SILVER SURFERS

The Nahoon Granny Grommets of East London hit the waves every week, come rain or shine!

- SINEKHAYA SINEKE

WHAT do you do when you live by the sea, have lots of energy and refuse to let your age define you?

You live by the saying "life's a beach" - that's what you do. Just ask this group of grannies who hit the surf every Friday, boogie boards at the ready, preparing to whoop with delight as the waves zoom them to the shore.

They're the Nahoon Granny Grommets of East London, a group of 34 women aged between 51 and 82 who can be found on Nahoon Beach every week, come rain or shine.

The squad of silver wave riders was founded by 61-year-old Julie Schroeter in August this year after she told her friend Lee-Ann Lavender (57), she wanted to start a boogie boarding group for grannies.

"She said 'sure, let's do it', and that was the beginning of Granny Grommets."

Grommets is surfer slang for beginners. The group started with four members Julie, Lee-Ann, Angela McNamara (63) and Bev Dell (67) and now has 34 members.

They meet at the beach at 9.30am and take pictures, which Julie shares on the group's Instagram account. New grannies are welcomed in the "tunnel of fun" - an arch of boogie boards held up by members.