MAKAI Kabot, a Grade 11 learner from Global Leadership Academy in Jeffreys Bay, has exceeded expectations by winning first place in the South African U/18 longboarding championships, recently hosted in Jeffreys Bay.
Kouga Express sat down with Kabot to find out more about this incredible feat.
“I have been surfing my whole life. My father put me on his surfboard when I was about two years old and I haven’t been able to stop since. My whole family surfs; it’s a lifestyle more than anything else,” Kabot said.
In 2019, he won second place in his age division and was adamant that he would work hard and win first place this year.
“I surfed as much as possible and trained very hard for the past two years to achieve this goal. It paid off this year as I won every heat that I competed in and won the overall first place for men’s under 18.”
Having conquered his age group, his next goal is to compete in the open men’s division at the next competition, where all ages compete against each other.
Kabot has had provincial colours in both long- and shortboarding for the last three years, and he is going to try out for Springbok colours at the next tryouts.
“It would be an absolute honour for me to represent my country doing what I love.”
At the moment, the 17-year-old has to make some big decisions about his future. He has decided that, although he will always pursue surfing, he would like to go to university after school and engage in an academic career as well.
“Surfing is my escape from everything. It helps keep life light.”
His advice to aspiring surfers is to work hard at it and to get yourself a good group of friends who motivate you to do your best. Kabot notes that his two best friends were there every step of the way during the longboarding championships.
“I call them my pit crew. I would not have been able to do it without them.”
