As a junior, this wave assassin was a threat to any competitor who drew him in a heat. Competitive surfing wasn’t his forté though, because that requires a certain amount of ruthlessness that didn’t suit the laid-back Kom local. What really got this underground charger excited was the deep, hollow beachbreak barrels around his hometown, and pulling in to some wide-open barrels is exactly what you’ll find him doing today, a few years down the line.
Meet this week’s Surf Ninja, Wesley Grey…
NAME: Wesley Grey
AGE: 27
LOCAL SPOT: Long Beach
BEST THING ABOUT SURFING?
The best thing about surfing is just to get in the water, clear your mind and do something that I love and I’m good at.
WORST THING ABOUT SURFING?
That must be hold downs and sharks. Not being able to breath is overrated and being breached by Air Jaws is not on my bucket list.
TO MAKE A LIVING I..?
I hang from ropes. I’m a Rope Access Technician currently working at the Limpopo Medupi Power Station.
THREE TRACKS THAT HELP YOU SHRED?
Highlight Tribe – Free Tibet
Bloc Party – Ratchet
Brad Sucks – Making Me Nervous
BEST SURFER IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW?
There are a lot of them, but I’ve seen a lot of online videos recently of Dane Reynolds going absolutely crazy.
DAWNIE OR ARVO SESH?
Arvo shred sesh for sure. Nothing like finishing a day with a good surf, a sunset and a cold beer.
WHICH SPOT DO YOU HAVE TO SURF BEFORE YOU DIE?
I’d love to get Mundaka good before I fall over.
WHEN YOU ARE NOT SURFING, YOU CAN BE FOUND WHERE?
Either looking for waves with the Kom boys, hanging with my girlfriend Sacha and puppy, or at my mate’s restaurant – The Green Room.
GREATEST FEAR?
Something happening to me that stops me from being able to surf again.
BEST SURFING MEMORY?
My best surfing memory is a close call between two days of the longest barrels in Namibia and one special arvo session at Padang Padang. It was 6-8 feet and going tetris, but crowded. I finally lucked into a deep, chunky one, stood tall and got gassed-out straight into the channel where I landed up next to Flynn Novak – who complimented me on the wave and then told me I’m going to be sitting up the top with him and his mate (Kalani Chapman) for the rest of the session. We got talking, laughing, and they were calling me into set after set. It felt like only us three out. I could just go any one I wanted. It was insane to share those barrels with those two goofy footers. Like I said, a very special session.
Legend Wes, nice on mate.
Siesala!