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From Bob Marley To Billy Mystic, Exploring The Roots Of Jamaican Surf Culture
Jake Howard
Eight miles south of Kingston, Jamaica, sits Bull Bay. Before setting out on his international tours, Bob Marley and his band mates would find their way to this relatively quiet, forgotten corner of the island to prepare themselves for the road ahead.
Today, Bull Bay is one of the epicenters of surf and skate culture in the Caribbean thanks largely to Billy "Mystic" Wilmot and the community he's created.
A reggae musician himself, Wilmot was called to the sea in the ‘70s. He fell in love with surfing, and over the years he's made it his mission to share the stoke with friends and family. Over time, the community began to blossom and grow. It was never easy, especially when it came to finding good boards to ride, but Mystic pushed on through.
Tending the garden, his mission was to provide a safe place for Jamaican youth to get their feet on a board and, hopefully, help them steer clear of the trouble of the streets.
And now, Wilmot's son Ivah and his lifelong friend Elishama "Shama" Beckford are picking up the torch to lead the next generation of Jamaican surfers and skaters. Supremely talented, their approach is quintessentially roots Island style. They're sponsored by big-name brands, and in turn, they have big dreams -- one of which includes lifting up the kids that look up to them.
"In 20 years I'm going to be an 80-year-old mon, and they're going to be 40 and coaching kids and running businesses. Dat's the future I see for surfing in Jamaica," Billy Mystic explained while in San Clemente with the boys last year.
As the world celebrates the 75th birthday of Bob Marley, a new 30-minute film called "LEGACY: Ride Natty Ride" focuses on the music, culture and lifestyle of what it means to be a surfer in Jamaica and why it's so special.
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