Some of my earliest memories are of going to the beach at sunrise with my dad and holding on to his back as we swam out to the back line. We would get past the waves and wait for the dolphins to come past. Floating out at sea waiting to see these magical creatures and staring back at land made me feel like I was in a different world. I wanted to be there as much as possible.

I got my first board the same year I started school. While having difficulty fitting in with the other kids, I felt right at home in the water. The ocean was my safe space and surfing was the key.

Growing up in JBay was fantastic, not just the waves but the wide spectrum of individuals that it attracts. I remember as a young boy we had, as I knew him, Uncle Miki and his dog come stay with us from time to time, he would tell me stories and show me old photos of surfing in the early days of the sport. Only later in life after he had passed did I realise who Miki Dora was and what influence he carried in the surfing world.

I was always drawn to that early period, surfers weren’t just surfers’, they were explorers, craftsmen and outsiders. Not having wealthy families was the best gift for my friends and I. If we wanted something we had to make it. We couldn’t fit in so we did our own thing.
Surfing has become normalised and accepted as just another sport, and the kids have coaches and training, moms waiting in the parking lot with a warm dry towel and an almond milk decaf latte. Nothing wrong with this, but as surfers, all surfers, we all hear the voice of adventure calling.
Adventure isn’t always far off remote exotic islands with perfect waves, it’s an attitude. Surf a different spot, go look for a peak on a forgotten area of the beach, change up your equipment. Riding different boards is thrilling, figuring them out and finding their sweet spots. I love paddling out on a board having no idea what’s going to happen when i get to my feet.
I have learned that fins aren’t just accessories but an integral part of the wave riding experience. They are the keys that unlock the doors of potential in every board.
I’m thrilled to live just around the corner from the JBay Fin design garage. I sometimes show up with some random board and scratch around with Cronje to find the right fin.
Cronje hand makes all the single fins, and I think of him as a locksmith, making keys, and he is the key master.
I have fins that outlast my boards, I’ve had boards made to fit fins that I love. Don’t compromise your surfing experience with bad fins. Don’t be afraid to try something new, adventure is calling.