“ I ' m always willing to learn something new … However, surfing on the board is one thing I was sceptical about, and being out there in the backline and catching waves, until I got used to it. Eventually I started falling in love with the sport, after less than two weeks of going there.”
By the time the initial programme came to an end, Sombexe asked Davis if he could continue and she duly obliged, with her eager student going on to compete for the first time and coming away with first place. That’ s when he knew this was something he could excel in.
“ 2023, that ' s when I thought, you know what, I ' m going to take surfing to another level. That ' s where I ' m going to be consistent, especially on exercising and training, to make sure that I ' m physically fit for every competition that comes along the way. So now I ' ve been surfing for almost five years.”
During that time he’ s won the Western Cape Championships and risen to be ranked third in the country.
While Sombexe just missed out on representing South Africa in 2023, 2024 and 2025, this year he got the news he was waiting for. He was invited to be part of the team to compete at the world championships in the USA.
“ It was awesome … to see myself being selected for the international stages, it ' s like a big thing, man. It ' s a game-changer, man.
“ Because for a person like me who comes from the townships of Cape Town, it ' s quite difficult to get opportunities where you get to express your skills, in great opportunities like this. So it ' s an amazing feeling to be seen and selected to represent the country.”
“ So for me to not go this year, maybe I wasn ' t supposed to go. If it does happen, maybe it was meant for me to go.
“ I ' ve been trying my best to self-raise funds. So it has been quite an obstacle that we ' re dealing with at the moment. However, physically and mentally, I ' ve been trying my best to work on myself, been exercising six days a week and making sure that I ' m trying to keep myself positive, and trying ways to bring in that little bit of gap that ' s preventing me from reaching the international competition."
The target is R85,000, but with only around R14,000 raised through the BackaBuddy campaign so far, Sombexe still needs to find another R71,000 to make the trip.
His message to corporates and potential sponsors is one of hope and inspiration.“ What I would want them to know is that sometimes as a person, you think of giving up on your dream or on yourself.
“ For me, an opportunity like this coming from a place like Delft, where I currently live now, is such a great opportunity. So, for them to invest in my career, or into this journey of my life would be such a great honour [ for me ], because it ' s not only changing my life, it ' s also to show that for other kids that also would love to be in the same position as me, there is an opportunity for them to be out there.
FEATURE
“ There are people who will help you conquer the dream. There are people who will see the light in you that you believe you have, however, you don ' t have the resources or the equipment to help you reach that stage.”
And even if this trip doesn’ t happen, Sombexe is resolute that he will one day represent the country. His ultimate dream – to do so at a Paralympic Games. While Para surfing has not been included in the Paralympic programme for LA 2028, the International Surfing Association is lobbying for its inclusion in the 2032 Games in Brisbane.
“ We were fighting for it to be possible, so the goal is to reach that Olympic dream … surfing for South Africa on the Olympic stage and representing my country. And also inspiring kids from places like where I come from to also not give up on themselves. Just because you’ ve got an obstacle in front of you, like a disability or financial issues, there are still people who will help you see and find yourself."
It’ s back on those breakers that Sombexe found himself five years ago and where he finds his inspiration to keep fighting for his dream. It’ s also where he chases the ultimate adrenaline rush.
“ It’ s so peaceful. It makes me tap into my inner soul, because at that moment, you basically can ' t do nothing else besides control yourself. So it built my confidence,” he explained.
“ I also love adrenaline, so that moment of catching waves, it’ s one of those great moments I always like to chase.”
To help Emihle get to the World Championships in California:
www. backabuddy. co. za
https:// www. backabuddy. co. za / campaign / helpemihle-reach-world-para-surf-championships
Unfortunately the selection came with extremely high costs, with the athletes all having to pay their own way. While a BackaBuddy campaign has been started and some funds raised, as it stands, Sombexe is unable to join the team in California. But he remains astoundingly positive about the situation.
“ It has been stressful for me thinking about me not going,” he explained.“ But I ' ve always had a positive mindset. I ' m always thinking of the good side and the bad side of things. I don ' t believe there ' s a mistake. I believe it ' s always a lesson.
A word from Coach Roxy …
“ I first met Emihle in 2021 when he joined the Roxy Davis Foundation’ s six-week surf therapy programme. Since then I have watched him grow from a young surfer finding his place in the ocean into a confident athlete, mentor, team co-captain and advocate for ocean conservation and disability inclusion. He has found his voice, supports younger participants and contributes meaningfully to our Programme Advisory Committee. From being named first reserve for the South African team to consistently reaching national finals and earning selection for the 2026 South African Para Surfing team, each step reflects his commitment and growth. As his coach, I am proud of what Emihle has achieved in surfing and of the grounded young leader he continues to become.”
www. modernathlete. co. za 7