Where Has This Kid Been Hiding?! | Eli Buekes in 'Deep West'

When we say 'powerful regular-footed South African sponsored by O'Neill', what name comes to mind? We can say with 99.9% certainty that it's NOT Eli Buekes.
To be completely honest, we had no idea who Eli was until roughly one week ago... and boy do we feel stupid about that now. Having watched literally thousands of surf edits over the last decade, we must say: Eli's edit 'Deep West' is as powerful an example of raw, relatively unknown talent as we've seen in quite some time.
Filmed by Eli's dad. Edited by Eli.

[@andre-os9wk]

This Lad is a HARDCORE Charger !

[@ApprenticeGM]

Impressive surfing - power and control, good style from rail gouges to rotational airs, and has a great feel for the barrel. Even more impressive that most of it is with booties on (I can't feel the board that well with booties - hate them).

[@DaveKitchos]

He we’re booties because he’s self conscious about his feet.

[@dragonflydroneservices1021]

Whoa.... my heart is still pounding

[@robertglover8808]

Yeeewww gettiittt mate🔥🔥🔥

[@LucasCaaman]

Absolutely outrageous

[@toomuchfandango]

Hard charger, mad respect.

[@dirtysteez1569]

LIT!!!! SIC WIT IT.... straight SLAYED IT!!! keep it up brotha. the vid had that Black and White vibe to it

[@jonmerson2421]

That last wave tried to spit him out three times....

[@KieferSmokerland]

Hey Stab, ya spelled his name wrong. Typical. Who wrote it? I'm gonna assume Goggins.

[@clarkewi]

The lad knows how to work a surfboard.

[@jeromesurffoil7033]

Dayummm!

[@bkw4662]

Thank you for not using euro dance music.

[@joeblow1942]

That last tube, holy crap!

[@sunchaser9726]

Surfing like this makes you a local just about anywhere you go ,heaps jealous right now. Had to watch this twice to make sure it was real.

[@Person64479]

Bro those airs 😎😎 Sick surfing

[@dylansharwood309]

Oh my fuck yeeeeew, so sick Eli 🙌🏽🇿🇦

[@sumatran]

Very Dane Reynoldseque.

[@hommuside]

His high pressure surfing would calm the storm. Slap a jersey on this kid.

[@ryanmatthews4239]

Ripper!

[@TheRegularGuyReview]

Eli Shreds!

[@gregorybaillie2093]

The only other surfer I've seen who pulls this shit off as a matter of course was A.I. I love the "take no prisoners" approach.

[@commoveo1]

valde bona 🏄🏼‍♂️🤸🏿‍♀️⚡️

[@jakejohnowen]

Absolute shredda

[@chrisryan4247]

Phenom

[@coetzercooke2257]

Ripping, Eli!

[@JasonSmith-dd2ms]

Damn. Good.

[@TheArts19]

Damn Son! Blowing doors!!!!

[@matthewbenson9471]

Best style

[@greeff100]

Yoh bru, that last wave was epic 🔥🤙

[@RawSessionss]

Representing yeww

[@joewendyretief3715]

Ripping man!!!!

[@federicomolina5236]

The barrel at 3:20! 🙌🏽🤙🏽

[@ohno2624]

yee boi

[@damodaraomalley3974]

Put him wild card on tour