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Salad Days Magazine | November 7, 2024

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‘Before Dungeons’ | A glimpse into the origins and future of big wave surfing in South Africa

‘Before Dungeons’ | A glimpse into the origins and future of big wave surfing in South Africa
Salad Days

Dungeons lies on the tip of the African continent and launched South Africa into big-wave infamy during the late 1990s.

But did you know that nearby Sunset Reef is a far more perfect prospect, and where big wave surfing in South Africa really began?

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Behind the Peak is a brief look at the history of these two wildly different wavesthat have collectively produced some of the best surfers in the world when it comes to slinging a 9-foot-something gun over the ledge.

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According to 3x World Champ Grant Twiggy Baker, neither wave has been ridden close to its full potential yet and the best is yet to come, especially out at Sunset.

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“There’s the opportunity there to get just a mind-bending barrel on a really big wave” reckons Twiggy, who says the place is capable of producing tubes on par with Jaws.

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“One of us is going to do it soon, but once it hits 20 feet and over, it becomes a really dangerous, proper big wave.”

Photos by Alan Van Gysen

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