By Christie Caroma
'Do you think you'll be a
natural? Paul of Downhill Adventures asked, as I was doing
what felt like an Irish Jig with an octopus, trying to get
into my wetsuit. 'Oh yeah, sure of it,' I replied.
Contrary to popular belief, not everyone who hangs out on
a beach in South Africa is a surfer dude/chick. Thankfully
for people like me, who would like to surf but haven't got
the guts to lose street cred with friends, there are places
like Downhill Adventures that will organise surf lessons for
would-be champions.
Lessons run every day in season and are not only targeted
at tourists. Trips for businesses are run as team-building
exercises- imagine drowning your boss/accountant/most hated
colleague...
The lesson starts with an all-important warm-up, followed
by an equally important safety talk. Then, training and practice
of surfing moves on the sand. Once those are mastered, into
the water you head.
The very professional Paul took us each out individually,
guiding and pushing us onto the wave.
Regrettably, I never got up without somersaulting off, but
the buzz of riding a wave and the invigorating feeling of
sea water on my face made me realise that surfing is about
more than being out there, riding a board, and is just generally
a YYYEEEHAAA kind of feeling.
James, an English guy on the trip with us, was styling: two
minutes in the water and he was surfing. Excellent!' he grinned,
as he came out of the water for a scrummy lunch, provided
by Downhill Adventures. Apparently, most people experience
this reaction - even me, who couldn't get it up, so to speak.
James' partner, Kay, at first found paddling out against the
waves a problem, but was soon alongside James, styling on
the water.
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