Before I start I just want to say that this blog isn’t about how I found myself on my ‘gap yah’ and became a spiritual guru. It is however about how a how a gap year in South Africa will change your life as it has mine.
South Africa is where it all started for Ticket to Ride. The founders, Will and Linley took a road trip up the east coast of South Africa on their gap year, surfing and exploring along the way. They then decided to make it into a surf trip for others to enjoy and in 2005 Ticket to Ride ran the first 10 week adventure.
Now riders from all walks of life, surfing backgrounds and ages take on this 10-13 week surf adventure in order to experience the magic of South Africa, surf to their hearts content and hopefully qualify as Surf Instructors by the end.
In January 2016, I quit my job, escaped the commitments of university and arrived in Cape Town to start my own TTR adventure. A year on, South Africa has left a lasting imprint on me and here’s how.
The all round surf experience
This isn’t meant to sound like a sales pitch but South Africa really does have it all. Beach breaks, reef breaks, point breaks, bombora breaks, big waves, small waves, beginner waves, scary waves. The list is exhaustive. But surfing here made me well versed with most surfing scenarios and equipped me to surf around the world! I’m always willing to give tricky conditions a shot, I just remind myself of ‘this one time, in South Africa…’
The Importance of giving back
Surfing is an odd sport really. You stand on a piece of fibreglass, transitioning along a body of moving water, executing manoeuvres and generally get pretty ‘stoked.’ However, there is no feeling quite like it; being out in a natural environment and flying along waves. We take so much from the ocean whether it be through surfing, as a food resource or energy supply and I think there’s a major disequilibrium as all we seem to do is spit back waste and overexploit it through our habits of mass consumption.
Whilst in South Africa we got involved in sand dune restoration and beach cleans with The Supertubes Surfing Foundation. The charity was set up by a group of local surfers and surf organisations who aim to preserve the waves and beaches in Jeffrey’s Bay.
It made me realise how important it is to appreciate what you’ve got and to care for what you love. If we love surfing because of that ‘stoke’ we should be looking after the ocean that provides it. So next time you’re at the beach, take a bin bag in your rucksack and go and pick up that litter, recycle as much as possible and be a conscientious consumer. Life is balance so give something back.
People, Perception and Gratitude
The people that live in South Africa made a massive impact. In coffee bay, in the wild country of the Transkei we were welcomed into the home of a Xosha family for dinner and I was exposed to a new atmosphere and way of life. For a country following on from the legacy of Apartheid with areas of mass deprivation I was stunned at the positive energy and warmth of the people I met here.
Working with Waves for Change highlighted this too. The children from the townships we were involved with were so happy to be out surfing with us and you wouldn’t think, with the smiles on their faces, that they’d been exposed to some traumatic experiences.
It was a bit of a reality check for me and the others I was travelling. These kids have inspired me to be more grateful for what I have and not take so much for granted. This year I’m hoping to get involved in The Wave project, a UK charity with a similar mission to Waves for Change.
Make sure you listen to the people you meet, you’ll be in for some amazing stories that may just change your perception on life.
Letting go and Overcoming your fears
I faced a lot of fears during the trip. It was my first stop of 5 months of travelling which was a big change, I didn’t know what to expect when I touched down and it did worry me a lot. And then there was the world’s highest bridge bungee which we took on in Plettenberg, before the jump I was sick with nerves, my stomach was knotting, I had to dance around and sing to myself like a loony, anything to distract myself. On top of that there was the pressure of passing the Surf Instructor course and the thought of failure if I didn’t. I hate to admit it, but I can be a bit of perfectionist and not being good at something can really get me down.
It all taught me that sometimes you’ve just go to let go of those preconceived fears, take the leap (in some cases off a perfectly sturdy bridge) and just go for it. You’ll never know what you’re capable of until you’ve tried.
Becoming a Surf Instructor
So after all the worries I passed my Surf Instructor course and got a dreamy job with Ticket to Ride Surf Schools in Cornwall. This has opened so many doors to me. I get to share something I love with others, there’s opportunities to travel and work at the same time and it’s helped push my surfing to a new level. It’s not bad when you can call the ocean your office.
Biltong
Last but not least: Biltong. It may shock you that something as small as this made the list but before South Africa I used to be disgusted by the idea of dried, cured meat. South Africa is famous for it’s Biltong and I overcame my preconceptions and now I love it. It’s the perfect post surf snack and goes hand in hand with a beer bru. (The droëwors will still need some convincing).
I could bang on and on about all the awesome things about South Africa but hopefully this gives you a slightly different take on this country and I hope you get the chance to explore it for yourself.
Travelling is a journey that enriches us with knowledge. Reflect on the experiences you have and enjoy every moment.
Life’s Lekka bru!