At 18 years of age and with a license to shred (or at least a certificate to train others how to), the possibilities are wide-open for this wave assassin. False Bay is his dojo and Kalk Bay his preferred training ground – where you’ll see him looking to perfect his late take-off to deep pit combo.

Meet this week’s Surf Ninja, Thomas Nel…

NAME: Thomas Nel aka @tomnel10 (twitter / instagram)
AGE: 18
LOCAL SPOT: Kalk Bay Reef

BEST THING ABOUT SURFING?
You easily make so many friends all over SA and the world. This is due to us surfers sharing the same stoke: barrels, funny chilled out times and hitting the jol.

WORST THING ABOUT SURFING?
Not having a board or transport when you know the waves are going off.

TO MAKE A LIVING I..?
Just did my ISA Surf Instructors Course, so I’m hoping to hook up a job at a surf camp overseas. Either that or I’m going to lifeguard in Cornwall for the season. Then study marketing next year.

THREE TRACKS THAT HELP YOU SHRED?
1. Got a Feeling (Bontan Remix) – Josh Butler
2. Banana Pancakes – Jack Johnson
3. Juicy Insane – B.I.G Flume

BEST SURFER IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW?
Gabriel Medina. Those airs and his backhand at Snapper blew me away.

DAWNIE OR ARVO SESH?
Arvo sesh, mate!

WHICH SPOT DO YOU HAVE TO SURF BEFORE YOU DIE?
Greenbush, Indo.

WHEN YOU ARE NOT SURFING, YOU CAN BE FOUND WHERE?
Missioning around Kalk Bay with the boys.

GREATEST FEAR?
Snakes freak me out!

BEST SURFING MEMORY?
Making it out of a deep barrel right in front of my one mate at Uluwatu a few years back. He thought that I had no chance of ever making it. It was my first session on that board. We had to go back for it after crashing with three of us on a scooter and damaging my other board on the way there!