Splits his time, when in S.A., between Cape Town and Durban
Shaun Tomson, South Africa’s first world surfing champion, is visiting South Africa to present inspirational talks across the country.
Once described by an international magazine as the Prince Valiant of Surfing, Shaun Tomson is now an author, motivational speaker and entrepreneur. With a wealth of lessons learned as a professional surfer riding the world's most dangerous waves, and as a businessman creating multi-million dollar companies while negotiating the sometimes treacherous waters of commerce, Shaun uses surfing’s basic truths and illustrates how they can help one navigate the storms of life and business.
His bestselling book, Surfer’s Code: 12 Simple Lessons for Riding through Life, includes principles like “I will always paddle back out", "I will never fight a rip tide" and "There will always be another wave." Principles that are as valid for business as for life.
It was after the death of his 15-year-old son, Mathew, in 2006 that Shaun turned to the time honoured code of surfing to survive a parent's greatest ordeal.
“Our attitude defines every single one of us and makes us who we are today and tomorrow,” said Shaun. “Your attitude about the present defines your future and your attitude about the future defines the present. Your attitude is everything and is the difference between a life of darkness or one of hope.”
Shaun shares the lessons learned both in and out of the surf and how he found the strength to come back from his greatest challenge, the loss of his son.
Shaun tells a story of terrible loss and miraculous rebirth. "Surfer’s Code" reveals that’s the lessons of a life spent surfing are the lessons of surfing through life: every moment holds the possibility of failure and tragedy, every moment the promise of success and happiness.
About Shaun Tomson:
Shaun Tomson was born in Durban and went on to become one of the world’s best surfers. He competed on the Pro Tour for 16 years, winning 19 professional events including the World Title.
During his competitive career he was at different stages both the youngest and oldest surfer to win a professional event.
Tomson was listed as one of the 25 most influential surfers of the century (Surfer 1999) and one of the 16 greatest surfers of all time (Surfing 2004). He is a business finance graduate from the University of Natal, and has created two successful multimillion-dollar clothing brands: Instinct in the 80s and Solitude in the 90s.
He produced Bustin' Down the Door, an award winning documentary and recently released Surf Creatures, a book of children's rhymes. He lives with his wife Carla and infant son Luke in Santa Barbara, California.