August is always a tricky month while surfing in Malta. The heat is often unbearable; it’s flat, it’s dry, and the air is sticky. We end up stinking of sweat and hogging the AC systems whenever we can.
Ah, such a lovely image. But, it’s not all doom and gloom as we managed to get together for another amazing edition of our starry-skied barbecue. Matthew Galea provided the gas grill, Bomba got the tunes, surfers brought the sausages and away we grilled. We saw shooting stars and made wishes, though some fell to Elon Musk’s Starlink, which is now a permanent fixture of our night skies.
Late August swell
Fortunately, some storms in the Mediterranean did provide a rest from the dry spell, and we surfed Ghajn Tuffieha on the 20th of August. Hallelujah, and since the swell came after Santa Marija, it means the crowds decreased, if only slightly.
Fun fact about Malta: 15th August is a national holiday celebrating the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Funner fact: It also commemorates the 1942 arrival of the Santa Maria Convoy during World War II, which brought crucial supplies, saving Malta from surrender and altering the global destiny of when World War II would eventually end, and whose side would be victorious. You’re welcome, Europe!
It’s our own little siesta, and after that, since most schools re-start in Europe, the island starts to drain off its tourists. Now, don’t get us wrong, we love tourists, nothing wrong there- but it does mean emptier beaches, less litter and hopefully less crowded line-ups too, yeeew!
With so many flat days in August, many surfers turned to free diving and spearfishing for sport, and that’s where Branko Petrovic’s interview here came handy!
Now, without wanting to sound like your average British human scraping for conversation, let’s talk about the weather. September always brings some instability, which is amazing news for us! We’re expecting some swells, some crazy winds and some rain! At least, those rain and surfing dances might work, so keep twerking people!
August, you were somewhat quiet in Malta besides the usual parties and barbecues, so maybe a change is due! Oh, there’s also some changes happening at the Malta Surf and SUP Association, so keep tabs on them if you can!
37 never felt so good
August was also special for me, your editor. I hate writing about myself, so I’ll save this for the end, when hopefully you’ve already dropped off and stopped reading. Celebrating my 37th birthday with such amazing people was special, and I am still getting emotional thinking about the gift you thought of. Stay tuned for updates on that, but I’ll tell you readers this: it’s mindblowing. Lots of love ya’ll! When I started BOMBA I had no idea what it would become, and the support and love this little brand and mag has received has been humbling, and I am extremely grateful. Let’s see where this dream takes us, but one thing is for sure: it has already build amazing friendships, and united a bunch of incredible humans together, long may that continue!
