Catching waves and counting beans

Most surfers are not thought of as number crunchers and accountants are generally difficult to imagine in baggies on a surf board taking a wave.

Umdloti’s wave wizard, Wade Simkiss breaks all the clichés and proves that the two drastically different worlds can be combined with ease.

“I surf four to five times a week, depending on the waves and on my lectures,” said the incredibly polite and humble 20-year-old, who is currently a second year student at Varsity College.

“I am studying a BCom in financial accounting and would like to be a chartered accountant, go into the corporate world and eventually start my own business,” said the surfer with the blonde afro.

Before getting too suit and tie, let us get back to the waves, which Simkiss has been tackling from the tender age of six.

“My dad, Jeff, and my grandpa, Pat, both surf and taught me how it is done. They have been my role models ever since.”

Simkiss has already made a name for himself on the South African surfing scene.

His achievements include coming second at the Rip Curl Grom Search in Mosselbay four years ago, winning the 2013 Billabong National Interschool’s Surfing Championships with the Crawford North Coast team, winning the U20 friendly Junior International Contest in Durban last year, coming third at the University Sport of South Africa Surfing Championships and coming fourth at the Quiksilver Get Free competition last weekend.

The young yet mature surfer is cool as a cucumber, even when talking about sharks.

“I try not to think about sharks when I am in the water, although I have seen many of them swim past, but my theory is if you see a fin, paddle in.”

Why does such a young talent prefer accounting to seeking fame on the world tour?

“I always wanted to be on the world tour, but as I got older that dream faded, probably because I am not as competitive as I should be and because the upcoming youngsters are taking surfing to a whole new level. Also, I like being at home with my friends and family, so constant travelling for competitions just is not for me.”

He does however travel for fun with his friends, visiting Indonesia last year to carve through the crystal clear waves.

Next up is the Varsity Competition in Victoria Bay and he also hopes to travel to Donkey Bay, Namibia and return to Indonesia to catch a few more good ones.