Although she’s based in Australia these days, professional surfer Sarah Baum never misses a chance to return to her KZN roots. She recently competed at the Ballito Pro and shared her experience with us.
“Competing on home soil always means so much to me,” says Sarah. “After living in Australia for the past few years, it makes it even more special to come home, see old friends and hang with family.”
With the ocean just minutes from town and locals lining the beach in support, Ballito has a kind of energy Sarah says she can’t find anywhere else.
“Everywhere you go, there’s always someone to bump into and they are always cheering on the South Africans. You can feel it in the air when you’re at the beach.”
A life shaped by the sea
Sarah got into surfing from a young age. “My dad first put me on a board around three years old,” she says. “He used to stand me up in the river at Baggies Beach in Warner Beach.”
Although her family briefly relocated to the UK, they returned to South Africa when she was seven. By eight, she was competing in her first novice event at Addington. A major surf brand soon took notice and Sarah began travelling around the country for competitions.
She remembers missing school on Fridays, flying home late on Sundays and showing up early for class on Mondays. It became the rhythm of a young athlete chasing her dream.
After placing third in a world junior event at Bells Beach, Australia, at just 14, Sarah and her family made the decision to pursue a professional surfing career. By 15, she was travelling the world to compete.
Ballito memories and new milestones
This year’s Ballito Pro brought mixed results for Sarah. She started strong, earning a third-place finish in the QS 2000 regional event, which featured international competitors.
“I was super happy with that result,” she says. “Most of the girls in the Challenger Series enter this event, so it was nice to get a result in amongst them.”
However, in the main Challenger Series event, she exited in the second round. While it was a disappointment after her earlier success, there was still plenty to celebrate.
“It was so awesome to sit back and watch fellow South African Luke Thompson take the win in the men’s event,” she says. “It’s always inspiring to see someone like that take out the biggest win of his career in front of a home crowd. It hypes me up for my year ahead.”
Pressure, pride and perspective
With so many familiar faces in the crowd, competing at home brings a unique kind of energy and sometimes, pressure.
“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel any pressure,” Sarah admits. “But I know that everyone is proud of me no matter what. It’s just the pressure I put on myself and the hunger I have to do well on home soil.”
She tries to channel that feeling into something positive.
“It makes me work a little harder in this event and maybe push a little more, so I definitely try to use it as motivation.”
Advice for the next wave
For young South African girls with surfing dreams, Sarah’s message is simple: enjoy the ride.
“Don’t be too hard on yourself. Athletes carry a lot of self-weight and high expectations, which can be a strength but only if you handle it well.”
Her biggest reminder?
“I started surfing because I loved it and it brought me the most joy. Always remember to have fun and never forget why you started.”
Details: IG: @sarahbaum_
