SKELETON BAY DREAM CHASING ON THE NAMIBIAN COAST

South African waterman Thomas King had long dreamed of surfing Skeleton Bay, a mile-long ride on Namibia's Skeleton Coast that breaks with unmatched speed and power. Though grueling and unforgiving, Skeleton Bay is also considered one of the world's longest and best lefts. But once the former big-wave surfer discovered SUP, his dream changed. In 2018, King landed in Namibia to try what many deemed impossible.

Words: Will Bendix

The twin-prop plane banks hard to the right as the captain announces that we have begun our descent to Walvis Bay Airport. Outside the small window lies a sea of undulating yellow, a vast ocean of desert and sand dunes that stretch into the belly of Africa. Most of the passengers have their heads pressed against the window to get a better look, but Thomas King stares straight ahead, gripping the armrests of his seat. His palms are sticky with sweat. It's not just the motion of the plane that unnerves him. Somewhere below us lies the ferocious wave known as Skeleton Bay, a mile-long ride that breaks with unmatched speed and power along the edge of the Namib Desert. A former big-wave surfer, King has dreamed of riding this…

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Kayak Session (Digital) - 1 Issue, SUP Paddle World magazine 2021

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