Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Changing young lives – one wave at a time
HE IS known for tackling the most challenging waves in the world, and this week Laureus Ambassador Garrett McNamara announced his intention to use sport to help young people overcome discrimination and disadvantage.
The Hawaiian surfer was welcomed into the Laureus Family by Laureus Academy member and windsurfing legend Robby Naish, on the beach in Monte Carlo, the host city for last week’s 2017 Laureus World Sports Awards.
McNamara plans to use surfing to create a positive change for youth.
“Surfing changed my life and I know it can change the lives of young people around the world,” said McNamara. “When a young person surfs for the first time and feels at one with the power of the ocean, they are filled with the knowledge that anything is possible.”
McNamara has been at the top of big-wave surfing for more than 25 years. He is the first big-wave surfer to ride out tsunami waves created by calving glaciers, and the first person in his sport to be towed into a wave by helicopter.
He holds the Guinness World Record for riding out the biggest recorded wave in history, a 90-foot wave at Nazare, off the coast of Portugal.
Naish said McNamara’s influence would be of great benefit.
“He’s is still out there today charging big waves so it’s great to have him on board and representing alternative sportspeople.”
McNamara and his team aim to visit more than 30 countries, introducing hundreds of underprivileged children to the beauty of surfing through free board give-aways and instructional programmes.
His mission will build towards the sport of surfing being involved in the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo for the first time in Olympic history. – ANA
talk about Astronomy in the Big Data Era, followed by a tour of the site and star gazing.
Younger kids may enjoy the Iziko South African Museum and Planetarium at the top of the Company's Garden. – AP