There’s a kid in South Africa who is surprising everyone and everything.
Let us start by saying Dean Hart is a true champ and an inspiration to others. This South African kid has 14 years old and he was born with one arm. An adversity that he learned to live with and that he has overcome. He is a passionate bodyboarder.
Recently participated in the South African Bodyboarding Championships 2023 achieving a unique performance worthy of being shared.
This year, Dean competed in the Boys Division in which there were 11 riders from all over South Africa. He is from Durban, where the waters are warmer, but he quickly adapted to the Onrus cold and 
advanced to the semis and then onto the finals.
“He consistently found the biggest waves for rolls and spins on the critical sections of the wave. He was calm, clinical and calculated in the heats and showed great maturity in the water under pressure”, shares to Vert Magazine his father Bryan.
“In the 2022 SA Champs, Dean managed to get to the final, but was not able to do rolls because he could not hold onto the board with his one hand. Since January this year, there has been alot of R&D with the good people at Mstar Distribution who with Deans input, put together a custom board for him to ride”, Bryan explains.
And this, along with his work ethic, values and manners, has really been one of the key elements to this years success. Dean took the win in the event and the South African title in the Boys Division in a very close and hard fought final!
He was also awarded “The rider of the event” and received the Ivan Friedman Sportsmanship Award. The kid is a true gentleman and it looks like it won’t stop surprising the bodyboarding community anytime soon.
One last word goes to Bryan and Ashley. You must be such a proud dad and mam. Hard work pays off! May you continue to inspire others, remain humble and encourage those around you!
Congratulations!
