The Senegal is a surfing Paradise for beginners and professionals. Only so far, almost no one knows. The local surfing Community wants to change that.
“Our first challenge was the widespread prejudice clean up, Black people couldn’t swim. Black, who can not swim are afraid of water, so you can’t surf,” says Oumar Seye. Oumar sitting at his Desk in one of its two surf shops in the Corniche des Almadies, an upscale neighborhood of Dakar. Of about 1.80 meters tall man founded the “surfers Paradise”, a surf camp with surf school, two Shops and a Restaurant and Lounge. He is a pioneer: As the first Black who has ever signed a professional surf contract, was Oumar, a surf legend in Senegal. The 42-Year-old who belongs to the West African ethnic group Lebu, who lives mainly from fishing, is traveled for 20 years as a professional Surfer around the world. In 2013, he returned to his homeland with the dream to make the Senegal a well-known surf spot.
Oumar Seye, in one of his surf shops in Dakar
“Our wealth is our environment and the ocean. We are the children of the sea. Before anything else, we learn to swim. And today, we must learn to use this wealth,” he says.
The best conditions for a surf spot
Since the 1960s, surfers come to Senegal after the country in 1966, was to be seen in Bruce brown’s documentary film “The Endless Summer” to. The filmmaker had accompanied the Californian surfers Mike Hynson and Robert August on their search for the perfect wave around the world. Nevertheless, the beaches of Senegal, until today, have remained largely unknown. And, although the country can actually produce everything that trendy surf spots makes for a relaxing atmosphere, good food and joy of life. In addition, Senegal is located only a five-hour flight away from Europe. The Senegal is also, in spite of the recent security problems in neighboring countries such as Mali and Niger, one of the most stable and most future-oriented countries in West Africa.
On the Peninsula of Cabo Verde, is exposed to the coast of Dakar, both the swell of the southern or the Northern hemisphere. Beginners and professionals will find here the whole year good conditions. These are the best conditions.
Local Surfer on the beach of Yoff BCEAO in Dakar
The perfect waves on the track
On the beach of Yoff BCEAO, to the North of Dakar, to play Senegalese children in the water, while adults do sports on the beach and seller of grill fish to offer. In the sea a hand to share local and foreign surfers to the waves, while a group of Western tourists prepared for your first Surf lesson. Marta Imarisio power in a small shed Smoothies for a group of Swiss surfers. With their wavy, sun-bleached hair, pink swim trunks, and your rolled T-Shirt, the 38-year-old Italian woman wearing the typical surf look. Ten years ago, she moved from the Italian city of Turin to Dakar, in order to open up the “Malika Surf Camp”. It offers surf holidays, and teaches local children to ride the waves.
Marta Imarisio operated a tourist in the Malika Surf Camp
“Thanks to the reporting in the media, more and more surfers come to Senegal. And also because of the objectives of the trip, such as Morocco, is saturated,” she says. “In Dakar, there are many different types of surf spots, there is Sand and rocks, waves breaking to the right, left and frontal. No matter whether you are a beginner or a Pro, here you can always find a wave that is perfect.”
The Swiss tourist, Alexandra Wohlwend want to test the waves in Senegal. She was already surfing around the world. “I’ve heard a couple of years ago by surf friends from Senegal and was surprised to find so many surf spots,” she says. “I was in Costa Rica, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Peru and other countries. For me, it is a great advantage that the Locals speak French, so that I can communicate well with them.”
Surfing for a better life
Also, native women are the Malika Surf Camp is on the surf Board
The number of surfers in Senegal have doubled in the last ten years, says Marta. It is estimated to be about one hundred. Nevertheless – the Surf remains the same for the majority of Senegalese is a dream. The Equipment is very expensive, and most of it must be imported from Europe. In Dakar, a used surfboard for up to 100 000 CFA francs (152 €/172 US$), which corresponds to an average monthly salary in Senegal, and even for European conditions is high-priced.
For Senegalese surfers, the wave is not riding for Sport, it is also a way to a better life. “Thanks to the browsing I make my living and I have met a lot of people. I’ve traveled in 2009, even to a competition to ivory coast,” says the 25-year-old Mamadou Mbengue, a three-time Senegalese surf champion who teaches today in the Malika Surf Camp.
“If you’re born on the sea, do you want to just go into the water. As a child, I was looking for boards to old or broken surf trying to surf. There are still not many of us, but if we train children, will develop Surfing in Senegal, more,” he adds.
Senegalese surfers try their luck on the water
Senegal is living his dream
The Senegal wants to know. With ten surf schools, which are affiliated to the Senegalese Federation of Surf, and a surf national team of Senegal has been making recently, international attention. In March of this year, the country was the first West African Nation, which hosted a qualifying round of the world Surf Championships.
“My dream is to make Senegal one of the best surf spots in the world. We’ve earned this. In Europe and in other countries everything is already developed, there is nothing more to do. Africa is the future. It is time for Africa,” says Oumar Seye.