Mirage: The ever-changing story of Skeleton Bay

Mirage
A short film about the origin and evolution of Skeleton Bay.
Since it was unveiled in 2008, the wave at Skeleton Bay has become part of every surfer's lexicon, a synonym for never-ending sand bottomed tubes. But unlike Pipeline, G-Land, or [insert your preferred iconic world class wave here], the two-kilometre-long left on the edge of the Namib Desert is in a constant state of flux. If satellite imagery is anything to go by, the wave we know today didn’t even exist 30 years ago.
Mirage is a 15-minute documentary that traces the genesis of the Namibian sandspit and how it became one of the most sought after waves on the planet, as told by pioneering locals and some of the best tube riders in the world.
But before you put it on the top of your post-pandemic bucket list, perhaps take heed of Koa Smith’s veiled advice from the film: “People think oh, easy, Skeleton Bay. I’m going to go get the barrel of my life. But then they show up here and realise it’s more like Teahupoo on sand.”
For any media queries, please contact:
Alan van Gysen or Will Bendix - [e-mail]

[@gds5717]

In 1973, I surfed Puerto Chicamas in Peru with just 2 buddies, all alone for a week. The lefts were so long that we always had to walk back to the point. It was an amazing trip! But watching this video, this wave, the endless barrels, OMG, it made me tear-up! The opportunity to ride this wave must be for sure life changing. What a gift! Awesome video in so many levels! Outstanding! The best left I have ever seen. Thank you!

[@maazinahamed4317]

This is the best example for why the best things in the world are hard to achieve and hard to reach. Imagine the exact same wave in Bali or somewhere else in the world where humans could easily access, crowded lineup and the madness would be out of this world. Long live Skeleton Bay ❤️❤️

[@dantakeoff]

Haha the Bali crowd would shit themselves and leave it alone....

[@RaulEdu33]

@@dantakeoff Just wait and see Skeleton Bay getting crowded with hipster surf hostels, cyber cafes and influencer yoga studios. 🤣🤣🤣

[@dantakeoff]

@@RaulEdu33 Lol i actually saw that happen to Taghazout in Morocco...

[@salvadordiharce9986]

Wow I'm an old retired surfer 64 years young I keept ducking my head on every barrel than raising up as each surfer came out of the tube even though I've been out of water for 6 or 7 years you never forget that feeling of padding and catching it kinda like pushing yourself over the edge of a 3 story building your film capture some of those indescribable moments that a surfer never forgets well done ps I was a little exhausted after watching best Surf film I have ever seen Congrs....Sal DiHarce

[@1royalwolf]

Old mate at 0:40 summed it up best I think. “It’s that feeling of looking down the line and seeing no ending”. That would be such an amazing position to be in

[@mgray4254]

Mother nature, nothing beats it's hidden beauty

[@iaincampbell_]

Well done legends. This is such an epic clip... 🤙🏼🤙🏼

[@Samuelrathjedrumz]

Bro you should do an edit here

[@amaturearcadia]

Legendary for sure

[@thefl400]

Best feature ever on Skeleton bay! Thanx for shooting that gem!

[@NowNowTV]

Cheers! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@bellend4412]

An excellent clip, great commentary and nicely presented overall. And not one jet ski!! ... yet.

[@sacredlight2110]

Jet ski's don't work on Skeleton Bay. Locals tried it years back and it didn't help much, the waves undercurrent that makes it work, causes wave to rise very suddenly. Plus getting back to starting point is done by walking, not paddling. I'm local and have seen Donkey bay fire every year at least once.

[@Aljonone1]

@@sacredlight2110 So is more just a waiting game for good waves? Should really pay more attention to local surf for when it might be good!

[@NowNowTV]

Thank you!

[@sacredlight2110]

@@Aljonone1 It only fires about 3 to 4 times a year, but when its on there is no waiting. Wave after wave after wave. The hardest part for me is the drop in and then keeping up with sections of wave falling over. The speed of the wave is epic. For any intermediate surfer like me, its far more wipe-outs then success. I have even seen pro surfers not be able to make the drop-in/take off and catch nothing all day.

