Kelly Slater is Backing One of Mexico’s Finest Surfers (Video)

On a frigid morning session last winter, I had the pleasure of watching a highly gifted surfer go to work at a wave he had never seen before. All respect to Eithan Osborne and Robbie McCormick, two excellent surfers in the lineup that day, but I thought the standout of the session was Sebastian Williams.

With the water temp in the low 50s and the air temp significantly lower, the 25-year-old took off late under pitching rights, then went vertical into the lip with poise and power. It was an impressive reminder. He was also nice and respectful in what is usually a tight local lineup.

I'd heard of Sebastian before, but he'd been out of the limelight for several years, and I had forgotten how well he surfed. By the time he was in his early teens, Sebastian had caught the attention of the surf industry and had secured a prominent Quiksilver sticker on the nose of his board. A literal King of the Groms. The path was set, until it wasn’t. 

Born to a Mexican mother and a South African father, Sebastian's upbringing was a mix of punchy beachbreaks and long points. After showing promise on a surfboard in the warm waters off Mexico, he moved with his father to South Africa to compete and get on the pro surfing path. But Sebastian went through some growing pains, a rough combination of ankle injuries, poor contest results, and an immature attitude. There were reports of his brash behavior in and out of the jersey, as teenagers with cash are prone to do. Ultimately, he and Quiksilver parted ways, and Sebastian returned home to Mexico.