From homeless to surf star, Paul 'Chow' Sampson sets sights on dominating Africa's waves

JOHANNESBURG - Twenty-five-year-old South African surfer Paul "Chow" Sampson is far from what anyone would consider an ordinary surfer, by any measure.

Firstly, he is black and making waves in a sport where there are very few professional surfers who look like him. Secondly, unlike most others in the sport who grew up affluent, he is formerly homeless.

Driven by an obsession with the sport, he is determined to dominate the African surfing scene and recently won the Africa Surf Tour event in Annise, Ivory Coast in February.

"I never get bored of the beach because every time you get into the water, it’s a different wave that you’re surfing. What motivates me is that I can go into the seas and go surf," he said.

What makes Sampson stand out is the obstacles he’s had to overcome on his journey. His story is unlike any other surfer. He lost his mother, who was a car guard, at a young age and grew up on the streets. For a while, he lived in a cave off the Muizenburg Bay shoreline.

Surfing changed Sampson’s life. He was taught at the Palama Metsi surf school, run by his mentor and now manager, Shafiek Khan, which gave him the opportunity to become a champion. Now, Sampson and Khan are on a mission to help other young black men and women take up the sport and change their lives too.

"I had that mindset of 'I want to do this' and watch myself on TV, so the up-and-coming kids who never had the opportunities I had can also do the same thing," said Sampson.

Sampson is currently starring in SuperSport’s Real World Champions miniseries, a campaign that platforms and celebrates ordinary South Africans doing extraordinary things in sport.