- Title: Nigerian promotes surfing in Lagos Lagoon.
- Date: 5th October 2016
- Summary: LAGOS, NIGERIA (RECENT) (REUTERS) GODPOWER PEKIPUMA WALKING WITH HIS SURFBOARD TO THE BEACH SEA WAVES PEKIPUMA TYING THE SURFBOARD ROPE TO HIS LEGS VARIOUS OF PEKIPUMA WALKING TOWARDS OCEAN VARIOUS OF PEKIPUMA SURFING WAVES PEKIPUMA SURFING (SOUNDBITE) (English) SURFER, GODPOWER PEKIPUMA, SAYING: "For the very first time I saw surfing was on a movie called the "Endless Summer," it was a surfing movie so I was just wondering how people are standing on a board, you know. Then I didn't even know that it was a board, I just thought that it was a wooden board you know, but when I saw it I was like how are these people doing this, how are they standing on the board? So I just admired it for the first time. So when I now later came to the beach during the week, I now saw an expert, two guys from France. They were surfing in the water, Then I was a kid, and I said wow, this is really amazing. I really want to learn this sport. So I just like the sport naturally." VARIOUS OF PEKIPUMA TRAINING YOUTH ON HOW TO SURF TRAINEES GOING TO SURF VARIOUS OF TRAINEES SURFING VARIOUS OF MAN TEACHING HIS CHILDREN TO SURF (SOUNDBITE) (English) SURFER, ROSIE COLLY, SAYING: "I saw a video online about surfing here in Lagos lagoon, and I thought you know why not try and also, "Tarkwa Bay" where we are is a beautiful location in a very very big megacity of Lagos. It is a great place to come and get away. We can learn than just lay on the beach, obviously I don't need the sun tan. Then I thought let me come and try the surfing, get fit in the meantime." (SOUNDBITE) (English) LAGOS RESIDENT, JOHN ADETOKUMBO MICHELLETTI, SAYING: "I just came back from Republic of Sao Tome and Principe island, and they were part of the ISA (Internatonal Surfing Association) games. So a small Island with a quarter of the population here, maybe even less than eighth of the population of Nigeria, they are actually making progress in this particular sport so there is no reason why a big nation like Nigeria should not." VARIOUS OF YOUTH LEARNING HOW TO SURF (SOUNDBITE) (English) SURFER, GODPOWER PEKIPUMA, SAYING: "I don't have surf boards because to get surf boards here is from South Africa and it is very expensive, it is an expensive sport. So the challenges that I have are the surf boards. For me having boards is my happiness because even now, because of the way we are surfing here in Lagos, that is why I am even getting one or two. But the most challenge I have is that." PEOPLE SURFING
- Embargoed: 20th October 2016 15:49
- Keywords: Nigeria Surfing Lagos Water sports
- Location: LAGOS, NIGERIA
- City: LAGOS, NIGERIA
- Country: Nigeria
- Topics: Sport,Surfing
- Reuters ID: LVA00152QB0BB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Walking down Takwa Bay beach in Lagos, Godpower Pekipuma is about to hit the waves. Like in many African countries, surfing is still a budding sport in Nigeria, but Pekipuma is hoping to change that.
Growing up near Tarkwa Bay beach in Nigeria's commercial capital Lagos, Pekipuma used to spend hours playing on the beach. He knew nothing about surfing, but later became curious after watching a movie about the water sport as a little boy.
"For the very first time I saw surfing was on a movie called the "Endless Summer," it was a surfing movie so I was just wondering how people are standing on a board, you know. Then I didn't even know that it was a board, I just thought that it was a wooden board you know, but when I saw it I was like how are these people doing this, how are they standing on the board? So I just admired it for the first time. So when I now later came to the beach during the week, I now saw an expert, two guys from France. They were surfing in the water, Then I was a kid, and I said wow, this is really amazing. I really want to learn this sport. So I just like the sport naturally," Pekipuma said.
Now with 15 years of experience surfing, Pekipuma has started a training program for young people, charging 16 US dollars per hour for those without surfboards, and 9 dollars for those who come with their own boards.
Pekipuma says interest and popularity in the sport has grown in recent years, attracting both young and old.
"I saw a video online about surfing here in Lagos lagoon, and I thought you know why not try and also, "Tarkwa Bay" where we are is a beautiful location in a very very big megacity of Lagos. It is a great place to come and get away. We can learn than just lay on the beach, obviously I don't need the sun tan. Then I thought let me come and try the surfing, get fit in the meantime," said one student, Rosie Colly.
"I just came back from Republic of Sao Tome and Principe island, and they were part of the ISA (Internatonal Surfing Association) games. So a small Island with a quarter of the population here, maybe even less than eighth of the population of Nigeria, they are actually making progress in this particular sport so there is no reason why a big nation like Nigeria should not," said surfer John Adetokumbo Michelletti.
Pekipuma says surfing still has a long way to go in Nigeria, lack of equipment like surfboards in the country already keeps many away from the sport.
"I don't have surf boards because to get surf boards here is from South Africa and it is very expensive, it is an expensive sport. So the challenges that I have are the surf boards. For me having boards is my happiness because even now, because of the way we are surfing here in Lagos, that is why I am even getting one or two. But the most challenge I have is that," Pekipuma said.
Pekipuma is working to become a member of the International Surfing Association which he says will enable him get more exposure and learn new skills in the sport, he wants to become the first Nigerian to compete in an international surfing competition and promote the water sport at home. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
