According to Google Analytics, Zag’s most read stories this past year covered the barney of the year, the session of the year, and a return to Madiba’s Left. Of course you, our readers, also dig big waves, golden GoPro clips, and are fascinated with whatever happened an hour ago.
Below is a fistful of the most read articles of 2013.
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1st – TEMPERS FLARE AND FISTS FLY AT EAST BEACH OVER BEACH SAFETY – 16,223 views
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In April, Port Alfred local David MacGregor reported on a fist fight that broke out at East Beach, after a jet skier attacked a group of surfers that had tried to tell him not to drive too close to a group of young bathers.
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2nd – 5 METRES, 19 SECONDS – INSIDE THE SWELL OF THE YEAR – 9,552 views
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Who could forget the swell of the year, when the Cape big wave crew (plus Hawaiians John John Florence and Albee Layer) stood tall at SA’s premiere big wave spot?
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3rd – J-BAY SHARK ATTACK – THE FULL STORY: – 6,283 views
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Tragedy struck at The Point in J-Bay in early October, when Burgert van der Westhuizen was fatally attacked by a large great white while swimming. Written by Kerry Wright, this article is not only a sobering reminder of the dangers that lurk below sea level, but also shares some interesting insights into shark activity as winter turns into spring.
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4th – ZAG SPY – 4,945 views
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Zag Spy is everywhere – whether he is spotting a set of lungs floating in the Dairy bowl, a deal of a lifetime on Gumtree, or Jordy Smith’s clone, our super sleuth is there bringing the juicy details to your computer screens. Have a read through Zag Spy’s archive and you’re guaranteed to find something that will pique your interest.
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5th – GREAT WHITE SHOVES HEAD THROUGH SHARK DIVING CAGE – GANS BAY – 3,269 views
Talk about a close call – this shark cage diver has one radical story to tell their grandchildren, along with the video footage to prove it.
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6th – TWO SIDES TO EVERY DROP IN – DAVE WASSEL & JOHN DUVAL, TAHITI – 3,158 views
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Drop-ins don’t usually make headlines, but this one did. We think it’s because it involved a machete-wielding Hawaiian charger and a Tahitian bodyboarder who just wanted to set the record straight.
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7th – MIKALA JONES – GOPRO GOLD IN INDO – 3,081 views
If you only ever watch one GoPro clip, make it this one. Seriously. Mikala Jones scores some GoPro gold in Indo.
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8th – PUNCHES THROWN DURING TAHITI WILDCARD TRIALS – 2,985 views
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With a wildcard slot into the Billabong Pro Tahiti on offer, things got a little heated at Teahupo’o when Jamie O’Brien punched Ricardo dos Santos during the Air Tahiti Nui wildcard trials. Following the eruption of controversy, Jamie got handed a hefty fine and was banned from competing at his beloved Pipeline (as well as any ASP events until 2014).
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9th – YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN HERE AN HOUR AGO – 2,532 views
click image to check out the gallery.
“You should have been here an hour ago…” is a phrase surfers hear far too often. It’s usually muttered just as you arrive at the beach and the wind or tide switches, or the swell disappears. Zag digs to tease our readers in just the same manner, by posting photos of epic moments that happened a little earlier in the day. Check out the slideshow to see a little more of what you might have missed in 2013.
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10th – RETURN TO ROBBEN ISLAND – 2,388 views
It’s been 15 years since the first pioneering surf mission to Robben Island. On Freedom Day this year, Zag went back with Jordy, Josh Redman, Ryan Payne and one of the original pioneers, Ian Armstrong, along with his son Max.
Download the Wallpaper of Jordy at Robben Island here: http://bit.ly/1dTTVyY
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BONUS – The Miss Zag Top 6 – Calendar Girls: – 2,290 views
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This one came so close to making the Top 10 that we thought we’d share it anyways. Get to know our Miss Zag Top 6 a little better.
