FINDING that his love for bodyboarding and photography go hand-in-hand, 33-year-old The Bluff resident, Wynand Grobler, also known as Dutcho, lived his dream of travelling the world to freeze moments in time in the ocean, through his camera lens.
Always looking for new and exciting ways to combine his two passions, Grobler began his journey into the world of bodyboarding in the winter of 2017.
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“I was drawn to the powerful waves on The Bluff, but as an inexperienced surfer, there were days when the ocean seemed too daunting to tackle. On those days, I turned to my camera as a way to still be a part of the action. I would watch from the sidelines, capturing the fearless surfers as they shredded every wave that came their way. I couldn’t help but wish that I was out there with them, pushing myself to new limits.
“I became determined to improve, and with the help of some incredible mentors, such as Darren Simes, Scott Venter, Brendan Greenaway and Bruce Donkin, I began to learn the ins and outs of bodyboarding.
“I threw myself into the waves head first with the occasional scorpion down a six footer, but learned do’s and don’ts and focused on those aspects. I discovered that while I may not have been a fan of hitting the reef, the thrill of riding a wave far outweighed any fear I had.
“The journey was not always easy, but it was always worth it. And now, as a bodyboarder and ocean surf photographer, I look back on those early days with a sense of pride and accomplishment,” said Grobler.
The cherry on the top was when he was invited to join MStar Bodyboarding on the IBC World Tour in Portugal for the Sintra Pro 2022, recently.
Documenting the heats and adventures of pro bodyboarders, Mika Justino, Tracey Delport and Robbie Berman, was what he describes as one of his most memorable moments. “I got to witness some of the world’s best riders tackling the craziest conditions, and I got to photograph people I never thought I would ever meet. We visited five different beaches, with my favorite being Nazareth. The memories and experiences from that trip will stay with me forever.
“There’s something about capturing the raw emotion in a subject’s face that you can’t fake, especially when it comes to the excitement and danger involved in freezing a powerful wave in action. It’s not something you can set up and take a few shots to get the right one. You’re there in the moment and you have one chance, you either nail it or miss it. That’s what excites me about the photography aspect.
“The unpredictability of the ocean, the ever-changing light, and the constant movement of the waves makes for a unique and challenging photography subject. It’s a thrill to be out in the ocean, capturing these moments of raw power and natural beauty,” Grobler added.
Fortunate to be groomed by professional surf photographer, Darren Simes, Grobler has began his videography journey and captures video footage of bodyboarders which he intends to pursue professionally.
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