Will I Am

CATCHING UP WITH THE NORTH DEVON RIPPER WILL BAILEY WHO'S BEEN HELPING OUT WITH SURFERS NOT STREET CHILDREN IN SOUTH AFRICA.

- Will Bailey

Having been out to South Africa once before back in 2016, I was itching to get back out there, being more prepared and knowing what to expect this time, I decided to get on the road.

Upon arrival in South Africa, alongside Tom Hewitt, founder of Surfers Not Street Children, I touched down in Durban. Hitting the ground running I spent most of the first week soaking up the vibes and hanging in and around the Ballito Pro, networking, catching up with friends, soaking up the vibes and familiarizing myself with the QS. The following day the contest had finished I took a flight to Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape, followed by roughly an hour's car journey to the world-famous Jeffreys Bay where I spent three of the best weeks of my life at the Corona JBay open. To make it to JBay and to overlook the point was a special feeling, one I'll never forget.

From dawn to dusk every day, I would study the contest carefully, hang out with and meet some of the best surfers on the planet and score the best waves I've ever had. It was crazy, and there is no feeling like gliding down the line on one of those perfect JBay runners. A place where I felt I could truly live in the moment and enjoy every single second of every day.

Tom had bought a group of girls down from Durban, launching a 'girls surf too' campaign empowering vulnerable youngsters through surfing. It was amazing to see how full of infectious energy and how perpetually stoked they were in and out of the water, watching the contest and surfing with some of their heroes.