Waves of success for Highway bodyboarder

WITH the warm sun on his back, hands firmly gripped onto his body board and surrounded by the fresh waters of the Indian Ocean, Shaun Haage finds a place to completely disappear for a few hours after the hustle and bustle of an office life.

The full-time web developer has been body boarding since he was 12 years old, but slowly progressed into something much more competitive.

As a youngster he led a very outdoorsy life, from catching crayfish with his dad to fishing, his love for the ocean was apparent.

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“Back in the day there was a competitive circuit between high schools. I wasn’t particularly interested in the competitiveness, but it was such a jol,” said the 38-year-old.

He described himself as an introvert and preferred to have fun than try and better other body boarders.

“However, I must say that when I am out there, I can become very competitive. I would always push hard and be progressive, whereas others would be less motivated to do that.”

He said his passion for the ocean and what it has to offer has kept him going back for more.

“Each time you surf you have a different experience and you share in those moments with friends. When I climb into the ocean all of the stresses dissipate. I use it as a meditative method and the ocean is a part of me,” said Shaun.

When he is not in the ocean he is also the vice chairman of the eThekwini Bodyboarding Association (EBA), a post that quickly sucks up what little time he has left after a long day in the office.

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His typical day starts at about 4am, either hitting the tar for a 5km run or a splash in the surf for a quick body boarding session.

Having surfed for such a long time, he has become attuned with what is going on in the ocean but intuition leads him.

“I have had a couple of scares and a few bumps by big fish, but it’s all about understanding the ocean and knowing when to surf and when not to,” said the doting father of two.

As the vice chairman of the EBA, he invites families to join the groups social media pages and take part in a few training sessions.

The basic equipment used by bodyboarders includes a pair of fins and a bodyboard.

“It’s all about getting them into the ocean and showing them that it is not a scary place and they can catch a wave,” he smiled.

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He will also compete in the masters division at the SA Champs, from 1 to 7 October in Durban. He will take on 15 other men for the coveted first place.

This will be his third consecutive year in the team and he is aiming to podium.

“We are seen to be the best as we have won 26 of the 30 events so far. We are aiming to receive the Fishman Trophy. The end goal is to take the main trophy as a team and raise it proudly for KZN,” said a determined Shaun.

Visit these sites to follow bodyboarding in Durban: www.facebook.com/ethekwinibodyboarding, www.facebook.com/sabbchamps17, wwwsachamps17.ethekwinibodyboarding.co.za and www.instagram.com/ethekwinibodyboarding

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