David Jennings has been in the surfing space for the past 52 years, in which competitions and coaching have been his passion.
Although as a young man he once tapped into the military, the wave bug always chased him. For decades, he doubled as a surfer as well as a surfing retail go-to man.

“Being in both retail and active surfing felt natural. I was in a space I was deeply passionate about, and felt at home. Even today, as a coach, I still surf and compete. But my greatest love is in grooming and mentoring younger surfers and coaches. I run lessons for individuals as well as groups,” said Jennings.

He worries about the “lost skills” whereby the younger generation is either emigrating or has less passion for surfing. However, he believes that people like him have a solid role to play to ensure that surfing lives forever throughout generations.

Also read: Osborn ripping waves of fortitude

“Mentorship is my way of giving back. I coach surfers as young as five years old upwards, across all races and physical abilities. This gives me hope that the next generation of surfers is alive,” he added.

Jennings was a runner-up in the SA National Longboard Championship in 2017 and 2024. He will again participate in 2026.
“My dream is to coach more scholars, that is where the root of talent is. Although I have recognised that some learners face challenges with surfing kits and transport, we always try to mitigate those challenges through corporate sponsorships.

“Coaching is my life-long dream and I hope I will be able to take my skills as a travelling coach across the globe.”
Jennings advises to “love what you do, and do what you love”, and he believes that good leadership and motivation breed positive, long-lasting results.

For more from Berea Mail, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.

Click to subscribe to our newsletter – here