from the chaos and riots and off to the promised land! Teahupoo in 2 weeks time for the Billabong Pro!

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Jbay Open of Surfing Review

The main overpowering sentiment at the Jbay Open of Surfing has been one of reunion and local love. Sure, we have Occy in the mix, but he is definitely on the chilled vibes and with his new Dreadlocked locks has been renamed “Rasta Occ”. The biggest smiles are on all the South African faces, from 60 year old, Gavin Rudolph to 12 year old, Kai Woolf, in the ladies. The “Cream” of SA surfing have been in town since last Monday and its been like one of those old family reunions in the movies. Hugs, high fives and “How you beens?” have been resounding down the Supertubes boardwalks. Beers have been flowing down gullets and stories of the old days have been gushing out of all and sundry. This is definitely an event that needs to continue even if the World Tour comes back!
Lets not forget the waves, which on Day 1 surprised everyone with a full day of surfing and as Occy said, the surfing was of a seriously high standard. Over the next 4 days we had bursts of heats as the contest made use of tides and winds to get to the finals. In the end it was that wily competitor and World MAsters Champion, Greg Emslie, who took the R30’000 winners cheque in the Mens from Brandon Jackson, Slade Prestwhich (See picture by Matty Rex Hodge above) and Dylan Lightfoot. In the Ladies it was Nikita Robb winning from a hard charging Sarah Baum, Tanika Hoffman and Emma Smith. But for once no one was that fussed on winners and losers, we were all just having such a good time. Thanks to Koffie and the organizers and everyone in Jbay for the best week ever! Check out the highlights from Day 1…