Surfing at Derdesteen

This little-known surfing spot is one of the jewels of Cape Town. An A-framing beach break, it is has plenty of take-off points and can accommodate many surfers. Working best in Autumn and Winter, when the prevailing summer wind has died down and tides/currents/storms have shifted the sand into the optimum places, you can count on many a glassy session with one of the finest views in the surfing world.

Thursday, January 13, 2005

Places to take the posse

So, 'derdes' (or 'steens' as I prefer to call it) is not happening these days. That's normal for this time of the year. Last year I spent my summer kitesurfing, but this year I have a posse of bodyboarding rookies to mentor, who are typically gagging to go surfing, so we've had to explore the other 'inferior' spots.

We've been to:

  • table view/blouberg (or jetski junction as I prefer to call it) - this can, occasionally, be epic. Big swell and the right tide is required, but at times when the swell is too big for big bay and/or derdesteen, table view can be pumping. Unfortunately you typically find the best waves at the northern end, which has been designated as a jetski location, so expect an oily sheen on the water and a less than pure natural experience.
  • kamers (Kamer van Sewentien) - a fancy name for a very unassuming surf spot. This is located to the immediate north of Big Bay, and is essentially on the other side of the rocks forming Big Bay. Worth checking out when there is swell from a local front, and Big Bay is too messy and frantic. There is usually a nice little rip helping the journey out as well.
  • kreefte reef (crayfish factory) - not the REAL crayfish factory near Scarborough, but a small little reef in Melkbos that with the right swell and the low tide gives a nice little wave. Bit of a mission to get out there, especially with a surfboard, as there are lots of rocks and kelp to get past before a reasonable paddle out to the reef. This spot can be found at the car parking on 1st avenue at Melkbos, look to the left from the parking spot to see a breaking wave about 200m out to sea
  • 22nd avenue in Melkbos - I've not been here myself, but J, one of the posse, finds it quite enjoyable when all else fails.
  • silverstroomstrand - this is the main beach at silverstroom, which works well even in tiny swell, so is the place to go when its flat flat flat at derdesteen. Allegedly there is an even better 'secret' spot at Silverstroom, perhaps one day someone will take me.

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