The longest running Retro surf event in the world, Rolling Retro, is back for its 9th year. Every year the Cape Town surfing fraternity come out to surf a surfboard from the incredible collection, owned by Robby McDonald of Vudu Surf, enjoy a day on the beach with family and friends as well as old school music and beach some cranking beach party vibes. The event helps to raise funds for the Llandudno Lifesaving Club, remember to bring cash for food and drinks available at the event. The biggest attraction for all surfers is the incredible collection of retro surfboards, that are brought out once a year, for the event. During the year, these boards, a huge part of South Africa’s surfing heritage, are kept in storage for safe keeping.

Photographer: Ian Thurtell/ Surfer: Jasper Eales
Robby and his event partner, Kai Linder aka Captain Kai decided to start the event so that their friends and the local surf community could see, touch and surf these incredible pieces of history while having a good time and helping raise funds. The event quickly grew into the local communities most popular day of the year. Surfers from all Cape communities and even further abroad descend onto the beach each year to enter the event. Every entrant gets to pick a surfboard from the collection and surf a 30-minute heat with 9 other people in the water. It is important to note that the event is not a competition, but rather a celebration of surfing and its heritage. Instead Captain Kai and fellow MC, Ilan Sheer, choose prize winners from a range of categories throughout the day, all awarded during the jubilant prize giving.

Photographer: Ian Thurtell/ Surfer: Ike Forsyth
All ages are welcome and some heats see fathers, sons and daughters surfing together – another unique aspect of the event. Once the surfing is done and prizes awarded, the music starts and the day is finished with an old-school sunset beach party. This year the theme of the event is the ‘Reggae Revival‘ and sees Reggae MC, Crosby and his Rasta DJ. Thirsts will be quenched by Presenting Sponsor, Striped Horse beer, Red Bull and the party vibe cultivated by local tequila manufacturer, Leonista. Prizes are sponsored by Billabong, Hurricane Surf, Skullcandy, Von Zipper and Vudu Surf. The event is sanctioned by Surfing South Africa.
Registration starts at 8 am with the first heats in the water at 9 am. The day is finished with the annual Pro Heat, showcasing some of SA’s top surfers and a crew of the best local surfers from Llandudno (Around 5 pm). This year we are pleased to announce that Michael Grendon, current SA Champ, Brandon Benjamin, as well as last year’s best surfer, Dale Staples will be taking part in the event. To get a feel for what you can expect, take a look at last years event.
What you need to know:
Date: Sunday 4 March 2018
Backup Date: Sunday 18 March 2018
Entry Fee: R150
P.S – We try to be as environmentally conscious as possible and all rubbish is recycled. There will be no straws at the event and we ask that all people attending help us to keep Llandudno clean by using the supplied bins and not smoking cigarettes. Also, note that no alcohol can be brought into the venue. Llandudno has minimal parking available and you don’t need to bring your own surfboards, so we highly advise using a taxi service to and from the event.
PLEASE DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE!
This year the event sees the following divisions:
– Surfing – Log (Ancient Single fin craft) – Bodysurfing
– Bodyboard – Kneeboard

Robby, Kai & last years ‘winner’ Dale Staples
Prizes Categories:
– Best Surfer (Male) – Best Surfer (Female) – Best grom – Best Bodysurfer – Best Longboarder
– Best Tube – Best Dressed (Male & female) – Instagram winner x 3 – plenty giveaways and throwouts