SIYA THE SHAPER | Short Film | South African Surfing

A man who broke down barriers to become a surfboard shaper in South Africa
Growing up under the apartheid regime, Siya Cele was chased away from beaches, and consequently denied the opportunity to embrace all the ocean offers. This disparity can still be seen in South African surfing today. Siya's fascination with the sea remained strong and he was eager to start a career in surfboard shaping but was frequently turned away.
Justin Nel finally took Siya under his wing and things took off from there, honing his skills further under the tutelage of industry greats, Spider Murphey and Jasson Ribbink. But his employment removed him from spending time with his family. After the birth of his son, Siya decided to create his own business, establishing Hibiscus Blue Line Surfboards, on the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal.
With nearly 20 years of shaping behind him, Siya also donates boards to the local surf club, enabling the youth to foster their own relationship with the ocean.
Director | Dominic Taylor | / _dominic_taylor