WhaSUP bru

With the Rand digging it’s head into the sand like an ostrich ignoring the world, international travel is looking less likely in 2016 for this wanderer.

In an attempt to remain positive about the impact of the angry Dollar slapping the misbehaving Rand, I am looking at becoming a tourist in my city and surrounds. What can I experience by foot, bike, car, local air carrier and über ride from my little spot of heaven in Umhlanga?

From the happy space of my apartment I can see the ever changing mood of the ocean. Of late, it has been restless bringing in the little blue bottle visitors on the northwestern wind express and showing it’s displeasure by raising eyebrows of foam on every crest visible from the shore. However, this Sunday it smiled for a day and turned into a glassy lake while the wind held its breath.

The perfect conditions to try my hand at SUP…stand-up paddling.
A 15 minute drive from Umhlanga and you get to Addington Beach where the promenade stretches before you like the yellow brick road…minus the colour yellow. It is alive with activity and parking proves to be evasive today. I find my spot next to a beggar who greets me with a sunny smile.

The first rental place is already booked out, everyone it seems has the same idea. 5 min walk to Ushaka and here there are boards available albeit at a higher price. Nevermind,  Bongani gives us a quick dry lesson, furnishes us with boards and paddles and we are off. Through the foam, gliding to backline on our knees and then the first wobbly steps to standing up begin.

My legs feel like calamari with no backbone yet I don’t have the tentacles to suction myself permanently to the board. At first the incoming swell feels like a threat but as I find my balance I also experience a deep sense of calm as crest after crest rolls in under me in a rhythmic pattern.

*Sorry no pics in the water, will have to invest in a water resistant camera soon*

I take a deep breath, taste the salt in the air and pull hard with my paddle through the liquid blue. The board cuts through the glass making ripples in my wake as a light drizzle settles in shiny beads on my skin. It is quiet out here behind the playfulness of the Sunday bathers, the pace of life seems to have cruised into reverse gear. I swear I’m getting younger just by being out here. My head is clear, my heart is alive and  you wouldn’t believe me if I told that a dolphin came to play close to our boards (well actually that was the following week when I went back for more and the reality is that I also got stung by bluebottles this time).

The hour ends and now I have to face the fear that grips my belly as I watch the waves crash to shore. I try to catch one but fail miserably and land flat on my coccyx. I think there may be a ding in the board I landed so hard. I swing myself on and go again, this attempt ends with an elegant belly flop into the foam and a drowned rat washing up on shore as the people scatter in a mad rush to avoid becoming one with the board that follows suit.

I’m hooked:)

Some info if you are keen to give it a go:

Xpression on the Beach
Addington Beach
0741341232
(Used these guys on my second go, their rates go down after the first hour, very nice)

Ocean Ventures
Ushaka
0861001138
0313329949
(Bongani is very helpful)