by Miles Masterson | Jan 21, 2026 | Uncategorised
In the early 1960s, though the concept of surfing competitions had not yet made it to South Africa and to date no local surfer had competed in an international surfing contest. This all changed when Durban’s Max Wetteland travelled to Australia for the inaugural...
by Miles Masterson | Dec 23, 2025 | Uncategorised
Much has been said and written about John Whitmore’s influence on South African surfing. But far less is known among the broader public about John’s influence on South African Hobie Catting. Along with his trusted lieutenants in his Cape Town Coast Catamaran factory...
by Miles Masterson | Dec 19, 2025 | Uncategorised
“Uncle John, are we out of South Africa yet?’” Johnny Paarman The story is as old as surfing itself. Young grommets in the shorebreak stealing lost boards, picking up scraps of waves, before the older guys come wading toward them, retrieve their ride with...
by Miles Masterson | Sep 18, 2025 | Uncategorised
“It appears that the council has bulldozed its way into promulgating these regulations which prevent surfers from using areas not used by bathers since Van Riebeeck landed.” – John Whitmore Muizenberg is the undisputed spiritual home of wave riding in South...
by Miles Masterson | Jul 17, 2025 | Uncategorised
Any encyclopedia of South African surfing history would be incomplete without the inclusion of 1960s women’s Cape Town surf star and John Whitmore protégé, Margaret Smith. Among the second generation of early South African surfers, ‘Margie’, as most knew her, was a...
