Find the Stoke sponsors local aspiring surfer

“To be ‘stoked’ is to be completely and intensely enthusiastic, exhilarated or excited about something” – is the Urban Dictionary’s definition of the surfer term and local eight-year-old surfer, Cooper Lee Smith, is beyond stoked to surf and to be sponsored by Find The Stoke.

Find the Stoke surf clothing range, is an original concept developed by Salt Rock resident Deon Knoetze and aims at drawing the local coast-loving community together.

Knoetze believes by sponsoring Smith, they will have the opportunity to further associate their brand as being all about supporting the wonderful North Coast ethos and surfing community.

From the outside, Cooper seems like your average primary schooler. The grom (a young surfer is called a “grommet” or “grom”) from Ballito loves travelling to Southbroom with his family to visit his grandparents, playing on his iPad, watching his cousin Jordy Smith surfing on WSL and playing school sport with his mates at Umhlali.

But he is set to become a future surf star to watch out for.

He started wake boarding at the Bronkhorstspruit dam at the age of four, but since moving to the North Coast surfing has become his passion. After first standing up on a board with the help of his dad, Cooper has pursued his dream of becoming a proffesional surfer.

“My family moved to Ballito from Johannesburg and I soon discovered I enjoyed being in the sea much more than racing motocross on my KTM 50, and being in the ocean is much more fun!” said Cooper.

“To be a sponsored surfer is an honour and I hope to be a great role model with a good attitude. I also have a Graham Smith surfboard sponsorship, as a team rider and most recently a ‘product’ sponsorship from Bos Ice Tea.”

Cooper also has some advice to surfing newbies.

“If I can do it, so can you. Get some surf lessons and ask your mom or dad to take you to South Beach Durban where learning to surf is a lot easier. Be sure to know the surf conditions, don’t panic if you get stuck in a rip current, never surf alone and surf with someone better than you – you can look out for each other and learn a lot from them.”

>>  Expect to find the latest trends in Health, Wellness and Beauty in Ballito.

>> Meet the top players in the North Coast property industry. See our Property People feature.

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