Alfonso Peters was saved by surfing… Growing up on the streets he considered turning to gangsterism but becoming a surfer gave him a brighter future.
Alfonso Peters was a troubled teenager. He used to sneak out of the house and get into trouble with the cops. Later on, he left home and ended up on the streets. A social worker stepped in and invited him to a camp that changed his life.
Turning to surfing changed his life! Alfonso has been a surfer for the last 12 years and competed in many surfing competitions.
At 28 Alfonso is heading out to China to surf at the China World championship.
“Surfing Helped me get off the streets! Being selected to represent my country is something I couldn’t even have dreamt of when I was on the streets, but hard work and dedication does pay off!”
“It’s tough and there’s a lot of poverty. Living there [in Manenberg] I didn’t have hope and dreams.”
“I wanted to be a gangster myself… I nearly went that route.”
Alfonso is now the head surf coach at Surf Emporium and surfing helps him feel his freedom.
“I was absolutely hooked… It gave me something to wake up to in the morning. It was my passion and kept me sane.”
You can watch a day in his life below. He is currently raising funds to help get him to China. To donate to his cause, you can click here.
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