How Surfing Swami Foundation is causing ripples in Mangaluru waters
The organisation, named after 'Surfing Swami' Jack Hebner from the 1970s, is helping local kids ride the waves in what's now a burgeoning sport in the country
Organised by Mantra, the Surfing Swami Foundation and the Surfing Federation of India, the competition, one of the oldest in India’s burgeoning surfing scene, saw the local boy conquer the waves to emerge victorious. “It’s all thanks to the efforts of my coaches Bharath and Dhruva at Aquatic Indica Surf School and the Surfing Swami Foundation, who supported me,” said Pradeep, still drenched, having spent 20-plus minutes in the sea. “I aim to be the national champion. I want to be the first [from Mulki]. Then, I want to become world champion.”
Pradeep’s rise and those of boys and girls from Mulki and Panambur has been made possible by the Surfing Swami Foundation. In Pradeep’s case, his training and dietary and equipment needs are taken care of by the foundation. Prior to the tournament, Pradeep and a few others got an exposure trip to Sri Lanka to prepare for the competition. Training at the Sasihitlu beach in Mulki for five years now, Pradeep rises at six in the morning to spend two-three hours daily in the water. Much like other boys in the region, he has an intrinsic connection with the sea.
The foundation takes its name from ‘Surfing Swami’ aka Jack Hebner, an American who came to India in the 1970s and ended up settling in Mysore. An experienced surfer from Florida, Hebner introduced the sport to India and had surfed in Kovalam in Kerala and spots in Tamil Nadu until he decided to find a base in Karnataka itself. It was during one of his many travels that he came across Mulki and found it ideal to set up a surfing school, Mantra, in 2004.
“In India, surfing is known on computer only. Nobody knew of surfing the sport or was interested in it,” says businessman Dhananjay Shetty, chairman of the foundation and a native of Mulki himself. “Kids in Mulki had not seen the sport before. Swami ji introduced it and taught many. Not much was happening here back then.”
One of the benefactors of Surfing Swami’s lessons was Dhruva, who would go on to set up his own surfing school, Aquatic Indica, in Mulki. “The intention is clear: whatever Surfing Swami gave to us, we try to give to the kids. We try to push as many locals to come and surf,” says Dhruva. “The last two years, we have been pushing really hard to make it (the victory) happen. The efforts have paid off.”
The Surfing Swami Foundation would take shape in 2014. Its initiatives include providing scholarships and free surfing lessons to underprivileged children, most of whom come from fishing communities; grassroots development of the sport; promoting inclusivity in the surfing community as well as environmental awareness. The non-profit organisation is also instrumental in ensuring that the Indian Open of Surfing is a marquee event in the surfing calendar. On the board of the foundation sit known athletes, such as cricketer Jonty Rhodes, an avid surfer himself; and tennis player Somdev Devvarman.
Shetty cut an elated figure at Eco Bay Beach. “We were expecting this in another three years because the kids from the east coast (primarily Kovalam and Mahabalipuram) are much better than ours. So this is a dream coming true,” he said. “It will encourage more and more kids to take to the sport.”
With surfing being introduced as an Olympic sport in 2020 and making its Asian Games debut later this year, the stakes have only risen. “We are looking at the kids participating for the country,” he says. “We want to support them with education, jobs and help reach somewhere in life because of this sport. Only then will parents want to send their kids to surf.”
Even as Shetty recognises Pradeep’s win as a major ripple in Mulki's waters, he says the foundation’s work is only going to expand and its goals bigger. “Our work has to be taken to the highest level; only then can we compete. [With Pradeep’s win] people will be more encouraged to fund us as well,” he says.
Ultimately, Shetty would like Mangaluru to be known not just for its delicious range of ice-creams, which includes the popular ‘Gadbad’. The unpolluted waters of Sasihitlu, Panambur and Eco Bay Beach have further made the region popular among surfers, who flock it to ride the waves every morning and evening. “Everybody wants Mangalore to be on the map, and surfing alone has brought us international recognition,” he says. “The hard work starts now.”
