Senegalese Surfers Offer Free Lessons Despite Equipment Barriers

In Ngor, a fishing village on Dakar’s coast, professional surfer Ibra Samb and local volunteers use the Anda Surf Club to teach children surfing, ocean safety and confidence, including through free weekly lessons. Samb first became interested in surfing as a boy, when he and his friends watched foreign surfers and improvised boards from scraps of fishing boats because they could not afford equipment. Students such as 13-year-old Katy Samb hope to progress in the sport, while their coach dreams of seeing young Senegalese surfers reach the World Tour. Expensive boards and training, along with the costs and visa challenges of international travel, remain significant barriers for Senegalese and other African surfers. The attention surrounding Senegal’s Youth Olympic Games, the first Olympic event held in Africa, is offering the sport and its young athletes greater visibility.