Prince Harry has shown he can rip it up on a surfboard, and while it might come as a surprise to some, it really shouldn’t. After all, he’s been living in Los Angeles for a while, where surfing is part of the culture. But given that we’ve never seen him catch waves before, the sight of the Duke of Sussex surfing alongside the best in the world has taken many by surprise.
Tahitian surfing legend Raimana Van Bastolaer, known for mentoring world-class athletes like Kauli Vaast, who won a gold medal for Tahiti at the Paris Olympics, recently posted a video of Prince Harry surfing at Kelly Slater’s wave pool in Austin, Texas.
The pool, a marvel of modern technology, is designed to create perfect, consistent waves, making the sport more accessible to people from all corners of the globe. And there, in the midst of the action, was Prince Harry—riding waves alongside the greatest surfer of all time, Kelly Slater.
What’s striking about the footage is how well Prince Harry holds his own in such elite company. Slater, with his 11 world championships, is known for setting the bar in the sport, but Harry doesn’t seem out of place. In the video, he looks confident, poised, and skilled as he glides effortlessly on the waves, even impressing seasoned surfers like Van Bastolaer.
Perhaps the most fun part of the video is seeing Harry choose to jump into the wave from a jet ski rather than paddling in. Sure, he could paddle into the wave if he wanted to—he’s clearly in great shape—but he’s skipping the hard part of surfing. Paddling can be grueling and exhausting, even for experienced surfers, so why not use a ski? It’s a veteran move that shows Harry has mastered not just the art of surfing but also the strategy of enjoying it. After all, catching the wave is the fun part—paddling is just work!
One of the more interesting aspects of this video is how it has flown under the radar of major media outlets, especially those that normally follow Prince Harry’s every move. You’d expect clips of the Duke of Sussex surfing with legends like Kelly Slater to dominate headlines, but so far, it’s been relatively quiet.
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The video was posted by Raimana Van Bastolaer, a legend in the surfing world, but his name isn’t as well-known outside of surf circles. That might be part of the appeal for Harry—surfing offers him a rare escape from the constant scrutiny and media attention that follows him everywhere else.
It’s easy to see why surfing might appeal to Prince Harry. In a sport that is as much about connecting with nature as it is about athleticism, there’s a sense of freedom, and maybe a bit of anonymity, that he doesn’t often get to enjoy. While the world watches his every move, on the waves, Harry can simply be another surfer—enjoying the thrill of the ride.
For now, Prince Harry’s surfing talents remain something of a hidden gem, but who knows? Maybe we’ll see more of him shredding waves in the future.
