2 weeks down....

So I've done 2 weeks already since I had my op. start my rehab program today. Seen the doc and says things are looking good so I'm pretty positive that I'll have a full recovery and be back in the water soon. Obviously it's going to take some time, did have some major surgery done but I'm pretty keen to get stuck into this rehab and give it a good go!
It was really good to see Parko come back from his injury and first wave score a perfect 10 and then go onto win the event! Bloody awesome and inspirational too!. Sometimes a forced break is what you need to get the fire burning again...
Will keep you posted as to what they make me do with my rehab!

I've attached a pic that I downloaded from Zigzag as one of their wallpapers you can download. It's from their latest issue, a DPS from my Reunion trip. was just lucky Ewing was in the right place at the right time... Thanks Greg.

Hope you're having a good time where ever you are in this world, make sure you make the most of your opportunities, don't take anything for granted and make sure what ever you do, make it fun!

See ya

Davey

Hip Op

SO I had my hip op done on Tuesday, I guess the op took a little longer than expected, the damage, a little more than what they thought but the doc went in and shaved the bone where he needed to and then repaired the cartilage lining where it had been grinded away. I'll only know in a couple months if the repair was a success, but for now it's just a matter of following the doc's orders, doing my exercises they've given me and taking it easy. Not the easiest for me as I dig to move around a lot but I guess I really should just take advantage of the time off. I must say I have been blessed with an amazing wife who is taking unbelievable care of me, she really is making this easy on me!

So it's crutches for a month, I hope, but then into a full on rehab program to obviously strengthen the muscle around the hip and get me back in the water... It's quite a catch 22 situation that I've had with this hip. I was born with slightly different hips to most people, where my spacing between my femur and the hip joint is quite large, which obviously allowed me to be pretty supple. But because of this large spacing, the hip problem was only picked up much later than a normal case, and so a lot of damage had been done already. Saying that, I did get to enjoy a full international career, I've had the op done now and hopefully I'll be back in the water sooner than later and snagging a barrel or two.

So make sure you get your wave count up now cause when I get back in the water after my time out, I'm pretty certain I'm going to be more frothed out to surf than a 12 yr old kid....

Later

Davey

RIP A.I.

Wow, what a hectic week with the passing of A.I. , we truely have lost an amazing ambassador for the sport, a friend, a father and husband. He was a great inspiration to many and I'm sure will still inspire many more to come. My thoughts and prayers to go out to Lindie and their expected son, Bruce, his family and close friends. It really has been incredible to see so much support through all the different media outlets for Andy and he deserved it. Rest in Peace Andy, you will be missed buddy!

Then I also got to take my hat off to Kelly Slater who just a few minutes ago, secured his 10th World title along with like his 100th or so World Tour event win, incredible, that's all I can say! A true competitor, a freak of nature and a ten time world champ!!!

As for me, I'm back in SA, been home for about a week now, had a super fun time in the States, got to hang with the Saffa boys there, scored a couple fun waves after the event, went down to southern Cali and had a couple sessions with Dooma and Jordy. But I'm back now, booked in for my hip operation on tuesday, kinda getting nervous for it now but it needs to be done, would like to still surf when I'm 40!

Hopefully I can score a few fun waves before tuesday arvo cause it looks like I'll be sidelined for a few weeks. So until then next post, stay true!

D.

A bunch of random photo's from the last few months...

Alcatraz madness 3!!!

And the 3rd batch...

Alcatraz madness 2!!!

Here's a few more pics...

Alcatraz madness!!!

So I made my first heat at Santa Cruz then went down in my second heat. So I'm done competing internationally, following the tour around the world. I'm still going to do all the international local events and maybe find myself doing an odd QS overseas, maybe but for the next few years, as far as surfing goes, I'm just going to be concentrating on photo trips, and surfing good waves, Getting barreled is definitely a priority on my list....
I'm here in the States for about a week still, off to see Oakley next week, and hopefully get a couple of good waves, heard there should be some decent swell, let's hope...

In between lay days, went through to Alcatraz with the Saffa crew, what an insane experience! Here's a couple pics from our day on "the Rock"...

See ya

Davey

Santa Cruz

So i made the trip across the Atlantic in one piece, but wow that flight from Joburg to Washington is freakin long!!! 18 hrs, 1 flight should not be allowed! Met up with Shaun Joubert and Brendon Gibbens at San Fransisco airport, I'm traveling with Shaun for this trip, Brendon just grabbed a ride with us to Santa Cruz. Been here now for 2 days, had a couple fun surfs, witnessed a very long winded shouting match between two locals at Steamer lane, no fists thrown, but what a vibe killer, so lame! SO the event starts tomorrow, 6* Prime, the O'neill Coldwater Classic. There is a fairly promising forecast for swell, from thursday looks like we should be in for some waves, lets hope. WIll be good to hang with a few of the other Saffa boys this next week as this is my last official event before I retire from professional competition. Looking forward to some new chapters ahead but for now, I'm here and looking forward to competing at Steamers!

Just to let you know, this joint is filled with so many nut jobs, crazy spot this! Definitely a different place. Anyways, will keep an update going from this event, adios from Cali...

