'Surfing Swami' - Godfather of Indian surfing dead at 76

Mangaluru/Mysuru: A pioneer of surfing in Mangaluru and other parts of the country, Surfing Swami died near Mysuru at the age of 76.

Surfing Swami, alias Swami Narasingha, the founder of Mantra Surf Club in Mulky near here in 2004. Through this club, he trained many youngsters from the region in surfing.

Swami was one of the early members of North Florida’s first surf club, Oceanside in 1963 and was among the pioneers of surfing on the East Coast of the United States. Forty years later he pioneered many aspects of surfing movement in India along with his students with the aim of making surfing a recognised sport in the country.

Surfing Federation of India President and head instructor at Mantra Surf Club Kishore Kumar, who is among the first generation of surfers trained by Swami, expressed that the untimely demise of their leader has left a great void in their lives.