Surfers share their stories of freedom in documentary
IN celebration of Freedom Day, two surfers from the Cape Flats are sharing their stories of how they found freedom in the ocean in a two-part documentary called Free Surfer.
The Corona Studios film deals with challenging stigmas of belonging, including defying prejudices based on race and gender.
It follows the inspiring lives of Cass Collier, the first black person to win the Reef ISA Big Wave World Championship in Mexico in 1999; and Khayelitsha-born-and-raised Khanyisa Mngqibisa’s journey to becoming South Africa’s first internationally qualified lifeguard and surfing coach.
“I’ve spent my entire life in the ocean and that’s where I find my freedom. Once you experience that first wave it changes everything. I think the ocean is all about healing and there’s no greater feeling of freedom than this. Everyone has a place in the ocean,” said Collier.
Master of riding the barrel, Collier is considered one of the top surf coaches in the world, and today surfers come from around the world to be taught by Collier. He also operates a surf school in Muizenberg where he teaches children from disadvantaged communities how to surf.
“My father, Ahmed Collier, was the first black surfer to go to the ‘allwhite’ Cape Town beaches and take on the apartheid government. Often, we would go to the beach to surf and leave in a police van, but he realised the freedom that surfing would give me – it did and it still does,” he added.
The second part of the documentary recognises Mngqibisa’s journey as an internationally qualified lifeguard and surfing coach who fell in love with swimming at the age of 12. Mngqibisa started surfing at 21. “One of my highlights from my passion for the ocean is seeing more black people taking part in a sport they may have once thought was not for them.
“When the community sees a surfer who is black and a girl coming from the same disadvantaged community as them, the perception changes that surfing is only for white or rich people,” said Mngqibisa, whose dream is to start a surfing programme for young black girls.
“In our community we face a lot of challenges, like gender-based violence, poverty, drug abuse and teenage pregnancy. When the youth I train surf with their peers it gives them a sense of belonging, self confidence and purpose. I want my community to feel motivated and encouraged to free themselves from the negative and go to any beach and enjoy nature like I do,” she said.
Free Surfer is now showing on YouTube.