Until ten years ago, the word ‘surfing’ did not exist in the vocabulary of the locals of the tiny fishing village of Kovalam. Yet today, it is one of the foremost surfing destinations in India. Tucked away in the Coromandel coast of southern Tamil Nadu, Kovalam offers quality waves all year round, rivaling some of the best surfing spots around the world. It all started with passion for surfing in the hearts of the surfers of the fishing community.
Kovalam, a quiet little fishing village about 40 kilometres from Chennai is much like the many other hamlets dotting the East Coast. Apart from fishing, it remains popular for its Dutch Fort turned resort, the nearby Muttukadu backwaters with its boating attraction, and serene places of worship that the locals frequent. On weekends, the Kovalam beach gets busy with vendors, villagers and town folk who come by for the salty ocean air as they wet their feet.
Arun Vasu, who began windsurfing at the age of 13 and has 27 years of experience in the tourism industry, established the surf school. The inception of the school took place in a modest leased residence. After testing the waters, Arun identified a perfect beachfront location. Here, he initiated Surf Turf, which currently encompasses a surf school, a restaurant, and five guest rooms. Subsequently, the team expanded with the addition of four local individuals from Kovalam, who joined as instructors.
Sekhar Pichai, the Senior Stand up paddle Instructor at Surf Turf, faced significant challenges in convincing his family about his passion for surfing. Initially, his family depended on income from fishing, and they were not supportive of his interest in the sport. However, everything changed when Sekhar started participating in tournaments and achieved success by winning medals and cash prizes. His family began to see the potential in surfing as a viable pursuit.
In the past, children interested in surfing had limited options for accessing surfboards. They could either rent them from others or rely on generous foreigners who would occasionally gift them surfboards. Recognising this gap in the market, Sekhar saw an opportunity and decided to take matters into his own hands. He founded Kove Kraft, a venture that allowed him to craft his own surfboards according to his preferences and specifications. Through Kove Kraft, Sekhar can now create surfboards that align perfectly with his vision, catering to the needs and interests of surfers in the community. In addition to being an additional source of income for Sekhar, his venture also benefits the local surfing community by offering them top-notch surfboards that enhance their surfing experiences and enables them to pursue their passion for the sport more effectively. Sekhar and his crew of homegrown surfers at Kovalam are the first of their kind, carving out the ultimate path for endless waves of surfers to ride in the future.
