Latest news with #AlanvanGysen
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Safi: The World's Best Wave That Was Kept Secret For Decades
It is with great pleasure that we announce our partnership with Now Now Media, led by legends Alan van Gysen (AVG) and Will Bendix, on their latest film Le Jardin: The Secret Story of Morocco's Most Incredible Wave. The film is part of Now Now's 'Origin Series' where they examine the history of the world's greatest waves and document all the chapters that came along ever since the first known surfers made the discovery. With Safi, that story begins with one man. 'While Anchor Point became the pride of Moroccan surfing, Safi remained hidden in plain sight. An industrial harbor town that sits halfway between Casablanca and Agadir and was known for its Sardines, not waves. Then, in the early 1980's, a surfer from Casablanca, Louic Soutif, got a job working in the port. When he arrived at work one morning, he looked across the bay, and could hardly believe what he saw. He told his friends about the wave but they found it hard to believe…so he surfed it on his own for the next two years.' When it's on, all agree it is one of the best right-handers in the world, if not the best. The only thing is that it's fickle, very fickle. Over the past few years, the miraculous wave also known as Ras Lafaa (The Head of the Snake), has only come to life a handful of times. Its reputation for perfection, along with good surf forecasting, has meant that it draws quite the crowd. But we're getting ahead of ourselves… The name Le Jardin (The Garden) was bestowed upon the wave to help keep it secret by the lucky few friends of Louic that surfed it for years to themselves. They used to rent a cheap house on the hill overlooking the wave and when one of their girlfriends came, she said, 'the house is eh, ok, but look at the garden', as she signaled to the view in front of the house. With their secret name, they could talk about it openly and not give away the location but, slowly but surely, the word started to get out. Knowing that one day the whole world would know about the perfect wave at Safi, they felt the need to call in a 'master', someone who could come and really show what could be done. That master was none other than Australian hellman, Ross Clarke Jones, who redefined what was possible at Safi by surfing the wave farther up the point than anyone had even seen. As he recalls, 'We showed up in the dark and slept in a little tent right there on the cliff. In the morning I woke up and saw the best right-hander I've ever seen in my life. Better than Jbay, better than Kirra, better than everything.' Le Jardin joins the Now Now Origin Series, alongside these other incredible films: Place of Thorns, The Story of Puerto Escondido. Chasing The Unicorn, A Mozambican Surf Story. Mirage, The Ever-Changing Story of Skeleton Bay. We caught up with AVG to hear about how he and Bendix approach their films. 'Well, coming from our perspective with Now Now Media, we find it super important to always work with local DPs, local filmers, and local talent. It's crucial to the success of these collaborative projects where you're bringing so many different things together–different eras, different decades–you really need to dig deep and work with the locals. Because you could never really know the full extent of things and I can only get so much content on one or two trips. I also don't have that history with the place. So when you identify someone who is exceptionally talented and very connected like Edwin Morales in Puerto Escondido and Amine Nader in Morocco, they've been a part of the community for a long time, they have respect. They've paid their dues and the community loves to see them be recognized. When we do our local premieres, like in Puerto or Safi, the whole community comes out to support and they get to stand on the stage and know that the film was possible because of their efforts. They deserve to shine as directors of photography and co-producers of these stories." The surfing and storytelling make this a must watch film for all surfers, and even non surfers would appreciate the cinematography, soundtrack, and overall experience of Le Jardin. Do yourself a favor and go and subscribe to the Now Now Media page on Youtube and like, comment, and share their films to support these stories and the incredible effort that goes into them. PS- keep your eyes peeled for a very special US premiere that is the The World's Best Wave That Was Kept Secret For Decades first appeared on Surfer on May 28, 2025
The Citizen
26-04-2025
- General
- The Citizen
PICTURES: Baboons and humans clash in urban Kommetjie
In Cape Town the coexistence of humans and Chacma baboons in urban areas, particularly in villages like Kommetjie, has led to increasing tensions and conflicts. A mother Chacma baboon runs across the road with her baby in search of their sleep site while a gathered crowd of affected Kommetjie residents stand in protest to baboons living in the urban space. Despite efforts under the City of Cape Town's 'Baboon Strategic Management Plan', which involves tracking, educating residents, and reducing baboon harm, hostilities between baboons and humans, including attacks on pets and property damage, continue to rise. The presence of baboons, who forage and sleep within urban spaces, has divided the community, pitting animal rights activists against frustrated residents. A recent survey of Kommetjie residents revealed that 55 percent have daily encounters with baboons, 85 percent have had baboons enter their homes, and 83 percent have altered their lifestyles to avoid conflict. However, with no alternative plans in place, the struggle between maintaining baboon welfare and ensuring human safety remains unresolved. Photographer Alan van Gysen, from Matrix Images, is documenting the situation. A sticker on the back of a Kommetjie resident's vehicle. Picture: Alan van Gysen / Matrix Images Kommetjie residents chase habituated, wild baboons from entering the central business area. Picture: Alan van Gysen / Matrix Images Kommetjie residents protest against the inaction of authorities with regard to habituated baboons who occupy the urban space in Kommetjie. Picture: Alan van Gysen / Matrix Images A habituated wild baboon eats from a takeaway carton, while raiding a City of Cape Town municipal bin in Cape Town. Picture: Alan van Gysen / Matrix Images The alpha male baboon Kataza of the Klein Slangkop troop on the Cape Town peninsula forages in the garden of a Kommetjie home. Picture: Alan van Gysen / Matrix Images A baboon monitor follows habituated wild baboons making their way through traffic and residential homes en route to their regular sleep site. Picture: Alan van Gysen / Matrix Images A Chacma baboon walks towards a shop in Kommetjie. Picture: Alan van Gysen / Matrix Images Kataza, an alpha male Chacma baboon, of the Klein Slangkop troop forages in a reidential garden. Picture: Alan van Gysen / Matrix Images A baboon monitor radios in coordinates of the Klein Slangkop baboon troop to head office on the Slangkop Mountain above Kommetjie. Picture: Alan van Gysen / Matrix Images Two juvenile Chacma baboons play on the roof of a home. Picture: Alan van Gysen / Matrix Images A nursing mother Chacma baboon forages through unsecured bins behind Kommetjie's central commercial area. Picture: Alan van Gysen / Matrix Images PICTURES: Is the Cape Town Cycle Tour the world's most beautiful race?
