epa01348218 South African big wave surfer Simon Lowe surfs a wave at an offshore reef known as Sunset off Cape Town, South Africa 17 May 2008. Big winter storms hitting the Cape Penisula have provided huge waves for surfing. The waves are too big to paddle into so the surfers use waverunners to tow them into the fast moving swells. The surfers ride custom made surfboards that are heavier than normal and have footstraps to help control the board at high speeds.