Surfer Jumps Off Whitewater Raft into River Wave (Video)

Originally posted on SURFER | By Dashel Pierson | Last updated Feb 5, 2025 10:23 AM ET

If regular surfing was like golf, then river surfing would be something like mini-golf…although, the ball is engulfed in flames, and if you miss the hole, you might get sucked under by cubic tons of water and pinned to the bottom until you meet a watery grave. Yeah, it’s pretty freaking dangerous.

Especially on a river like the Zambezi in Africa. It stretches 1,599 miles (about the length of the United States from north to south), and meanders through multiple countries – Zambia, Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique – before emptying out into the Indian Ocean. And portions of the extensive flow can be quite treacherous. Yet, folks still surf it from time to time.

Folks like Sam Bradford, a Zimbabwean whitewater kayaker, and also river surfing tube hound.

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A post shared by Sam Bradford (@sambezi_kayak)

In his latest clip, Bradford is aboard a whitewater raft, cruising down a hectic section of the Zambezi. As the raft approaches a standing wave, Bradford hops off the craft, jumps into the wave, and sets up for the tube. It’s like a poor man’s step-off. Or maybe step-offs Zambezi style.

Whatever it is, it’s impressive.

Turns out, this wasn’t a recent clip. Rather, it’s Bradford showing a highlight from a past season, in anticipation of the one to come. “Almost that water level,” he captioned. “Favorite time of the year.”

Weird wave maestro Dylan Graves, along with Harry Bryant and Mikey February took a trek to the Zambezi a while back. And despite the sketchy set-up, they lived to tell the tale. Here’s Haz:

“It was pretty insane. You’re on a surf trip nowhere near the ocean at all. You don’t have to worry about the winds, the tides, the swell…anything like that. The wave is breaking 24/7. We just mosey on down to the thing every day and just shred it until we couldn’t walk anymore.”

So, there’s perks to river surfing. Just don't fall; that’s when things get scary.

This article first appeared on SURFER and was syndicated with permission.

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