Paul ‘Chow’ Sampson, a 24yearold surfer from Cape Town, has overcome adversity and poverty to become South Africa’s top surfer and participate in the 2024 World Surf League (WSL) Challenger Series. Sampson honed his surfboarding skills on Muizenberg Beach, where he found peace and developed his signature flamboyant style. Despite financial hurdles associated with professional surfing, Sampson launched a BackABuddy sponsorship page to generate support for his global tour participation. Sampson’s journey reflects the transformative power of sports and the strength of the human spirit, inspiring the surfing community in South Africa and beyond.