Muizenberg Surf Forecast and Surf Reports

The Green Fish from SOUTH AFRICA writes:

Cape Town's breeding ground for grommets, Muizenberg is the ideal spot to learn to surf with kilometers of open beach to diffuse crowding and multiple lines of whitewater close to shore to help newbies find their feet.

During summer the swell is routinely wrecked by South Easterly winds which turn the ocean into coffee coloured mush. On windless days the swell will peak at 6 foot faces and rarely goes overhead. Summer also brings a seasonal influx of sharks who move closer to the beach zone.

Crowds are also worst during the summer months, and surfers choosing to catch waves in the 'surfer's corner' will be exposed to some horrific surf etiquette, with drop-ins, snaking etc the norm rather than the exception. More experienced surfers therefore choose to surf closer to the rocks or further down the beach towards the river mouth.

Summer surfing at Muizenberg can be fun due to the warm water temperatures and great scenery. On a clean head-high day good sandbanks can provide long rides and a relatively easy paddle.

Muizenberg comes into its own during winter when a prevailing North Westerly wind blow over the peninsula, and large offshore storm fronts push swell towards False Bay.

Water temperature drops during this period, with full wetsuit, hoodie and gloves advisable when taking on the swell. Storm fronts send some heavy swell towards Muizenberg during the winter, and locals can enjoy waves that are well overhead but relatively easy to pull into.

Winter swell can be quite forceful, which tends to keep the water clear of beginners. A strong leash is advised as surfers are in for a long swim back to shore if they lose their boards.

As a sand break on a gentle upward slope Muizenberg rarely, if ever, provides hollow waves. The wave is slow moving during summer, picking up speed with storm swell. Drop-in angle is forgiving, but sufers are in for a hammering if they get caught in the whitewater during winter swell.

While many Cape surfers have a condescending attitude to Muizenberg, you'll nevertheless find the break well populated by experienced surfers during the Winter months as this spot provides clean, medium sized waves on a consistent basis while many of the Atlantic breaks receive onshore swell.

2010-03-10