Surf culture is in many ways shaped by the waves themselves as much as the individuals who ride them. Entire towns can become destinations simply with the blessing of one quality wave that becomes its hub. People collect there, they get to know each other in a familiar lineup, and they build their lives around frequenting a collective favorite spot.
Durban’s Cave Rock is one such place, which gave us O-Gs Rudy Palmboom, world-renowned photographer Chris Van Lennep, and World Champion Shaun Tomson. It’s a single wave that ties the lives together of characters who influenced an entire scene and culture around them. Now in his 60s, Palmboom is still anchored to his favorite wave, still paying his dues, still getting the best waves of the day, and the people that call the place home today still look up to him as one of its pioneers.
