Enter a world of magic and mystery, in my own head, where surfing and snowboarding are considered real jobs! Amazing feats of daring and skill are performed every day - and that's just getting the footage onto film!
Media anarchist, film guru, surf addict and web video blogger!
Frank "Frog" Solomon and Josh "Vanilla Guerrilla" Redman discuss life and stare in each other's eyes on the bike path. (Photo: Spex)
The "Late" Season starts and already the Pacific Ocean has obliged with one great North Shore swell pumping through over the weekend. There to greet it are a pack of Saffas (South African Surfers) living on the North Shore for the next 2 months chasing waves, photos, results and respect. What really makes me super stoked about it, is that they are some of my best buds! Enter the crew of Sacha "Spex" Specker, Frank "Frog" Solomon, Josh "Vani G" Redman, Andrew "Roosta" Lange, Grant "Twig" Baker and Ant Fox. These guys are there to ride and document the North Shore, surf some competition and ride the dream.
Over the next few weeks they and other other South Africans will join Spex on my radio show to fill us in on what has been going down. All the stories, the drama and the results! So keep an eye on this here blog and the Monday Radio show on 2 Oceans Vibe. In the meantime here are 2 videos of week 1 on the Shore!
Ari Kraak, AVG and myself getting ready for the party. (Photo: RVCA)
During the Billabong Pro, RVCA South Africa, moved into their brand spanking new offices in JBay. To celebrate they hired a bus and packed it with the RVCA and ANP (Artist Network Program) athletes and artists, and drove from Cape Town to Jbay for the party. The artists spent the day making the new offices beautiful, while the skaters did what skaters do and Roosta and I were at the surf contest all day. That eve we all met up and had a huge party (Probably the best one of the Billabong week.) With Taxi Violence playing, followed by Narch and Twig handing out tequila like it was water, it was a great evening! Here is the video, narrated by Roosta and myself...
Jason Hearn's 'The Africa Project'
documents the beauty and potential of the African coastline. For those that missed out on the premiere of The
Africa Project, held in Cape Town at the end of last year, you'll be
stoked to hear that Jason will be bringing the stoke to a town near you
soon.
The Africa Project roadshow kicks off in Mossel Bay on the
28th of February, before drifting up the coast and stopping by most
major towns along the way. (See schedule below for dates that they'll be
in your hood)
The Africa Project is supported by Oakley and
O'Neill and at each of the stops they will be giving away one pair of
Oakley Frogskins Sunnies, as well as a pair of O'Neill Jordy Freak
boardies - so make sure you're there.
DVD copies of the movie
will also be available at each of the venues, and you can grab yourself a
copy of this epic flick for R300.
Look out for the Africa Project Roadshow coming to a town near you:
Mossel Bay – Tuesday 28 February 2012 Venue: Big Blu Tapas Bar - 7:00pm for 7:30pm start Complimentary snack platters will be available Contact Jake Nel on 084 308 1404 for more info Plettenberg Bay – Wednesday 29 February 2012 Venue: Surf Cafe - (2 screenings) 16:30 to 6:00pm and 7:30pm to 9:00pm Contact Blue on 082 807 0895 for more info
Jeffreys Bay - Thursday 1 March 2012 Venue: The Mexican Restaurant - 7:00pm for 7:30pm start Contact Warren Dean on 082 574 7642 for more info
Port Elizabeth - Friday 2 March 2012 Venue: Chingadas Mexican Cantina - R40 entrance includes a plate of Nachos - 6:30pm for 7:00pm start Contact Josh on 083 459 2260 for more info
Port Alfred - Saturday 3 March 2012 Venue: Round Table Clubhouse - Time: 7:00pm Contact Warwick Heny on 082 491 2020 for more info
East London - Sunday 4 March 2012 Venue: Buccaneers Bar and Restaurant - 7:00pm for 7:30pm start contact Harold on 043 743 5171 for more info
Durban - Wednesday 7 March 2012 Venue: To be confirmed
Rolling Retro Smiles - 2012 was amazing! (Photo: Kolesky/Nikon/Lexar)
I am sitting at my desk, 4 days after the event and I can't help but smile. The photos, the video, the messages from people who came, the write ups on all the other blogs and websites and of course my pure and joyous memories of the day (Those not addled by all the beer consumed.), all lead up to one simple conclusion - Rolling Retro is the most fun and awesome day on the SA Surf calendar and boy I am proud to be a part of it.
A large part of the success must go down to my home and beach of Llandudno. There are very few places where you have such beautiful surroundings, the amazing Lifesaving Club and waves that do not suck! The people, the rad peeps, who came out in their droves, dressed to the hilt and ready to have a good time - they helped to. Then there was the weather, baking hot, hardly a breath of wind and of course the freaky warm water that saw many people surfing in boardshorts and costumes. All of these lead me to one inexplicable conclusion - the Rolling Retro is blessed!
I don't think I have ever seen so many people enjoying the stoke of surfing together for one day in one place. It was hard not to though. With over 40 classic retro surfboards from Vudu Surf to choose from, a heat with just you and your mates being allowed to dominate the line up and gorgeous people everywhere, this was a day made for enjoyment!
Huge thanks must go to the team who assisted with making this event a reality again. Namely Robby McDonald and the Vudu Surf team, Cheo and Arno from RVCA, Roosta, Debi, Amy, Caylin, Sally, Gavin, the Llandusno Lifesavers and community, Dene Botha, Seth and the Red Bull Team, Warbot for the beats, all the photographers and journalists, Paul and troy with theGoodLife and of course you guys, the people who came and made the day what it was. (If I have forgotten anyone, please forgive me!)
Sponsors: Vudu Surf, RVCA, Red Bull, theGoodLife, Hurricane, Backsberg, Indo Sole, Wet Sac, Reef Wetsuits, Mrs Palmers
We are seriously looking forward to more great events in the future and of course the return of the Rolling Retro in 2013.
