Iain Campbell | World Champion Bodyboarder | South Africa
We caught up with World Champion Bodyboarder Iain Campbell From Durban, South Africa. This is what he had to share with OCL on route to winning the 2017 World Bodyboarding title.
“My fondest memories would have to be when I was a kid growing up on the beaches enjoying the lifestyle and having good times with my friends. That has impacted my life to become a professional sportsman and earn a living from the sport of bodyboarding.”
“There were a lot of people that influenced my life including my parents who are sportspersons as well as my first big sponsor Billy Thiel, who was also my first bodyboard coach.
After school I chose to study. The reason for this was a push from my parents but looking back I am so grateful that I did this and got the opportunity to study. My degree was a Bachelor of Social Science in Housing which allows me to go into construction as well as do architecture drafting and other design work. For the time being I am very settled. I have a number of sponsors who I promote and they support me by financially backing me to bodyboard and allow me to compete on the international tour.”
The Elements (Full Movie) - Editor | Render Film Co - Additional Footage | James Jones, Rosie Lombard, Michael Veltman, Dave McMaster, Robbie Berman
“I would like continue bodyboarding and traveling until I want to settle down. At my age of 26 I am living in the moment and taking it step by step. If I feel the need to change my career path I will go and try something different but for the time being I'm happy with the sport and where it's taking me. For me making a living from this sport was the hardest and best thing I have fought for. It's taken me 6 years to get to a place where I can sustain myself financially traveling out of South Africa for every trip and making 3/4 international trips a year.
I would love to change the way that people deal with pollution of waste. I am in the ocean a lot of the time and the amount of trash that is in our oceans is disgusting. I know there are some ideas about certain clean ups starting for the bigger pollution but the fact is it starts with us and once people start acting upon it the repercussions will be better for everyone.”
A trip from Cape Town to Plettenberg Bay in order to chase a south swell traveling up the coast. - Editor | Render Films - Additional footage | Captured Sessions
What are the most important lessons you have learned?
Always be humble and treat people how you would want to be treated.
What legacy do you hope to leave?
What I hope to leave behind is the best sportsman I was taught to be by my parents. If people can see I am good and that I respected everyone I came in contact with then I have achieved what I always set out to do.
Hindsight is 2020 expression means: It's easier to analyze and evaluate situations when we're looking back on them in the past, then when we're in the present moment.
Looking back at this year I have seen so many positives in this negative situation. Thank you to everyone for coming along for the ride and I'm so stoked with what I have created for this channel.