[@donrusnak7230]

Grew up surfing sand bars on long island, sand bar there one day, and gone the next. Ironically still to this day and even after 3 years on the west coast, one of my best sessions happened at a place that never should gsvd been, and probably never will break again, and it was only there for about an hour. It actually was the long island sound in October of 2002. A Nor Easter hit and waves can get big. But generally not surfable. About an hour before sunset I took a ride down the street from where I grew up expecting to see big storm surf and instead it looked flat. I kinda laughed because my buddy said it was 5 to 7 foot and I saw glass... but I then saw the shoreline all foamy like a set just broke, so I waited and watched. After about a min I saw what looked like whales coming, then I realized it was a set. This storm had hit on such a high tide that it pulled most of the beach off the beach and deposited it about 40 yards off the beach, so now this set came because all the wind generated waves were being blown together into definitive sets because the winds quickly switched to the south, and I happened to be there with a wetsuit and a board. Every wave was the same, about 100 yard right barrels and about a foot overhead. In the long island sound. Not only were the waves killer, but it was at my local grow up beach, I never saw anything like this there, and the conditions have to be more than perfect for it to ever happen again. I caught about a dozen waves, got 2 in/outs on one wave. Sand bars can create heaven, even if it was only for an hour, that memory has lasted 21 years now and I'll remember it on my death bed.

[@leonardovieiradesouza8115]

I used to draw this wave on my notebooks at school back in 1999, when I was 15, dreaming of it thinking there was no place on Earth where it would exist. And there it is.

[@masonmikeska2413]

Anyone how plays truesurf knows what’s up

[@ryankramer123]

Lol it’s free xp

[@doctorcrypto3048]

Yep that’s where i hang on True surf

[@matthewturner5773]

Me too

[@koolxaids3851]

I got a 2 minute barrel 😂

[@Kingof831]

@@koolxaids3851 Forreal lol those are the best

[@samdavison-wall4972]

Great video. So good to see a surf video that isn't a bunch of guys drinking redbull and getting towed around on jet skis.

[@NowNowTV]

Cheers Sam, glad you enjoyed it. Stay tuned for more in 2021.

[@John_Morley]

Wow, guys that was SO good! This wave is such a phenomenon. This story had to be told. Going to clock up awards for this production mense. Yew!

[@NowNowTV]

Thanks a lot John! All the best.

[@reddiver7293]

Great video!!! Thank you! Riders of a high enough calibre to really ride truly exceptional surf. 100% 10s waves!

[@bakalaox]

12:00 YA KIDDING!!! Well done boys! this is a life changing wave! the footage is unreal

[@mandatethis8024]

I watched a lot of sick tube rides in my life.......thats the deepest survivable wave sequence I’ve ever seen. Period.

[@reeffulton8186]

@@mandatethis8024 it's a damn quick wave to say the least

[@osobe2026]

The video of koa screaming in the barrel is iconic

[@helen4652]

Crazy, stomach churning surfing!!! WOW!!💓💓💓

[@ericmixer]

Ive never been there but ive known the location of this break since 77' and Terry Fitzgerald and his mates went on a Surfari across Europe and Africa via Surfer magazine my favorite youthful escape ! Mahalo , be kine !

[@dietmarotto8625]

Love this video. Makes me proud to be Namibian!! Best wave in the world. Go Namibia!!!

[@NowNowTV]

Cheers Dieter, you live in an incredible country. Thanks for watching.

[@AtortAerials]

Freaking SO epic.....could watch videos like this all day long! Was talking to Anthony Walsh one day and he was talking about how gnarly the shorebreak is just getting out and in was....this video validates it’s not some small glassy barrel and bombs. Who know this wave may disappear one day once the sand shifts super special zone for sure. 🙏🏾

[@asherginsburg499]

I got chills watching this so sick.

[@johnswimcat]

Fascinating video, very well made

[@NowNowTV]

Thank you John. Stoked you enjoyed it.

[@robertowens3078]

Nature is so awesome, skeleton bay, speachless!!!

[@travismonahan7225]

The happiness you see in surfers is unlike any other

[@NowNowTV]

Cheers Travis, thanks for watching!

[@emerbikes3561]

SIMPLEMENTE INACREDITÁVEL. QUE PERFEIÇÃO !!

[@BrolyRajang]

Dream of all Riders🙏

[@robertscott3939]

Well done, great story and incredible footage

[@cpuvirtual]

The wave perfect machine! Always on! WOW!

[@cloudsculptor1]

Awesome ,delicate ,production. Let's the wave speak for its self through showing its effect on its playmate passengers. Loved it 10/10

[@NowNowTV]

Thank you very much!

[@johnnybravo6829]

Absolutely insane intro and one of the best surf videos I've seen..

[@NowNowTV]

Much appreciated @johnnybravo6829, thanks for watching.

[@facediaper09]

Awesome video. The old man was EPIC!!!

[@as_the_dodo_do]

Love it! Very well done to the team, what a clip!

