When it comes to wave rich coastlines, South Africa sits in an enviable position. Taken together, both coasts are stacked with a mind-boggling array of set ups and completely open to west, south, and east swells with nearly 180 degrees exposure.
While the East Coast gets the lion’s share of attention, thanks to warmer-water zones like Jeffreys Bay and Durban, the West Coast is holding its own set of gems. It’s along this rugged coast that we learn the story of father-son duo, Pete and Eli Beukes, in the film Rough Diamonds.
South Africa’s West Coast is like what Baja is to Southern Californians: remote, barren, unpopulated, no cell service, few towns, even few amenities, lots of waves, and plenty of sharks. Unlike Baja , the waves come with more juice and this part of the world is known for diamond mines.
That’s exactly what lured father Pete Beukes some thirty years ago when he took a job as a diamond diver in Lambert’s Bay after leaving the navy. Beyond precious stones, he found a volatile coastline shining with waves and no one around to surf them. Over the years he built a wealth of local knowledge that he has passed onto his son Eli, who surfs the same spots with a new, bolder approach.
Jordy Smith, longtime friend of the Beukes, says, “If you’re from the West Coast of South Africa, or if you grew up surfing there, you are definitely a hardcore surfer. Nothing comes easy. It’s a lot of driving and scouting for waves. There’s a lot of elements to work with and the environment is pretty rough but that’s what creates a really good surfer — especially when the waves get bigger. I think that’s one of the best qualities about Eli, he’s a product of that environment.”
Alan van Gysen
Pete adds, “When I first moved here, I wouldn’t know where to surf. It’s tide dependent and its just reefs, rights, lefts, slabs, big and powerful. That was thirty years ago and I would be out on my own all year. I would go to the easiest place for safety’s sake. In terms of power, we were just scratching in and going over the falls and getting pummeled. And nowadays, with Eli and the boys, it’s like next level. They’ll backdoor it and it’s just awesome to watch what these guys can do now.”
Alan van Gysen
Eli has traveled extensively around the world and in Africa, making frequent strikes to places like J-Bay, Namibia, and Reunion Island. But admits that nothing compares to going home, “I’m really grateful to visit all of these places but I always look forward to going home. I can’t wait get back and mission up the West Coast. It’s just a special feeling you get when you’re up here and I can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be.”
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