Spirit Surfers Modern Crusaders Series

Continuing my series on Modern Crusaders this photo essay is a documentation of yet another iconic group, surfers, namely Spirit Surfers.

Like bikers and cowboys, surfers are normally stereotyped by society. They are known for their party lifestyle, drug taking and rebel attitudes, unaccustomed to the niceties of formal churches and religion. Surfing is known for being a very self-centred sport and lifestyle. Most surfers admit they just live to ride the next wave. Surfing is what makes life worth living, one adrenaline kick after the other. So how can God and a selfless Christian lifestyle not contradict the whole surfing outlook on life?

But this story breaks the stereotype. I found a group of passionate Christian surfers from all ages in a country famous for its great waves...South Africa. Their philosophy is simple. Surfing is a lifestyle. But this group of surfers want to show the world that it is possible to be part of a sub-culture and yet live a full and passionate life without doing drugs and living on the edge.

For two weeks I travelled and photographed Christian surfers along the famous surfers' coast of South Africa. From Cape Town, through the famous Supertubes of Jeffrey's Bay, to the shark-infested waters of East London's Nahoon Reef, documenting the diversities of this tribal sub-culture and movement.

Photographing prayer meetings and church services on the beach in the daytime and at night, which illustrate the freedom of this Christian surf lifestyle. Experiencing modern-style crusader outreaches, such as a Christian surf school and the Surfpackers at Supertubes backpackers' hostel, in Jeffrey's Bay. Meeting key Christian surf professionals, such as Ryan Bisset (5th in the South African short board surfer rankings) and Rosanne Hodge, influencing the surfer community with their talent for the waves and strong faith. Plus a successful board shaper who is spreading the Gospel on his boards.

Overall the Christian surf movement is exploding worldwide. Surfers are a world tribe in themselves, crossing all boundaries of race, creed and financial status, from board room executives to average kids next door or indigenous grommets in the 3rd world. Men, women, boys and girls - there are no restrictions to join this tribe.

As Roy Harley, the pioneer of Son Surf, South Africa (a branch of the International Son Surf Christian Surfer Organisation) said, "Surfers are the best missionaries, as they are accepted world wide as long as they can ride the waves. This gives them an open door to preach the gospel to whomever they meet across this globe".

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