Winter embraces the local kids and learns invaluable lessons from other cultures. Photo: Waves4Water
I first met Winter Vincent last December. He had just returned home from a morning surf and his long, wet blond locks flung over a super tan face and the jolliest smile you ever did see. On the surface, Winter looked like every other long-haired, surf-stoked grom from Manly Beach, Australia. I couldn’t have been further from the truth.
A few days prior to our chat, Winter was in Indonesia with the Waves4Water crew facilitating the delivery of clean water filters to over 5,000 residents of the Mentawai Islands. To get there, Winter gave several speeches at school, raised over $3,000, and even auctioned off a few of his own surfboards to help mitigate the severe water crisis that plagues much of the developing world.
Upon returning from his mission, Winter had the sweet idea to get other kids his age on board. Winter launched the first annual Surf to School Day in February. “I started Surf to School last year because not all kids have it easy,” said Winter. “Any kid, anywhere in the world, can host one. I think kids can make a difference to other people’s lives. It takes a bit of effort, but that’s cool, too.”
“Surf to School Day is a surf themed day,” says Winter’s mum Mel. “Think board shorts, sundresses, Hawaiian shirts, sarongs, zinc, sunglasses, and sun hats to create a beach and surf atmosphere with the Aloha spirit. Each child brings any spare change donation to participate.”
Following the success of this year’s fundraising, Surf to School Day has been upgraded to an official Waves4Water project. Schools from all over the world are participating. One in Indonesia, a few in Australia, and several different kids from California are signing up to host a Surf to School Day, demonstrating that kids can make a difference to other people’s lives.
To see how you can get involved in the Waves4Water Surf to School Day, visit WavesforWater.org.
And to see more of Winter’s epic journey, check him out on Instagram.
