How Holiday Surf Lessons in Southbroom Are Creating Opportunities for Local Kids

Photo Credit: Monica Silvestre from Pexels

A local surf initiative is turning visitor support into real opportunities for young surfers and under-resourced schools.

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (05 February 2026) – On the surface, Southbroom looks like a holiday postcard come to life. A quiet village on KwaZulu-Natal’s South Coast, it’s known for its calm beaches, grassy banks and the kind of slow pace that keeps families coming back year after year.

But just beyond the holiday homes and beach umbrellas, there is something more meaningful happening. And this is led by a surf school that is quietly changing lives, one wave at a time.

At the heart of it is Southbroom Surf School, run by former national surfer Roydon Bryson. While many visitors know the school as the place where kids take their first wobbly ride on a surfboard, its impact stretches far beyond holiday lessons.

For Roydon, surfing has never been just about the sport. It’s about access, confidence and opening doors. Especially for local children who grow up next to the ocean but often lack the means to fully experience it.

Where Holiday Money Goes Further

Over the years, Southbroom Surf School has become a fixture for visiting families. Surf lessons, wetsuit hire and boards are part of the holiday routine. However, many visitors don’t immediately see what happens after the season ends.

Small bonuses, tips and gestures of support from holidaymakers are redirected into the local surfing community. These include a first surfboard for a young rider, travel costs to a competition, or entry fees that allow talented surfers to test themselves against the country’s best.

UGU Surf for Lives: Surfing With Purpose

Together with local community members, including long-time Southbroom resident Sue, Roydon helped establish UGU Surf for Lives, a non-profit initiative aimed at empowering underprivileged youth through surfing. The organisation works with local schools and communities across the Ugu District, introducing children to the ocean in a safe, structured way.

For many of these children, Surf for Lives represents an opportunity where little existed before. These opportunities go from access to equipment, mentorship and pathways into competitive surfing that would otherwise be out of reach.

Today, Surf for Lives continues to grow through word of mouth, community support and the quiet generosity of those who believe in what it stands for. Every board donated, every competition attended, and every child introduced to the ocean adds to a ripple effect that extends well beyond Southbroom.