Watch: Von Froth // The Best Skeleton Bay In Years
First discovered in 2008, Namibia's Skeleton Bay is an oddity of the natural world. In a 2012 article, we showed how the shoreline was radically different leading up to 2008, to the point that the wave most likely didn't exist.
And just as the shoreline was different prior to 2008, it has subsequently changed much in the last fifteen years. Since our 2012 article, the shoreline has moved over 200m north - surfers now park their cars where they used to get barrelled. Yet despite the distant shift, the wave retains the same uncanny shape.
Recently, the wave went into a protracted slumber with no significant swells hitting since about 2020. The timeline roughly aligning with our recent La Nina visit yet there's no known link between the two.
Though there was minimal swell during those three years, the sand kept coming around the corner and accreting on the inside bank. Word was spreading that the alignment is changing to the point where it was outside the parameters needed to create perfect waves.
Well, this week the first big swell came and the Donkey did what the Donkey does. It broke just like it had prior to the dry spell.
Over the course of this swell, Monster Energy sponsored an event, the Skeleton Bay Shootout, with no entry fee or coloured rash vest, just a simple first place prize of $30,000 Nambian Dollars (AUD$2,400) to the person who gets most barrelled.
We've no idea who won the contest, yet this clip from Nic Von Rupp shows there were no losers.
Comments
Jordy Maree GoPro angles (think it's him at 4:40 too):
Yep, sand's fine. How's the local having a look at 6:52.
good spot, i missed that
Sheesh $2.4K prize money from Moster? Kind of embarassing....feels like the equivalent of getting a $200 Coles gift certificate.
Ha! Hardly
When you're getting barrells like that, 2.4K is just the cherry on top.
Hey for me I'd be happy to part with $2.4K for a trip and a few cracks at Skeleton Bay, but come on, multi national energy drink company can only muster up that much to reward these poor free surfers?
Looks like it's smaller than it used to be, likely because it's further inside the bay, and also not quite as square? Still an incredible wave.
The angle of the big swell was quite tight. In fact I almost drove up there but pulled the pin cos of the dubious angles and forecast. Been skunked driving up on that forcast before. The boys who went tho scored as the swell was powerful enough to get in there but looked inconsistent too.
Yeah, did have a bit of south in it.
Best ever Von Froth clip. Waves were mesmerising, and he didn't say a word!
Spot on!
That's a proper wave machine Kelly
That's bullshit
those takeovers look makeable vs. prior years
How's the view at 4:25.
Makes the Surf Ranch look insignificant really.
This angle gives you a much better perspective of how mechanical this wave is.
Goodness me, what a wave. Wave at 22 secs finally gets shut down at 1:12, 7 distinct barrels with 80% of the wave under the hood. Never gets dull.
I now know where all the sand from Nth NSW beaches has gone!!!!
Unbelievable...
If i had one word for it - FAST!!!
Didn't see too many Natural Footers ...lol
Don’t talk just surf von ..really enjoyed for that reason
What a freak show. Incredible.
Wave aside though, looks like an eerie, ugly and desolate place.
Incredible.
Hows that weird gurgly double up one that swats that fella.
Didn't know that place did that!
Changes the game a little bit from sheer perfection to perfection with booby traps!
https://www.saltyjackal.com/surfing-namibia
Terd
Enough to make me go back next year
What a force of nature and the drone footage was excellent. Those pulled back shots of the lineup are the bollocks, great surfing too, really enjoyed that.
Great wave for an 8 or 10 channel Phil Myers Free Flight. Someone please!
Any natural footers on here actually ridden it? Would be fascinated to hear how your competent average punter maintains speed on their backhand - or whether it gets away from you.
Yes, basically rail control...hold it high and tight for maximum speed and read the curve of the wave so you don't get pitched. It gives you ALOT of time to set up your stance and get comfortable time and time again so you can just hold on and enjoy the view. Guys reckon quads all the way also. In fact my shaping mate who surfs that wave well has made an assymetric tri fin thing made especially for that wave...2 fins one side (quad set up on only 1 side), single fin on the other. Yet to be tested.
Nice one von Froth, let the wave do the talking, great sounds too
Why are all the vehicles white? ...racist
https://youtube.com/shorts/0v0WpKhnPk8?feature=share
Tune is Pachanga Boys - Time if anyone is interested.
How far are these guys going on the longer waves? Would they be going 30-40 km/hr or so?