‘We Created a Monster!’ Iconic South Africa Wave Resurrected (Video)

Originally posted on SURFER | By Dashel Pierson | Last updated Oct 7, 2025 5:27 PM ET

It’s perhaps the most iconic scene in surf celluloid history ever. Mike Hynson, Robert August, and a couple locals slide down sand dunes on their longboards, traversing what appears to be a desert wasteland, only to find a perfect righthand pointbreak.

The scene is, of course, from 1966’s The Endless Summer. And the wave featured was Cape Saint Francis, just over 400 miles from Cape Town. Since the legendary scene, the wave was affectionately dubbed “Bruce’s Beauties,” on behalf of the filmmaker Bruce Brown. Also since the 1960s, the wave has changed…or, rather, it’s disappeared.

Now, however, Cape Saint Francis has returned. Thanks to a coastal protection project – including rock groynes, sand replenishment, etc. – the iconic wave has been resurrected, in addition to a few others. Take a look below.

As captioned in the video above: “Over the past month, the groynes have been taking shape quickly, and we’re already seeing a big influence on sand movement, beach restoration, and wave formation. New waves have started to appear — with a right-hand break off the back of the groyne and a fun left-hander on the other side. As construction continues, these waves are looking more and more promising. Even the old beach break further down has come back to life, showing signs of the classic shape it had back in the 90s and 2000s — a really exciting return for the local surf community.”

With a little help, the beach – and the waves – are returning to life.

So, what’s being done? It’s called the Long Term Coastal Protection Scheme, and it’s designed to restore the coastline of Saint Francis Bay. The project includes “construction of several strategically placed rock groynes,” as well as, “a comprehensive beach nourishment program” that includes dredging and pumping sand from nearby rivers.

And the result? So far so good.

For a little refresher on Bruce’s Beauties, here’s a lookback on the iconic scene from The Endless Summer: