Once homeless in the Muizenberg streets, Paul Sampson has gone on to compete in international surfing competitions, one of which includes the US Open of Surfing, reports Cape {town} Etc.
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Paul’s journey has become an inspiration to many, as he has gone on to start a surfing club for young people in an attempt to give back to his community.
As a two-year-old, Sampson was homeless and living on the streets with his mother, who had been working as a car guard at the time.
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Sampson, now 24-years-old, has recently returned from the US Open of Surfing.
The event marked the fourth stop on the World Surf League Challenger Series, which was held in California, USA, at the end of July.
The Challenger Series was also the surfer’s first time leaving Africa and it was an opportunity that allowed him to meet other seasoned surfers, including South African Shaun Tomson, the 1977 World Champion.
‘It’s crazy to look back at where I am today, while living on the streets, sometimes I just wished that we had a fridge I could open and go to for food,’ said Sampson, according to News24.
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Last Friday, Sampson visited his old primary school in Muizenberg, where he shared his story and inspired many young minds.
Commenting on the experience, Paul said ‘it was emotional to connect with the children and share what I had to go through, pushing my surfing in a professional way.’
He concluded his visit by telling the pupils that anything is possible with hard work and a positive mindset.
Paul took to surfing after he and his brother were taken in by local Shafiek Khan. ‘Uncle Shafiek,’ as Paul refers to him, found him as a child sitting outside the toilets at Muizenberg Beach.
Shafiek had been teaching a surf programme, showing kindness and compassion to countless children on the streets. The programme taught children how to surf and fed them in the process.
Paul describes Khan as family and an important factor in his success journey.
When he undertook his first surfing lesson, he recalls not being able to swim and fearing the ocean as a result.
‘On my first wave he pushed me and I rode the wave all the way to the beach. From that first day, I became interested in surfing.’
Sampson went on to say that his US Open results were not what he had been hoping they would be.
‘It is not the result I was going for but the trip was good, just to connect with people and to let the world know who I am was a success for me.’
‘This is my life purpose and what I was set out to be and do in life,’ said Paul.
Sampson currently resides in Retreat but is set to travel to Portugal and then Brazil in the final two events of the 2024 Challenger Series.
Upon return, Sampson hopes to start his own surfing club, the African Surfing Alliance Surf Club.
Sampson concluded in saying that he wants to help kids, similar to himself. He believes that his purpose is to help and guide, to share knowledge and to motivate many young people to achieve their dreams.
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Picture: Paul Chow Sampson / Instagram
