Nine-year-old surfer provides free surfing lessons for kids who can't afford it

Glittering sunlight beckons at the end of the cobalt tunnel. Glide across the water’s surface, dance with the sway of the board, and feel the rush of the wave collapsing. Surfing is one of the most thrilling ways to experience the ocean. But it’s expensive. The cost of the sport, from lessons to surfboards and wetsuits, keeps many people onshore. Luckily, nine-year-old Will Ronquest-Ross is helping other kids catch their big break.

Ronquest-Ross comes from a family of passionate surfers, which is how he began navigating the waves at the age of five. Wanting to share this phenomena with friends, he went door-to-door in Hout Bay asking children to join. “So many kids were interested,” Ronquest-Ross says. That’s when he realised that even those living in close proximity to the beach were unable to afford the magic of surf. So began his quest for equality. Ronquest-Ross started a BackaBuddy campaign, which raised enough money for him to give others an opportunity to learn.

“Every child deserves to experience the ocean,” he says. Coached by the Cape Town School of Surfing, Ronquest-Ross practises with kids from Imizamo Yethu. His proudest moment has been hearing his friends speak excitedly about their first time riding a wave. By sharing what he loves, Ronquest-Ross is making surfing an accessible sport for all.

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