Always wanted to learn how to surf? If you're in Cape Town, schedule a morning at Muizenberg for thrills and spills in the waves – you may not be the next Kelly Slater but you’ll have loads of fun and the surf schools all ‘guarantee’ you’ll be standing by the end of the lesson.
Muizenberg, on the False Bay coastline of the Western Cape, was once a vibrant, upmarket seaside resort that rivaled the Atlantic Seaboard for popularity over holiday seasons. Sadly, in recent years it has struggled to overcome the somewhat seedy reputation and rundown air it has assumed and return to its former glory days.
But the Cape Town surfing community never gave up on ideal waves and warm waters of Surfers’ Corner at the end of the long sandy beach, tucked in against the railway station. And it’s largely thanks to these saltwater boys and girls that the Muizenberg beach front is coming into its own again.
Head down to Surfers’ Corner on a weekend morning and you’ll be hard pressed to find parking. The colourful strip of shops are dominated by a number of surf schools and also feature trendy, relaxed eateries, surf clothing and gear stores and the famous Sinful ice cream shop.
My son Raphael’s friend Aaron was turning 10 and had a ‘Learn 2 Surf’ party at the Surf Shack. Five excited boys got kitted out with wetsuits and two super-cool, friendly young instructors helped them carry the bright yellow longboards down to the beach – the boards were so long it took two children to carry one!
Once on the sand there was a simple but important rundown of safety rules – such as how to cover your head with your arm whenever you fall off in case the board hits you on the head.
Next it was time to learn the basics of how to get from paddling like mad to getting on your feet. Lots of practice on the beach followed, with the instructors very patiently helping each child to see where they were doing things the right way, and the wrong way.
Finally they tumbled towards the water, ankle straps Velcro-ed on, staggering and dragging the boards down to the waves which were full of other 'noobie' surfers of all ages. Each child was in a matching bright yellow second skin so it was easy for us parents to keep “our” group in view.
Raphael, bless him, is not the sportiest of kids so I was beside myself with excitement when he stood up and rode his second wave! Of course there were many more spills and falls but all five boys managed to stand, and stay standing, a number of times in the 1 and a half hours that followed.
Actually, make that 1 hour and fifteen minutes… Just before the end of the lesson a loud siren sounded indicating that a shark had been seen in the water by the ultra-vigilant Shark Spotters. We were very impressed at how quickly the sea emptied of every single surfer and swimmer within minutes, with the help of a rubber dinghy of life savers spreading the word to those out of hearing range of the siren.
All the boys, being local Captonians who are used to the whole ‘shark’ thing, were too excited about how ‘awesome’ the surfing was to be bothered by the finned visitor.
Then it was back to the Surf Shack for hot showers and party food in the comfy, relaxed lounge area at the back of the shop.
Heading home later, Raph told me with shining (if rather red) eyes – ‘Mom, it’s true what dad says – Only a surfer knows the feeling!’
So, for his Christmas present we bought him a voucher for a further 4 lessons – by his birthday we’ll know whether or not to invest in a surfboard for the boy.
Whether you or your kids want to learn to surf, or if you just want to soak up the stoke, head to Muizenberg this summer
.
Learn
Great for kids and family groups
The Original Cape Town surf school
Mostly for saltwater girls
Eat
- Empire Café - Tel: 021 788 1250
Best breakfasts in Cape Town.
Funky, ultra popular artisan bakery
- Fogey's Railway House Restaurant - 021 788 3252
Live bands every week.
- Gaslight Café - 021 788 6994
Great location, good vibe
Shop
- Corner Surf Shop 021 788 1191
Oldest Surf Shop in Cape Town
- Lifestyle Surf 021 788 8218
Clothes, boards, board shaping, surf DVDs, wetsuits – all under one roof
Shiny pretty things for girls
(All images: Joy-Anne Goodenough. Creative Commons License)
