The Surfer- Jai Ashok Mahtani

 

Jai Ashok Mahtani (born 12 september, 1972 - present) is a south african professional surfer, rugby player, environmentalist, author and social activist, entrepreneur. He has been listed among the top 500 surfers in South africa.

Early Life and Education:

Jai Ashok Mahtani was born on 12 september, 1972, in the Muizenberg city, western cape of South Africa, to a south african mother Mrs. karabo adams , a Cook Assistant in Muizenberg city and Indian father Ashok mahtani, a Security Installations technical manager.

Jai Ashok mahtani completed his high school in Muizenberg High school, Western cape. In Capricorn College where he completed a Financial management course. During his childhood, Jai Ashok mahtani was the best swimmer, He always used to go beaches, do swimming, etc. His Friend Samuel was the best surfer, His friend taught him surfing, Jai Ashok mahtani learnt surfing and slowly he started participating in the Surfing league. When he was in high school, He participated in a surfing contest, it's his first Surfing contest, that time he won his first award in surfing and his surfing career started. But his career in surfing was not his first choice, because his favourite game is rugby. He joined the rugby club in high school, but he did not succeed in it.

He is very famous in Muizenberg city as a surfer. He participated in many surfing contests and won many awards. He said, His family and friends always supported him in his career and his support made him reach the height of today. In Muizenberg City, he worked as a finance manager in a company, but also handled surfing career well. Jai Ashok Mahtani won 2 major professional surf events. During his career he was both the youngest and oldest surfer to win a pro event, and is considered to be one of the architects of professional surfing.

Career:

• In 1998, he won his first award, in the Muizenberg surfing contest.
• He was inspired by Mark Occhilupo, Mick Fanning, Garry Lopez, Bernard "Midget" Farrelly a lot. Now he has his own surfing coaching classes in Muizenberg city and Durben city.
• In 1999, he won his second award, in the Hawaii surfing contest.
• In his surfing career, he won 20 awards, where 2 awards he won in professional surfing contests and the rest awards in small surfing contests.
• On a performance level, Jai mahtani completely changed the way the tube section of the wave was ridden, using a unique style of pumping and weaving through and around collapsing sections of the barrel. Even today, his electrifying performances at Off the Wall and Backdoor Pipeline stand the test of time. A memorable quote of his from the period was, "Drop in, pull in, kick out."

Social Initiatives:

Jai Ashok Mahtani is involved in several social initiatives, he is working in the rights of women and children living with HIV/AIDS, and against gender-based violence.

Environmentalism:

Jai Ashok Mahtani believes Nature is our first mother, the true teacher. He is very concerned about protecting the environment. Every year he conducts campaigns for tree planting. He writes about many environmental issues in his blogs.

Entrepreneurship:

Jai Ashok Mahtani has his own surfing coaching institute and founder of environmentoosa NGO.