I recently received a mail from Colin Fitch head of ASP (Association of Surfing 

Professionals) Africa, inviting me to take some local surfers from Ghana to compete in this event: ASP Billabong Pro Junior event at Victoria Bay, near George in South Africa from the 1st to 4th September.

 

The Billabong Junior Series has been running in South Africa since 1997. The events have gone onto help produce World Tour Surfers like Greg Emslie, David Weare, Paul Canning, Royden Bryson and Jordy Smith.

 

The event would be a major deal for the Ghanain surfers not only showcasing Ghanain surfers on the World  surfing scene but also opening doors to possible ASP African events held in Ghana in the near future.  

 

I have been travelling to Ghana for the last 6 years and helped the local surfers by supplying them with surfing equipment and also organising local surfing competitions. I have seen the level of surfing advance rapidly in the past few years.  Not only have the local surfers competed in Ghana, but I have also helped them to travel and compete in the neighbouring country of Cote D Ivoire. 

 

I myself have worked in the surfing industry my whole life and used to compete in regional surf contests in the UK, Europe and Africa.  I am a qualified BSA level 2 surf instructor and have help the Ghanain surfers to improve their skills in the ocean.  

These guys live to surf and surfing has given them a whole new meaning to life.

 

Last year I started a project SURFBOARD DONATIONS FOR THE KIDS OF WEST AFRICA. I managed in one year to gather together 80 donated surfboards and much equipment to donate to the kids of not only Ghana, but Cote D Ivoire and Liberia. I also organised a local surf contest at the same time as donating the surfboards. The boards have helped the locals in a big way, as much of the equipment they were using in the past was damaged. 

 

I am passionate about helping these kids and also surfing in West Africa. I'm sure in the future, West Africa will become a world wide surf destinations and bring much tourism within the area. I feel that giving these kids a chance to compete at a world level will open up many doors for the future.

 

The contest will be covered by the ASP International website and global distribution network. ASP Africa has also said that they would run an article on the surfers nearer to the event. I will also send a press release to surfing media throughout the world for potential stories on the trip. This would be the first time that surfers from Ghana have competed outside of West Africa and I'm positive that we can acquire media interest. I'm also looking into the possibilities of the trip being documented on film, I have spoken to ASP Africa and they are researching the possibility with local film producers.

 

Funds raised will be used to fund every aspect for the Ghanain surfers, passports, visas, flights, accomadation, travel within South Africa, food, entrance fees, all extra funds will be used to import more surfing equipment in the future.

Please check the links below for more info and videos

Surfboard Donations For The Kids Of West Africa

Surfboard Donation Video

Many Thanks

Brett Davies