From Cape Town to East London, four South African para surfers have overcome enormous challenges to reach the national team and now they are turning to the kindness of strangers to help them compete internationally.
South Africa (08 October 2026) – Thirteen South Africans have been selected to represent our country at the 2026 ISA World Para Surfing Championships in California this November. Thirteen athletes who have spent years training and working towards the extraordinary honour of wearing the green and gold on the international stage.
But there is a catch. A rather big one.
Making the national team doesn’t mean their VISAs, flights, accommodation or competition expenses are covered. The athletes have to raise the money themselves, and with the World Championships just weeks away, the race to secure funding is well and truly on.
Good Things Guy has found 4 crowdfunding campaigns belonging to athletes selected for the national team, with a combined fundraising target of R355,000. At the time of writing, generous South Africans have donated R30,938, leaving another R324,062 still to be raised. That’s a lot of money, especially when you consider that these athletes have already done everything required of them to earn their places on the team. Surely, representing your country should come with the support needed to actually get you to the competition? But we’re not here to dwell on what isn’t happening. We’re here because something wonderful could happen… and South Africans have an opportunity to make it possible.
Emihle “EJ” Sombexe, Jean Paul Veaudry, Noluthando “Nolu” Makalima and Raemondo “Rae” Lessing are 4 of the 13 athletes selected for the championships, taking place from 19 to 22 November at DSRT Surf in Palm Desert, California. And this year’s event is particularly special, as it will be the first ISA World Championship held in a surf lagoon, with around 140 athletes from 24 national teams expected to compete.
These four South Africans have some extraordinary stories to tell.
Emihle “EJ” Sombexe
At just 20 years old, EJ Sombexe is preparing to become the first person in his family to compete on the world stage. The Cape Town para surfer has been surfing for almost six years through the Roxy Davis Foundation and competing for four. His passion for competitive surfing really took off in April 2023, when he entered the Western Province Para Trials in the men’s Kneel division and finished first at just 16 years old. That victory changed how he saw his future in the sport and he has been working towards bigger competitions ever since.
Today, EJ is ranked third in South Africa in his classification and his selection for the national team brings him another step closer to a dream he has been working towards for years.
Surfing has given him confidence, independence, physical strength and friendships that extend far beyond the beach. But perhaps the most exciting part of his story is what this opportunity represents for his family and his future. He dreams of one day competing at the Olympics, and every competition is another opportunity to work towards that ambition.
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“I know life can be so overwhelming. We face challenges that feel impossible to carry alone. But asking for your support isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s a sign of hope.”
For EJ, every donation, share and message of encouragement is another reminder that people believe in him, and that his dream of representing South Africa on the world stage is worth fighting for.
Jean Paul Veaudry
For East London surfer Jean Paul Veaudry, the ocean has remained a constant part of his life, even after a devastating hit-and-run motorcycle accident in May 2009 resulted in the amputation of his right leg below the knee.
Jean Paul continued surfing, and over the years he has competed both nationally and internationally, working towards his dream of earning his South African colours. Now he has another opportunity to represent his country at the World Championships and he believes he has what it takes to compete for gold. Getting to California, however, is expected to cost approximately R100,000.
Last year, Jean Paul paid for his international competition trip himself, something he was proud to do but it placed significant financial pressure on his family. This year, he is reaching out to individuals and businesses for assistance while also doing what he can to raise money independently.
He is even selling his photography, unused surfboards and wetsuits to help fund the trip.
“I truly believe I have what it takes to compete for Gold. I would be incredibly proud to stand on that podium representing South Africa, knowing that I had the support of people and businesses who believed in me.”
Jean Paul has already shown what he is capable of in the water, and now he is hoping South Africans will help him take that talent all the way to California.
Noluthando “Nolu” Makalima
Noluthando Makalima’s journey with surfing began in 2016 when she joined the Roxy Davis Foundation, and what started as a new sporting experience has become an extraordinary part of her life. The 38-year-old athlete, who has cerebral palsy, first competed in the Expression category in 2017 before moving into the Prone 2 classification in 2019. Since then, she has become a South African champion and earned a silver medal at the World Para Surfing Championships, an achievement she still cherishes.
In April this year, Nolu delivered another outstanding performance at the South African Championships, recording one of the highest-scoring waves of the day and earning her place on the national team.
For Nolu, surfing has brought far more than medals. It has helped her build confidence, develop physical strength, connect with others and discover new possibilities for herself. Now she wants to reach the final of the World Championships and help South Africa bring home even more medals.
She also has another very special reason for wanting to compete… her daughter. Nolu hopes her journey will inspire other women, her community and her daughter to believe in their own abilities and understand that meaningful achievements often require hard work and determination.
She knows how difficult it can be to raise the money needed to compete internationally, particularly when there is such a short window between selection and the competition itself. But she is determined to get there, not only to make herself proud, but to show her daughter and others in her community what is possible when you refuse to give up on something you love.
Raemondo “Rae” Lessing
Cape Town surfer Raemondo “Rae” Lessing has been part of the Roxy Davis Foundation for six years and his competitive record is already something to celebrate.
His journey began in 2022 when he was selected for the Western Province surfing team and travelled to Durban, returning home with a silver medal. The following year, Rae won his first title, and he has continued that winning streak with championship victories in 2024, 2025 and 2026. He is now the reigning champion in his category and one of the 13 athletes selected for the South African team heading to California.
But ask Rae what surfing has meant to him, and his answer goes far beyond trophies.
“Surfing has truly changed my life beyond the waves. It has given me confidence to face challenges head-on, independence to trust myself, friendships that feel like family, and physical strength that carries into every part of my daily life.”
For Rae, representing South Africa is about more than personal achievement. He wants to help grow awareness of para surfing and encourage others to pursue their sporting dreams.
“I want to show the world that when you have the hunger to represent your country, whether in surfing or any other sport, you can achieve it through hard work and dedication.”
He has already proven himself as a champion here at home, and now he wants to take everything he has learnt, everything he has worked for and everything surfing has given him onto the international stage.
South Africa, Let’s Get Them to California!
We know that R30,938 has already been raised across these four crowdfunding campaigns but with a combined target of R355,000, there is still a long way to go before all four athletes have the financial support they need.
If you would like to help, you can donate directly to their individual BackaBuddy campaigns:
Emihle “EJ” Sombexe: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/help-emihle-reach-world-para-surf-championships
Noluthando “Nolu” Makalima: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/help-nolu-reach-world-para-surf-championships
Jean Paul Veaudry: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/2026-isa-world-para-surfing-championships
Raemondo “Rae” Lessing: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/help-rae-reach-world-para-surf-championships
And to the other 9 athletes selected for the national team, we want to hear from you too!
If you are also crowdfunding your journey to California, please get in touch with Good Things Guy at [email protected]. We would love to share your story and help more South Africans discover how they can support you. This isn’t about 4 athletes alone. It’s about an entire national team that has earned the opportunity to represent South Africa, and making sure as many of them as possible get that chance.
There are so many ways to help. You can donate R50, share a campaign with your friends, ask your company to consider a sponsorship or just help these stories reach someone who has the means to make a difference.
And imagine November arriving, with our athletes standing proudly in California, wearing their South African colours, knowing that people back home helped them get there. Imagine the excitement of watching them compete. Imagine a South African flag being raised on the podium. Imagine the stories they will bring home.
Come on, South Africa. Let’s get our athletes to California!
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