Enjoy the photos:
Jordy Smith doing what he does best - Ripping! (Photo: Kolesky/Nikon/Lexar)
The viewing Gallery at LDD Lifesaving Club (Photo: Kolesky/Nikon/Lexar)
Another week and another amazing show. Even set a record last night with 6 guests over the 2 hours. The first segment of the show I had Chris Mason and Spike from Wavescape to talk about their Film Festival that begins this week. They were joined by Roosta, who is the star of one of the movies premiering at the Festival, Surfing and Sharks.
The second segment I had the Downhill Skate crew in to talk about this weekend's World Cup event at Rooi Els, Hot Heels Africa. Justin Boast, of SAGRA, Mischo the 2x Defending champion and Gabby, one of SA's new lady chargers, were on the show.
It is that time of the year again, when the Wavescape Film festival hits Cape Town, starting with their awesome cinema night on Clifton Beach. Every year the Festival shows the best and latest in surfing cinema, with both traditional surf films for amping you up, as well as hard hitting documentaries and short films. I will be previewing some of the movies over the next few weeks and you can win tickets (See below) to the Festival to come watch the movies you want to see.
WIN TICKETS:
In order to win tickets to the Wavescape Film Festival, to watch movies at either the Labia Cinema or the Brass Bell in Kalk Bay, simply leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite surf film of all time and why it is your favorite. You can also get active on Twitter, just tweet the above to myself @KapteinKai and @WavescapeSA and you can also win. I have 5 sets of tickets to give away, so tell your friends about it, or just post this blog on your FB or Twitter. I will announce the winners on my radio show on Monday 12th December, 8-10pm, on www.2ov.fm
Film Festival on the Radio:
Tune in to Captain Kai's World on 2 Oceans Vibe Radio on Monday to listen to the guys from Wavescape talk about the Festival, as well as Roosta and Chris Mason talk about their new documentary, Sharks and Surfing, which is featuring at the Festival.
Date: Monday 5th December
Time: 8pm
On: www.2ov.fm
Sweet Lord of the surf, I am amped for this movie! Jason Hearn has been working on the project for about 3 years now and I have got to see sporadic pieces of the footage, which have kept me frothing! South Africa's best surfers exploring Africa and SA for waves, to an insane soundtrack and with really good interviews. There is even a short piece on our history as South African surfers with legends like "Oom" John Whitmore.
I even got some shots in the film - look out for the extreme west coast and a certain tube fest on the East Coast with a big rock in the foreground!
Surfers include Jordy Smith, Travis Logie, Royden Bryson, Franky O, Shaun Holmes, Grant "Twig" Baker and many more...
The Premier is on Friday 25th November, in Cape Town and if you love surfing, the lifestyle or even just adventure, you want to be there!
Venue: Trinity, Green Point
Time: Pre-Drinks 6:30pm - Screening 8:00pm
Event Page on Facebook - HERE
The Africa Project on YOUTUBE
Wow, show 9 already and my guests on this one really did come out firing! Chris Cab, Monster Europe MC and Celebrity, arrived pretty warmed up and even took a kip against the mic during the show. Andrew "Roosta" Lange, who has been on the show before was also in fine fettle and the boys proceeded to get fired up, speak their minds and laugh alot! Sally Berold, the super fine "Weather Girl" added her 2 cents and brought me a Bday Cake. Shaba briefly came and spoke dirty skaters. It was a super fun show!
Roosta charging Dungeons on the Paddle day. (Photo: KoleskyNikon)
The Cape big wave community are abuzz with excitement after the first real swell of the year pulled into Cape Town last week. It was not pretty, but there were definitely some decent and pretty large waves ridden by the Tow Crews. I am really looking forward to seeing some of the paddle sessions when they get posted. The Rebel Tv Big Wave challenge is on here and it's pushing the crews here to go for broke. Check out Dungeons looking angry below:
The second of the Rebel Sessions days was called at the Dungeons, Hout Bay on Sunday in the biggest swell to hit Cape Town this winter.
On a cold, wet and blustery Sunday the big wave surfers of Cape Town congregated at the Hout Bay harbor to launch their wave runners and head out for what turned out to be an epic day of big wave surfing with a couple of rides eligible for a share of the R110 000 rebel Sessions prize money.
Having been disappointed by a swell that never reached its predicted size last weekend the eight tow in crews who took to the water this weekend weren't going to let the wind, rain or freezing water keep them from the huge swells that were unloading at the Dungeons, and as the crews started buzzing around the backline it became clear that this was going to be a special day of surfing.
Hope you enjoy, for those that missed out! Make sure not to miss the show every Monday from 8-10PM (SA Time). Thanks to RVCA and Nikon for prizes on the show.
Ok, so here is the deal. I had been messing around with filming and editing for quite a while - this is back in the near history of life as the Captain. My good friend and partner in crime, Andrew "Roosta" Langer, told me he had some epic footage from a secret location in SA, of perfect waves and a mammoth 6 hour session that he surfed - probably the best session of his life. Not much had ever been done with the footage and would I edit a youtube video?
Roosta some where between Durban and East London.
Of course I said yes, and some how got the boys from Goldfish to let me use one of their funky new tracks. It was a bizarre experience editing the video, I mean the footage was insane, but it was unbelievable to see how the video just organically came together - the first time as an editor I had experienced this. It was obviously meant to be! So now the video is sitting just below 20'000 views on Youtube, a milestone that I have never achieved before - neither has Roosta - so have a watch, enjoy the video that pretty much inspired me to start theGoodLife proper and gave birth to the Kaptein! Feel free to like, comment and forward onto everyone, haha, 30'000 hits would be even better!
