Surfing History

Dungeons has been surfed for a couple of decades now, with the first surfers making the hike over the mountain and paddling out over the deep channel into the lineup. It was usually just one or two surfers out there charging on their own with no one else around. In 1999 everything changed when Red Bull decided to hold the Big Wave Africa Specialty invite only event at Dungeons. This put Dungeons on the global map along with South African big wave surfers Ian Armstrong and Cass Collier winning gold for South Africa at the World Big Wave event.

Dungeons Today

Moving 14 years ahead and here we are, it is winter in Cape Town, and that means swell. We had had the best East swell in recorded history lighting up the whole East Coast, and in between it has been firing all the way from the now famous left in Namibia all the way around the Southern African coastline up to Mozambique and beyond, where Jordy Smith's footage won his X-Games gold medal.

The Worlds Finest

On 24th July 2013 everyone got excited about a swell that would get Dungeons breaking, and knowing that John John Florence was here ensured the cameras were out and ready to roll. It ended up being a bit smaller than expected, John John had the flu, BUT it was still absolutely awesome. Great waves were ridden and it was the perfect warm-up for what would happen 12 days later.

Perfect Conditions

On 4th August 2013 in the afternoon the swell was really kicking in in Cape Town and had guys all over the big wave spots, from 'small' Dungeons to Outer Kom. But the swell predicted for Monday was the talk of the town. Was it the biggest swell ever? No, definitely not, but it was the period and the conditions that had everyone excited.

In Cape Town we very rarely see swell periods materialise over about 15 seconds, even when it is huge, and the biggest I recall is 17 seconds prediction. So, when the prediction for a 5m 19s swell popped up it truly is a rare swell. What the swell period does is makes the wave cleaner and more defined from one to the next. So you guessed it, few waves but better when they come. In the Pacific Ocean it is a different ball game with a bigger fetch and 20 second periods being common, but not here.

So not only did we have this super clean swell coming, but the wind was predicted to be nothing for the day, and sunny skies. Sorry what? 5m 19s swell with no wind and perfect weather? Oh and did I mention one of the world's most loved surfers John John was still here along with his mate Albee Layer and of course all the top South African big hitters and unknown locals. The scene was set to be the day of days.

What unfolded was undescribable, with the swell slowly getting better and better until it peaked around 1pm in terms of good surfable waves and the right tide. Albee Layer got a massive clean barrel, Twiggy got the huge ones, John John got his fair share. Frank charged hard, Mike took a crazy drop and of course everything else in between.

Enjoy the photos, watch the video my friend Otto made and be amazed.

Chris Bond – Head of TTRide Operations Africa

Further Links

Epic video – Dungeons Waves on Film

Want to see Dungeons in Person? – Come and Join our Cape Town Surf Camp, we've had many afternoons gawping from the cliff top!