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Organised by Mantra, the Surfing Swami Foundation and the Surfing Federation of India, the competition, one of the oldest in India’s burgeoning surfing scene, saw the local boy conquer the waves to emerge victorious. “It’s all thanks to the efforts of my coaches Bharath and Dhruva at Aquatic Indica Surf School and the Surfing Swami Foundation, who supported me,” said Pradeep, still drenched, having spent 20-plus minutes in the sea. “I aim to be the national champion. I want to be the first [from Mulki]. Then, I want to become world champion.”
Pradeep’s rise and those of boys and girls from Mulki and Panambur has been made possible by the Surfing Swami Foundation. In Pradeep’s case, his training and dietary and equipment needs are taken care of by the foundation. Prior to the tournament, Pradeep and a few others got an exposure trip to Sri Lanka to prepare for the competition. Training at the Sasihitlu beach in Mulki for five years now, Pradeep rises at six in the morning to spend two-three hours daily in the water. Much like other boys in the region, he has an intrinsic connection with the sea.
The foundation takes its name from ‘Surfing Swami’ aka Jack Hebner, an American who came to India in the 1970s and ended up settling in Mysore. An experienced surfer from Florida, Hebner introduced the sport to India and had surfed in Kovalam in Kerala and spots in Tamil Nadu until he decided to find a base in Karnataka itself. It was during one of his many travels that he came across Mulki and found it ideal to set up a surfing school, Mantra, in 2004.
“In India, surfing is known on computer only. Nobody knew of surfing the sport or was interested in it,” says businessman Dhananjay Shetty, chairman of the foundation and a native of Mulki himself. “Kids in Mulki had not seen the sport before. Swami ji introduced it and taught many. Not much was happening here back then.”
One of the benefactors of Surfing Swami’s lessons was Dhruva, who would go on to set up his own surfing school, Aquatic Indica, in Mulki. “The intention is clear: whatever Surfing Swami gave to us, we try to give to the kids. We try to push as many locals to come and surf,” says Dhruva. “The last two years, we have been pushing really hard to make it (the victory) happen. The efforts have paid off.”
The Surfing Swami Foundation would take shape in 2014. Its initiatives include providing scholarships and free surfing lessons to underprivileged children, most of whom come from fishing communities; grassroots development of the sport; promoting inclusivity in the surfing community as well as environmental awareness. The non-profit organisation is also instrumental in ensuring that the Indian Open of Surfing is a marquee event in the surfing calendar. On the board of the foundation sit known athletes, such as cricketer Jonty Rhodes, an avid surfer himself; and tennis player Somdev Devvarman.
Shetty cut an elated figure at Eco Bay Beach. “We were expecting this in another three years because the kids from the east coast (primarily Kovalam and Mahabalipuram) are much better than ours. So this is a dream coming true,” he said. “It will encourage more and more kids to take to the sport.”
With surfing being introduced as an Olympic sport in 2020 and making its Asian Games debut later this year, the stakes have only risen. “We are looking at the kids participating for the country,” he says. “We want to support them with education, jobs and help reach somewhere in life because of this sport. Only then will parents want to send their kids to surf.”
Even as Shetty recognises Pradeep’s win as a major ripple in Mulki's waters, he says the foundation’s work is only going to expand and its goals bigger. “Our work has to be taken to the highest level; only then can we compete. [With Pradeep’s win] people will be more encouraged to fund us as well,” he says.
Ultimately, Shetty would like Mangaluru to be known not just for its delicious range of ice-creams, which includes the popular ‘Gadbad’. The unpolluted waters of Sasihitlu, Panambur and Eco Bay Beach have further made the region popular among surfers, who flock it to ride the waves every morning and evening. “Everybody wants Mangalore to be on the map, and surfing alone has brought us international recognition,” he says. “The hard work starts now.”
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