“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall” – Nelson Mandela

Life is all about making mistakes and persevering until you succeed, and this is precisely what surfing teaches you. There is always another day, another wave, and another chance to try. Every wave is a challenge; facing it is a decision, and making such decisions requires confidence, preparation, and proactivity. 

The surfing program was initially run by Gap Year South Africa, an international volunteer program based in Fish Hoek, but was faced with imminent discontinuation when the company director could no longer continue teaching. Coach Thomas was eager for the kids to keep learning and improving their skills, so he took over the program in 2018 and thereby expanded Coach Thomas Youth Development into a multi-sports education organisation. 

We surf every Saturday at Muizenberg Beach, more or less for the whole day! We transport our keen young surfers and generously donated equipment in a white Hyundai H100. As long as we pay for petrol and keep it in good condition, we are allowed to borrow the vehicle as much as we need. If you spot the car in the parking lot, be sure to come and find us on the beach – the kids love meeting new people, and we’d be more than willing to answer any questions about our organisation.