THE PERFECT RIDE - Oakley One Wave Wonder goes mental for May

We all know what makes a good wave – one solid turn, perhaps a couple seconds of tube time, or even just a good hit to end off your wave. But what makes an exceptional ride? What  sets an amazing ride apart from the hundreds upon hundreds of waves that are ridden at beaches around the world every day?

Well amigos, look no further than this month’s entries in the Oakley One wave Wonder for the answers.

Witness Dale Staples tear apart a Mexican pointbreak on his self-shaped board, or watch Gavin Roberts getting a triple shack in his backyard. There’s also more aerial action from April winner Brendon Gibbens and March victor Jordy Smith. Ricky Basnett gets the tube of his life at the newly unveiled African Kirra (see the new issue of Zag for the full scoop), while Twiggy Baker and Deon Lategan keep it local but just as lekker with dark, dark caverns at North Beach and Supers respectively.

Last but definitely not least, Shaun Joubert shows us why he may just be the re-incarnation of Andy Irons at Supertubes with a devastating ride from a recent swell (click play to view the video below).

There’s plenty more action on www.1wavewonder.co.za and ten more days to get in the running: entries for May are open up until Wednesday 25 May at midnight, after which entries will close for voting. You’ve then got until midnight on 31 May to cast your vote for your favourite ride, simply by clicking on the vote button next to the entry – no registration or sign-in, no mess, no fuss. Entries will then immediately open for June, the fifth and final month for the One Wave Wonder.

The May winner receives a healthy R10 000 (split between the surfer and videographer / photographer) and becomes our fourth finalist for the Ride of the Season, to be voted on once the entire competition ends at the end of June. The winning ride of the season will then receive a further mega R50 000 cash for the surfer, and an all-expenses paid trip for tow to G-Land worth over R30 000 for the person who documents it, made possible by the legends at All Aboard Surf Travel (www.all-aboardsurftravel.co.za).

The winning doesn't end there either. Legendary SA shaper Spider Murphy has also come on board with a quality custom shape worth R3000 going to the best U16 grom clip every month along with a pair of Oakely Batwolf sunglasses, valued at R2000. The best-produced video clip – not necessarily the winning action clip – also receives a quality stick from Spinny. Last but not least, one of the public wins a pair of Batwolfs in a random draw just for e-mailing Zag and telling us who you cast your vote for. Send all e-mails to calvin@zigzag.co.za

Anybody can enter or be entered in the Oakley One Wave Wonder, as long as you are a South African citizen. Log on to www.1wavewonder.co.za for more details and to view all the insane entries.