Misenberg, a South African locale recognized as a key surfing hub since 1919, is no longer defined by the old guard of "9 ft boards and blonde hair". Today, the waters pulse with the energy of the "Flight Squad," a new generation of surfers who embody radical style—rocking "fades, dreadlocks," and favoring boards they like "sky high". This cultural and technical shift is closely supported by institutions like Lifestyle Surf Shop, which not only supplies the high-performance equipment central to the squad’s identity but also connects them to the roots of their passion.
For the members of the Flight Squad, surfing is "everything"—it is life and destiny. Madala, who has been surfing for 15 years, realized "instantly this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life" as soon as he caught his first wave. This passion demands speed and precision in equipment. Madala showcases his new board, a Turbo that is a 5’6” and 25.5 L, noting that the "new board feeling makes me want to jump high". Similarly, John Morris, who describes the feeling of catching his first wave as "really awesome," shares a direct connection to the shop. He specifically recalls that his first board was "negative from lifestyle" and confirms, "I'm still on the negatives". Morris is currently riding a 5’9”, 20 L sequel chuck, which he praises for being "very fast on the 6". The commitment to technical excellence and the pursuit of speed—" that new board feeling makes me want it double up"—is clearly facilitated by their equipment.
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South African Surf Culture
The aspirations of the Flight Squad are enormous, driven by the feeling that surfing "can put me on a line of taking me out of this world". John Morris finds the sport makes him feel "alive" and fosters the belief that dreams, such as reaching the Hawaii Pipeline one day, "can really happen". Leia Zoi, who rides a negative 5’7”, commits "100%" to surfing, especially because growing up was "very tough" and "wasn't easy". Her dedication is focused on the demanding maneuver of "doing the air action," which requires absolute commitment: "you have to go for it, and you have to commit to it".
Beyond technical proficiency, the Flight Squad is defined by community engagement, embracing the ethos that "anyone can surf". Leia Zoi takes responsibility for mentoring younger surfers from her community, a role that demands she stay on the "right path because behind there's a lot of people looking up to me". Her mentorship strategy involves deep empathy, putting herself "in their shoes and making them understand they don't need to be scared". She uses her own experience—"I did it and I was scared but I did it and look where it got me"—to encourage them, noting the joy of seeing "the smile in them and the joy" when they are together in the water. By supporting this dedicated cohort, Lifestyle Surf Shop is tied to a movement that is shaping not only high-performance surfing but also the inclusive future of Misenberg's community. John Morris concludes that the message for aspiring surfers is clear: "be confident and wait" for the safe moment.
