Conditions looking excellent for next week, with the Quiksilver Goodwave looking set to take place on Tuesday 13th or Wednesday 14th February in Durban, South Africa.

A combination of good swells and favourable wind predictions have put the Quiksilver Goodwave on alert for the possible running of the event next week. Invited surfers and alternate surfers have been informed and are all on stand-by should the event be called.

Steve Pike from www.wavescape.co.za has been studying the wave charts intently over the last few days, and there have been some interesting swell pulses and forecasts that all seem to point towards a sick day of surfing next week.

There has been a constant run of East swell from a static cyclone sitting off Madagascar that is set to peak early next week. Combined with this a South swell is predicted to arrive in Durban on Monday night, preceded by a slightly weaker 11 second SSE swell. This bodes well for good waves on Tuesday 13th or Wednesday 14th.

The wind predictions for early next week are that there will be a south-west wind followed by light winds and glassy conditions, which is common this time of the year. Perfect conditions for the waves at New Pier. On top of all these factors, the sand bank at the New Pier is in excellent shape at the moment, with any size swell peeling perfectly along the aligned sandbar.

New Pier local Shane Thorne, on hearing about the possible running of the event, was amped on the upcoming swell and the sandbanks. “The banks are so good at the moment, and if the swell comes from the East we are going to get such barrels. I reckon it’s going to be six foot, and I’m going to be in the barrel.”

Quiksilver’s Barry Wolins has stated quite clearly the the event is going to run. “If the waves are good next week the event will run, regardless of who is in town and who isn’t. If the criteria are met we will have a contest.”

Another call will be made over the weekend, depending on the how the charts look and if the predicted swells continue with their punch and don’t downgrade. For more info on the goodwave and the status of this event log onto the event website www.goodwave.co.za for updates.