Sometimes, hype is good. It’s deserved. It’s a good thing. A few days ago the surfing world started talking about a dramatic near drowning incident at a very angry pipline involving Evan Geiselman and his rescue by a strange bearded South African bodyboarder named Andre Botha.
When I was a kid ‘Dre was an absolute legend. I can remember when, during the heyday of bodyboarding’s popularity in the mid to late 90’s, ‘Dre won the word title at pipeline at 17 years old. I was at the beach the next day and everyone along Durban’s Beachfront were waving flags, celebrating late and shotgunning beers. Surfers and spongers alike. Once, when the there was massive east cyclone swell hammering the inner city beaches and us groms were cowering at the end of the pier. ‘Dre was was the only guy out. No one else even attempted the paddle that day. The guy was a hero when I was a kid.
...And after some tumultuous years, it appears that Andre Botha is still a hero. While what Dre did is an incredibly brave thing, even more refreshing is his soft spoken-ness and reluctance to bathe in the media glow following the incident. Isn’t it a refreshing in a world of Who is J.O.B webcasts and other shameless self promotion?
'Dre on a bomb
Andre Botha at Pipeline.