{"id":34235,"date":"2024-06-28T15:09:43","date_gmt":"2024-06-28T13:09:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/ballito-umhlanga\/?p=34235"},"modified":"2024-06-28T15:09:43","modified_gmt":"2024-06-28T13:09:43","slug":"riding-the-wave","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/ballito-umhlanga\/blog\/2024\/06\/28\/riding-the-wave\/","title":{"rendered":"Riding the wave…"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you head out to the Ballito Pro this month, you\u2019re likely to hear Emma Smith commentating on the action. Down-to-earth, kind and easy to be around, the former professional surfer is making waves as one of only a few female commentators in the country, and is committed to using her platform for positive change. <\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"\u201cI love how surfing connects people,\u201d says Emma. \u201cIn the water, everyone looks the same because you\u2019re all just wearing wetsuits. You don\u2019t know where anyone is from or what they\u2019ve done, but it doesn\u2019t matter.\u201d Emma’s love for the ocean was sparked by her dad who taught her and her two sisters to surf when they were young girls growing up in East London in the Eastern Cape. In 2009, when Emma was 14 years old, her family moved to Jeffrey\u2019s Bay. This move proved pivotal, as it was also the year Emma and her sisters were sponsored by Billabong, marking the start of their professional surfing careers.<\/p>\n

A FAMILY AFFAIR<\/strong>
\nSurfing has always been more than a sport for the Smith family; it\u2019s a way of life. \u201cWhat we loved most about it as kids was that we could do it together,\u201d Emma says. \u201cIt became a lifestyle for our family.\u201d Emma’s talent quickly propelled her to the international stage. By the age of 16, she was representing South Africa, travelling the world, and competing at prestigious events such as the ISA World Surfing Championships.<\/p>\n

BEYOND COMPETITIONS<\/strong>
\nIn recent years, she has stepped back from competitive surfing, but her love for the sport remains. Now based in Umhlanga, she continues to work with brands like Billabong and RYD and has found a new passion in commentary and interviews, enjoying the opportunity to engage with the sport from a different perspective.<\/p>\n

Emma’s professional journey has also taken her beyond the surfboard into the realm of philanthropy. Together with her husband, Jordan, she works for a non-profit organisation called Sport for Lives. Founded during the lockdown, this initiative uses sports to bridge community gaps and support various causes. \u201cIt uses sport to play for a purpose,\u201d Emma explains. Using sport to activate generosity, the organisation partners with schools and other groups to raise funds and awareness for existing non-profits, making a tangible difference in communities across the country.<\/p>\n

AN ADVENTUROUS SPIRIT<\/strong>
\nTrue to her adventurous spirit, Emma is also involved in a travel documentary project with Jordan. They are filming their overland journey to an undocumented wave in Kenya, capturing stories along the way. This project is more than just a surfing expedition; it’s an exploration of communities and cultures, offering a deeper connection to the places they visit.<\/p>\n

A STRONG SUPPORT SYSTEM<\/strong>
\nEmma\u2019s journey has been shaped by the support of her family and the close-knit surfing community. Despite facing personal challenges, including the recent loss of her dad, she remains grounded and focused on what matters most. \u201cLosing my dad has put a lot of things in perspective,\u201d she says. \u201cThere really is nothing more important than family.\u201d<\/p>\n

Details: www.sportforlives.org<\/a>; IG: @emmaninasmith; @sportforlives<\/p>\n

Text: Jennifer Campbell Images: Shren Media <\/em>
\nMakeup: Michelle Haywood Outfit: Billabong Womens<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you head out to the Ballito Pro this month, you\u2019re likely to hear Emma Smith commentating on the action. Down-to-earth, kind and easy to be around, the former professional surfer is making waves as one of only a few female commentators in the country, and is committed to using her platform for positive change. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":115,"featured_media":34236,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[479,20],"tags":[5687,11008,11007,11009,1089],"class_list":{"0":"post-34235","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-people","8":"category-personalities","9":"tag-ballito-pro","10":"tag-competitive-surfing","11":"tag-emma-smith","12":"tag-female-commentators","13":"tag-surfing"},"yoast_head":"\nRiding the wave... - Get It Ballito & Umhlanga<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/ballito-umhlanga\/blog\/2024\/06\/28\/riding-the-wave\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Riding the wave... - Get It Ballito & Umhlanga\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"If you head out to the Ballito Pro this month, you\u2019re likely to hear Emma Smith commentating on the action. 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