Competitive Black surfer speaks out about sport’s lack of diversity

By Athena Stavrou via SWNS

The UK's first black competitive surfer has spoken out about the lack of diversity in the sport in Britain.

Siyanda Hewitt, 15, began surfing when he was just four - and is encouraging more young Black people to take up the sport.

He moved from South Africa as a child and is now living in Croyde, Devon.

Siyanda is an ambassador for Surfers Not Street Children (SNSC), a world renowned organization set up by his dad Tom Hewitt MBE.

It helps street children and children at risk in South Africa and Mozambique through surfing.

Siyanda Hewitt. (Tom Wren via SWNS)

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Siyanda was pictured on October 24 at The Wave in Bristol, an inland surfing destination which he is also ambassador for.

He wants to challenge "the myth that there aren't any Black surfers."

"In South Africa the surfing scene is very diverse, there's loads of Black surfers but when I came to the UK there's just not much color diversity.

"I'd love to see more Black surfers at competitions in the UK, I'd hope that if other Black kids see me surf they'll realize that they can too.

"It's just so much fun and I think everyone should try it, it's so good to just clear your mind."

He was there with Mini Cho, who directed the Mozambique sector of the organizations efforts and the country's first professional surfer and Sisonke, who is a content creator for the charity and had himself been given support from SNSC.

"Being an ambassador is great because it means I can represent them more," Siyanda said.

"I grew up with a lot of the kids, from the younger guys to the adults because I've been involved from the start.

"It's a great way to get kids off the street. Surfing gives them a break from all of that, it's a distraction almost and it really helps people."

You can find out more about SNSC here.