[@jorgeveiga4592]

Epic. I kept my eyes wide open and my jaw dropped, drooling.

[@NowNowTV]

Cheers Jorge, thanks for watching!

[@johnomahoney7755]

What an amazing wave!

[@KyleOzz]

Shit makes me want to grab my board and catch a wave. And I don't even surf.

[@stuarthablutzel]

Such a great story, well done gents

[@johnnyberryman447]

Brett loves every minute of it lol

[@worldchampions4379]

I work in the film industry & filmed a few scenes from Mad Max fury road rite opposite this wave.

[@gavinmcneill1674]

Nice

[@1975tbm]

@Ahoyjahman my old man worked on the original Mad Max down here in Aus a lifetime ago.....small budget back then

[@worldchampions4379]

@@1975tbm Your old man is a legend respect

[@brendoggynolsy7462]

How do you get into the film industry?

[@worldchampions4379]

@@brendoggynolsy7462 Hi, I went to every production company in my city looking for work I was willing to start at the bottom as an office runner, they took my number told me if something comes up they'll let me know, months went by with no response then one day my phone rang a receptionist at a production company was going on vacation and they needed someone to answer the phone for 2 weeks I said sure can do. I worked my ass off from receptionist to office runner, to production assistant, to 3rd Assistant director, to 2nd 2nd Assistant Director (yes that's a real thing), to 2nd Assistant Director, to 1st Assistant Director in 15 years...that's how I got in.

[@thomp860]

easily the best surfing video production i’ve watched, so well put together with music, interviews, pictures, videos…wow. Definitely need a sequel/update in years to come!!

[@NowNowTV]

Thanks a lot Sam. Stoked you enjoyed it, and we appreciate the comment. Look out for more to come from this series...

[@martintadilli]

nature perfection

[@butlersracing7692]

Gees this was epic... Thank you so much 🙏🙏🙏

[@NowNowTV]

Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks a lot.

[@robhernandez1827]

Insane gentleman! Insane... Cheers 🤙🏽

[@amadahita2073]

Ahhhh so good i want rn ahhh amazing waves gotta keep myself over I always watch amazed riding the heavy waves with heavy music like Delta Parole or with relaxing music videos in background.

[@sanpedroez3367]

Excellent!!!

[@BobbyJetty1502]

This whole production was insane. The one thing that I would’ve tried was a twin fin. Not just because I was born and raised here at Sunset Cliffs Ocean Beach but because of the speed you need to generate and you’re on your rail most of the time.

[@harryhcs]

Such epic production! Thanks! Jis, nature prepares epic things for us to play with

[@Salty_Ocean]

Great video, guys 👍 I loved the Billy Kemper series by WSL, but this takes the spot for the best surfing production I've ever seen, keep it up. "Long live Skeleton Bay"

[@NowNowTV]

Thank you very much. We really appreciate the comment and support. All the best. Hopefully more of these to come soon.

[@amitnaamani6207]

Wow. So heavy ! Respect

[@rhyswardhaugh5062]

One of the best things I've ever watched!!

[@NowNowTV]

Cheers Rhys, glad you enjoyed it.

[@greg9921]

most beautiful wave in the world.

[@scottthomasen8978]

Great job! Unreal.

[@macrovigilance]

Great mini doco guys.. well done. (In the era of wave pools... it's hands down nature that still builds the best wave machine by far!!)

[@NowNowTV]

Thank you for the positive feedback!

[@negrotski]

Nice work boys, and what a wave

[@Rica-In-Love]

epic!! awesome short

[@bradinator123]

I literally threw my hands in the air cheering while laying in bed @ 12:04. Soooooo epic!!

[@jameshodge4602]

Yeah you, good to see you back in jersey shedding it!!! Nice to see Mackey too, looking sharp ( darn ) 🤙

[@tayla2624]

Did anyone else see that seal that jumped out the back of the wave at 4:50.

[@patrick3020]

Another one at 9:05 aswell

[@yotuttle]

Soo cute!!!

[@beachboy4928]

Beautiful monster! Unreal!

[@mikemorrissey7928]

Awesome clip, thanks for posting!

[@NowNowTV]

Thank you very much Jackson!

[@clarkewi]

Fascinating.

[@oscarbaker9999]

One of my fav videos ever

[@NowNowTV]

Thank you very very much Oscar!

[@nickjmuzik]

Well done boys!!!

[@SBDETAILS805_SERVICES]

Beautiful 🤩

[@humansaremonkeys]

Incredible

[@joshuamcdonnell122]

This was really amazing. Fascinating wave!

