The 20-year-old Western Cape athlete has risen through para surfing and now has the chance to compete on the world stage.
At 20 years old, Emihle ‘EJ’ Sombexe has turned six years in the ocean into a place on South Africa’s para surfing team. Classified in the kneel division, he has been competing for four years and is currently ranked third in the country. Selection gives him the opportunity to represent South Africa at the World Para Surfing Championship in California.
The Emihle Sombexe para surfing campaign is needed because the international trip is self-funded. Flights, accommodation, transport, equipment and event costs all stand between national selection and the moment he paddles out wearing South African colours.
Six years of progress in the ocean
Emihle began surfing through the Roxy Davis Foundation and quickly found both challenge and freedom in the sport. Water changes constantly, asking a surfer to read conditions, time each movement and recover quickly when a wave does not unfold as expected.
His competitive progress came early. He won his first Western Province trial at 16 and continued developing through structured events. Four years of competition have now placed him among South Africa’s leading athletes in his classification and opened a route to the world championship.
Selection does not automatically fund the journey
The honour of making a national team can hide a difficult reality. Para athletes and their families may still need to fund international travel and the support systems required to compete safely. The cost can be particularly demanding when specialised equipment and long-distance logistics are involved.
Emihle’s campaign gives the public a way to close that gap. It makes clear that the sporting standard has already been met; what remains is the practical work of reaching California prepared to perform.
Representation that can widen the horizon
Competing at a world championship would allow Emihle to measure himself against elite para surfers, learn from different approaches and bring that experience back into the South African community. It can also help younger athletes see a pathway from a first supported session to national colours.
His story celebrates ability, discipline and the value of inclusive sporting programmes. The wave ahead is a big one, but Emihle has already shown that he can build momentum. Community support can help carry that momentum all the way to the international stage.
The wider impact
Sporting milestones are built across seasons rather than on one competition day. Coaching, recovery, transport and repeated practice create the platform from which an athlete can perform. When the public supports that platform, it helps protect the consistency that progress requires and gives talent a fairer chance to meet opportunity.
A public campaign also makes participation flexible. Some supporters can donate, others can share the story with a school, club, workplace or professional network, and some may be able to offer expertise or an introduction. These different forms of help are most useful when they remain centred on the stated goal and the choices of the people leading the campaign.
Responsible storytelling is part of that support. Using accurate names, avoiding exaggerated promises and linking readers to the live campaign preserves trust. It lets the achievement remain hopeful without hiding the work still required, and it gives future updates a strong factual foundation as circumstances change.
What support can make possible
Crowdfunding works best when readers can see the goal, understand the need and choose how to participate. The campaign page brings those details together and remains the best place to check the latest total, updates and any changes to the plan before donating.
- Flights, accommodation and local transport
- Competition, equipment and support costs
- South African representation at world level
Support is not limited to a financial contribution. Sharing the campaign with a relevant community, sending a message of encouragement or introducing the story to a potential partner can expand its reach. A series of modest actions can create the momentum that makes a large target feel possible.
Follow the Emihle Sombexe para surfing
https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/help-emihle-reach-world-para-surf-championships
