Surfer Profile: Frank Solomon

Highlights:
Unknown

A hardcore underground charge, Frank has slowly but surely chipped away at the big wave establishment by taking off on any big wave that comes his way, or any barrelling wave that pops up in front of him. “He’ll probably be the one charging the hardest out there,” said event videographer Jason Hearne, who has seen Frank surfing in amongst some of the biggest and heaviest waves in and around the peninsula. “He is completely fearless and is one of the craziest surfers when the waves start really barrelling. He is one of the guys who will never hold back when the waves start barrelling.”

Frank has also been on the outskirts of the big wave elite on the peninsula, but has consistently placed himself under some serious lips in heaviest conditions, gaining him recognition over a period of time in amongst the top surfers. A breakthrough Sunset session a few seasons ago, saw everyone stand up and take note of two surfers – Frank Solomon and Charles Reitz. That was the session that put them both in the collective eyes of the big wave surfers of the peninsula, as well as the eyes and ears of the Red Bull Big Wave Africa contest organisers. “that’s exactly what we’re looking for, always,” said co – contest director Johnny Paarman. “That type of performance is what we’re looking out for, to get fresh blood into the event. You do have to reward the guys who have the experience and the hard-earned water time in and around the big waves of the peninsula, but you have to keep your eyes open for the new talent coming up. When the young guys have a session like this is raises the bar.”

For now, Frank’s reputation is solid. The practise session yesterday the 25th of July was a clear indicator of who was ready for the event, and Frank was one of the first to charge into a big set, make a serious drop, and crank into a solid bottom turn.