So this blog is supposed to be about virtual tours , I know – but what are unwritten rules without their written exceptions?

This post then, is not about 360 degree photography, some interesting place in South Africa or a new feature in Google Earth – it’s a congratulatory ode to the South African surfer who rode the biggest wave at the recent Red Bull Big Wave Africa competition held at Dungeons, near Hout Bay.

(Seen below on the right)

Our friend and hero (and incidentally a partner here at Virtual Africa): JAMES TAYLOR.

If you’re a South African, you’ve probably seen him as the guy with the Volkswagen Beetle on his back in the Santam TV ad – or in a newspaper or two as one of the insane surfers taking on the Cape’s biggest waves during rough winter swells, but what you didn’t know was that he is one of the most unique and inspiring South Africans you’ll ever find. Someone you would really want to know more about.

The man is a legend – and not just because he can hold his breath for longer than most fish, has an eight-pack for a stomach and takes on waves as big as the grand stand at Newlands Rugby Stadium.

James is in fact the original mold from which God made surfers (not many people know this, but I have it on good authority….)

I remember when my mother met him for the first time, she asked the obvious question after seeing his blond hair and the surfboards on his roof rack:

“So James, you’re a surfer?”

“No Tannie” he replied shyly “I just surf”.

In one sentence I understood an important part of my friend James – he is no imitation of a Billabong poster, a surfer for the image.

James is what the poster tries to capture – he is the original waterman.

I can also remember swimming out with him to take some pictures (in the early days) and being a bit worried about the fact that all the other surfers where either coming out of the water or sitting on the shore admiring the size of the waves – I should have known then….

Then there were the times James came running into the Majuba dining hall (our Residence/Fraternity at Stellenbosch University) with the news that he checked the weather sites on the internet and that “tomorrow morning the waves will be cooking, bro”.

In these cases we would finish our engineering class at 16h30, jump in his 23 year old Mazda 323 and head to Cliffs near Rooi Els, snorkel for crayfish before sunset (amazingly the cheapest food available), braai it on the beach and sleep outside.

Next morning James would be in the water by 05h00 before we headed back to be on time for the 08h00 Math class. Ridiculous!

One thing about James that needs to be stated here is that he is unfortunately a misunderstood creature.

Most people think surfing 25 footers is a very serious hobby for him – and that’s the core of the misunderstanding.

If you think surfing is James Taylor’s hobby, you won’t understand when he misses your wedding because ‘Sunset Reef was breaking’ or declines a job offer which will keep him away from Cape Town in the winter. You won’t understand why he has more wetsuits than pairs of pants (seriously!) or really doesn’t see the need in replacing his diesel bakkie which has now done 500 000 km.

When I run into old mates living with this misconception, the question is always: “So, is James still surfing.” or “When is James settling down”.

What they don’t understand is that the man has been settled for a long time now.

He figured out his priorities long before the rest of us- and, on behalf of every 30something guy who knows this legend of a man, I want to thank him for it.

Because when we sit in the traffic or hunch behind our desks in search of the illusive mistress called: “security” , it’s good to know that James is out there somewhere, taking on walls of water big enough to break oil tankers and whooping loudly when he pulls into a barrel you could park a bus in.

Thanks James….for being wild at heart, on our behalf.

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