SOWETO SURFING

Soweto is South Africa's largest ghetto, a sprawling stretch of townships on the outskirts of Johannesburg. With an estimated population of one million, this former centre of the anti-apartheid struggle faces chronic problems of poverty and overcrowding, and remains a notoriously dangerous place to live and visit.

It is here where you’ll find Train Surfing, the semi-suicidal act of climbing on top and sometimes underneath a moving train. Born in the early Nineties out of a restless desire to embrace life (and death) after years of oppression, Train Surfing has evolved into something of an underground sport not unlike skateboarding in the 1970’s. There are similar elements of fringe outsider behavior, danger and adulation of male, and most importantly, female onlookers.

Like skateboarding there are tricks that have variables and surfers with distinct individual styles. Tricks that are named after pioneers: like the Baptista, a move where one rides a top a train and grabs one of the high tension wires that power the train. If this move is done effectively it results in wild sparks flying out of the ends of the cable and little harm to the individual performing it. Like all moves, when it is done improperly, it results in death.

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