It was quite a while ago that Melissa A. Volker and I sat at Jonkerhuis, discussing over cake and coffee a version of the manuscript that would eventually become her novel Shadow Flicker. During that conversation, I mentioned my dream of becoming a publisher. I also told her that I’d loved her novel; that it needed some work, but that I was convinced it would…
Author: missmelissawrites
An Equal Share
This article first appeared in the print edition of Zigzag 2 years ago. So much has happened in women’s surfing since I wrote this, equal pay from the WSL for example, Emma Smith on the cover of the Zag, the women’s championship tour invited to JBay and a women’s event scheduled at Mavericks. In some places it is still a…
Book Review – Surfing With Sartre
Surfing with Sartre by Aaron James Did you know that one of the first casualties of climate change might be surfing as we know it? Desert Point could be the first to go. Even at current sea levels it only works on a low tide. Many other breaks could follow as rising oceans swamp reefs. What greater cataclysm could befall…
THAT Downwind
A kitesurfer at Fishhoek had a four and a half meter kite up on the day of my first Miller’s Run. If you speak Kite, it means that either the kitesurfer is the size of Tinkerbell or the wind is stronger than you can imagine. Anyway, the husband ID’d the kitesurfer as a friend of a friend and not Tinkerbell,…
The chronicles of longboarding
The first time I went out on a longboard was in the honeymoon years. Not the actual honeymoon, but those times when you try to impress your hottie and do things he enjoys even if you are terrified/have absolutely no interest. So he pushed me onto a wave in the shorebreak at St Francis Bay (at the time I had…
Book Review – The Woolgrowers Companion by Joy Rhoades
Debut Australian author, Joy Rhoades tells the story of a young woman who finds the strength to prevail through difficult economic and emotional times. Don’t we all want to read a story like that, especially when it so beautifully written? (And the physical book is also gorgeous.) It’s 1945 in New South Wales, Australia. The farming district is crippled…
To the Lighthouse. And back.
The ocean was glassy and inviting as I leapt onto my 14 foot flat water racing SUP with glee. “To the lighthouse,” they said. “And back.” “It’s not that far,” I said to the husband, as we peered out across False Bay from Fish Hoek beach. “It’s like to the bridge and back at Kromme.” Right. Except Kromme is an…
Book Review – Barbarian Days – A Surfing Life by William Finnegan
The prose in this book is sublime, pure poetry in places. William Finnegan (author of many other books and columnist at The New Yorker) is a skillful, lyrical writer and his words are a pleasure to read. He is able to take essentially indescribable experiences and bring them to life with beautiful words. He achieves this in such a way that you, as the reader,…
Girl Power with Style: PE’s graceful ladyslider, Mia Baard
I happened upon Mia Baard when a couple of amazing Cobbles Classic pictures and videos crossed my social media feed. I was struck, firstly by the grace with which she rides the waves, and secondly, by the beauty of Cobbles, the spot down at Cape Recife, just outside Port Elizabeth. I was keen to know how women’s surfing is doing in PE and if it’s…
When the locals are friendly
I’ve had such a great time in PE. It’s kind of bittersweet because I helped my parents pack to relocate to Cape Town and now my roots feel exposed. But today, my last day here, I went down to the beach and some if the locals came by to tell me not to worry. Everything is gonna be alright. Click…
Melissa A Volker 