Davey

Some Oakley One Sight clinic pics

Wow, it's been a while since my last post, sorry , my bad. A lot has happened since the Azores QS event, went onto to surf 3 more events in Europe where the surf was pretty much terrible the whole time bar a day or two. That was the worst trip I've ever been on in my career for surf, 6 weeks of way below average waves, but any ways, that's in the past. Did a trip with my two best mates to Namibia shortly after I arrived back home, it was actually my 30th birthday present from the boys, scored some really sick waves, opened my eyes to what is on our doorstep here at home. Then did a clinic with Oakley and One Sight up in the township of Mamelodi, helping the unfortunate get prescription eyewear and diagnosing eye problems. It was an amazing experience, a serious eye opener for me! These guys are doing a crazy good job helping all these people , giving their time and effort for no reward except to see the smile on their faces. Double thumbs up!

Had to move house too, hate that, what a stress but got through it and now just getting ready for my last trip of the year. Off to the States for the Oneill Coldwater Classic in Santa Cruz. It's going to be my last trip cause 1. I just announced my retirement from international competition and 2. I have to have a hip operation when i get back, probably be out the water for 6 - 12 weeks.
it's something that if i don't get it fixed now, i'll have big problems later in life. I also want to get the op done soon so that when the waves start firing again in SA, i'll be ready for it!

So that's pretty much a summary of what's happened in the last 2 months. Will post of some pics from the Oakley One Sight Clinic,

Later

Davey

Azores scores ... not!

Just had my second comp cancelled experience in my career, first being in France a good couple years ago and now here in the Azores for a Prime event. Pretty damn nuts to think that this place was not contestable for the last 5 days, so freakin tiny and the swell expected for today just never materialised.. Well that's life, we all ended up with equal 49th, 383 points I think and $600. Off to Lacanau next but it ain't looking good for the first few days either, I think there is only swell expected on Friday, could be a long summer in Europe, will keep you posted. Here a few pics from my firs heat earlier in the week from the Azores...
Adios
Davey

Another Anton Joubert shot sequence

More Anton Joubert pics

Surfing shots by Anton Joubert

Got a few shots off of Anton Joubert on our recent trip to Sri Lanka. Some super fun waves, super warm water and pretty cool place. Just bit of a mission getting to the joint from the airport, besides that, worth the trip for sure...

Oakley Rebel Campaign vid 2010

Attached is the Oakley 2010 Rebel campaign video. This was shot late last year for this year, my ad made it in with me smashing a guitar, was pretty damn fun!

More Kolesky/Nikon pics

Some PIcs from the Mr Price Pro 5* WQS

Craig Kolesky just sent me these pics from the Mr Price Pro 5* QS this week. He just got this crazy set up from Nikon! Thanks for the pics Craig....

Up to date..

I know I've been a bit slack in posting, my bad! But a lot has happened in the last 3 weeks. Finished up that trip to Sri Lanka, safely got back to the airport after another hectic 10 hr drive, seriously, those guys drive so crazy! Got some more ink done in my 5 days at home, then headed over to Switzerland to meet up with the crew from Oakley Europe to do some promo work and sit on their apparel meetings. We then headed over to Paris for the opening of a exhibition store Oakley did for the month of July for the Tour de France. Pretty cool concept store! Was lucky enough to be given a tour of Paris as well from the guy in charge of Oakley France. All I can say is the architecture in that city is amazing, would love to spend a couple days there really checking out the place. Got back home after 5 days in Europe straight into the Mr Price Pro 5* held at Ballito, South Africa. We scored big time the one morning of the event, proper barrels, amazing conditions, wish all events could have waves like this, would make contests way better. Ended up 9th with Jordy taking out the win, good on ya bud, he really does know how to surf!
So I'm now here, up to date and have a good solid 2 weeks at home before I head overseas again. Going to post a few pics from the comp later , and a few other interesting things that happen over the next few days.
Later
Davey

Sri Lanka

Well I'm super stoked to be writing this cause yesterday's drive from Colombo to Aragum Bay in Sri Lanka was HEAVY!!! Seriously, 9 hr mission from the West coast to the East coast filled with bumps, near death experiences and constant blind rise over takings... I'm kinda keen to look at trying to get a chopper out of here back to Colombo when the event ends, would definitely be a sick experience and a way safer means of transport back!!!
Enough about that, so I'm here in the South East part of Sri Lanka for the Sri Lankan Airlines Pro, 6* WQS event being held at Aragum Bay. It's a pretty fun , playful right hand point, very similar to say Ponto do Ouro and snapper mixed, but with less power and way warmer water! Surfed another spot earlier in the day about 20 min drive away from Aragum that reminded me so much of Mexico. The place is kinda just filled with these right hand sand points, pretty damn sick. And it looks like there's a little swell arriving Saturday for the event too which should produce some good waves and good surfing. Actually frothing to see what this point does with a little extra juice and size on it...Could just be on fire!!!
Will try post up some pics of this joint on my next post, the beaches are beautiful here, the accomo we're in is basic but the crew running it are super cool and make pretty good food!.
One thing i can say is it's bloody hot here!
Peace out

DW

Pics from the last few days...

Here are a couple of pics I've taken the last few days here in Reunion...