[@NowNowTV]

Thanks Joshua. It sure is an unbelievable wave.

[@rickeykoga2312]

This was really well done, so sick. Subbed!

[@NowNowTV]

Thank you very much Rickey!

[@adambamf9365]

yeah so i got a 4 second barrel the other day and my mind was blowen seeing this its hard to think how these guys harness all that adreniline in such a long bazza

[@jimfranco9920]

Great documentary.

[@Alex-rm1wj]

I surfed that same swell in true surf pretty gnarly

[@brickpig]

Sick job of giving some history and insight into an unreal break. Why don't you do some other breaks? Definitely subscribed.

[@blairkeenan9230]

skeleton bay is a real surf break. go to south africa and see if you don't believe me

[@mls01981]

@@blairkeenan9230 I think there is a misunderstanding regarding Troy's comment. "Unreal" would be synonymous with "incredible" or "one of a kind" as opposed to "non-existent" or "fictional."

[@commie281]

@@mls01981 that’s funny they thought unreal meant fake

[@user-cs4pq7dq4e]

Great VID.

[@spence6226]

Epic 🔥👍

[@antoniohenrique7966]

Love It !!!

[@davechuckbass]

This is so sick🤙🏽🤙🏽🤙🏽🤙🏽🤙🏽

[@johanbobin4712]

The best documentary of the donkey bay I have ever seen. 👏🤙

[@NowNowTV]

Thanks a lot Johan! Much appreciated.

[@rudismith1975]

Remarkable short film, wow well done. Extraordinary!

[@NowNowTV]

Thank you very much Rudi! Much appreciated. Stoked you enjoyed it.

[@planetclay]

speechless.....

[@topstar443]

AVG classic, down to earth, salt of the sea, pukka kinda dude and fascinating video by the way

[@NowNowTV]

Thanks a lot!

[@topstar443]

@@NowNowTV lekker

[@veitchimages]

Dig it! Well done Chaps 🤙

[@jonesco2866]

amazing doccie!

[@Blowfish1972]

Awesome!

[@mitchellbliss3828]

So sick. Looks wild n beautiful, violet and mean.. Desolate but but fun as hell. Dylan would've thought this was tight. RIP lil man. Miss u

[@jimihendrixx11]

I'll surf here soon. Such an amazingly epic looking place. Now I know how heavy it is. I'll practice a lot first lol

[@zacspencer]

This is so dope

[@tyberlong]

great film

[@hunterdavis3003]

Incredible video/story! Keep it up I subbed with the bell!

[@Kingof831]

this video is amazing! Was absolutely baffled when i saw y'all only had 500 subscribers! very excited to see what is to come from this channel !

[@NowNowTV]

Thank you for the positive response. We've just launched, and we're very excited to bring you more films. Currently working on another two. Stand by...

[@ahmedhoummani9674]

Inspiring one

[@MrAlidor]

That’s insane 🤯

[@rodastley733]

Insane barrels.

[@muayjay9039]

T là william ! C bon ça ♥️ sxm represent

[@michaelcleaver3830]

Makes me cry just looking at it.

[@commie281]

Same, it's so pleasing to just get a look at it and dream. I wish everyone could get a piece of the pie. Surfing there is truly one of my life's goals.

[@NowNowTV]

We couldn't agree more. Everyone should be able to see it with their own eyes.

[@cripmccrypto8481]

Well done, bru

[@panoply1886]

Beautiful video Amongst all the dross I watch and the time I waste in this website, it's stumbling across films like this that make it worthwhile. Well done and thank you.

[@NowNowTV]

Thank you very much for the positive feedback.

[@KaiAdventure]

How cool to see Naude Dreyer of Ocean Conservation Namibia in this video. He does so much for the wildlife out there.

[@NowNowTV]

Thanks for watching Kai. Agreed, Naude is a legend and does incredible work.

[@Real.Australia]

Wow this place blows my mind , great video

[@NowNowTV]

Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@TheBroLounge]

12:25 was Brett Barley. Why no tag?

[@IceAce1]

That's Brett, yes. Super ride. They did tag noone in the wave I think, only when interviewed. Brett's talking part is at 4:54. XD

[@stevethorne6535]

That was an awesome vid. Thanks!

[@NowNowTV]

Thank you very very much Stephen!

[@texterbro101]

You can just see the whole ocean moving behind the wave. I’m exhausted just watching.

[@nor_easterly]

Great vid, so well put together

[@NowNowTV]

Much appreciated!