Waves of Change: How Omar Sobky is Redefining Egypt's Relationship with the Sea

Introduction and Early Influences

Omar Sobky started surfing in 2007 back in America. He saw a few people at the beach holding a surf board, followed them and found a store that rents out surfboards. He rented one and immediately got hooked. Then he bought one and went back to Egypt.

Back then there was something called rip surfing which has only 2 wheels and is similar to mimicking the motion of surfing. Surf skating started to gain momentum and Omar got inspired to really take it to the next level, not only surfing the streets but also learning how to skate.

Challenges Faced

There is no culture. One doesn't know where to go, how to teach you, when the waves are gonna be there. Sometimes they'd go all the way to Alex to find it flat so they'd go back to Cairo. This was the biggest challenge and this is what Surf Camp Egypt is trying to change — creating that culture so people can learn more about the sport.

Surf Camp Origins

Omar watched a movie called Busting Down The Door, the first initiative about when surfers decided to become professionals. He saw that and got inspired to start a tiny business to develop the culture and become professionals in the sport. Years later he developed Surf Camp Egypt which started as a small kiosk in Agami and branched out all over Egypt.

Local Surfing Scene

Egypt has a lot of sick surfers especially in Agami. Some of them never even traveled abroad but they're still ripping. They have the culture, their clothes, they live and breathe around the waves. Omar also founded the Egyptian Surfing Association which is the developing arm for the sport in Egypt, now part of ISA — the International Surfing Association. Egypt is now the 111th member of the international union.

Community Building

The community is the main thing. Surf Camp Egypt is trying to create events that have nothing to do with surfing — parties, ice bath workshops, you name it. Nurturing a community that's not just about the sport, but open and inclusive.

Impact on Local Youth

Mothers would come to Surf Camp and tell Omar they saved their kids. They gave them something to do other than being bored all the time and participating in destructive activities. The impact is what keeps them going — when they see how surfing took young people's lives to a more positive direction. Their perspective, their outlook on life is positive, more constructive, more productive and just way more chill.