THE OOM, the biography of South African water sports pioneer John Whitmore

324pp., b/w & colour illus., map, paperback, Masterson Communications, Cape Town, 2025

ISBN: 9781037054891

John 'The Oom' Whitmore (b. 1929), also known as the 'Doyen’, transformed several ocean-based water sports in South Africa from the 1950s to the 1980s. The first person to ride a surfboard on the Cape Atlantic coast, he created South’s Africa's first surfboard brand, discovered many iconic local surf breaks, including Elands Bay and Jeffreys Bay, founded Springbok surfing, and introduced the Hobie Cat and the Morey Boogie bodyboard. He began Cape Town’s first daily surf and weather report on Radio Good Hope, and starred in Bruce Brown’s 1966 documentary, The Endless Summer.

" Miles has put an incredible amount of research and work into this book, which contains a wealth of information and stories about 'The Oom' ... highly recommended" Steve 'Spike' Pike, author of Surfing South Africa and founder of Wavescape 

“Miles has done an amazing job. I was especially impressed with all the research he has done. What a great read.” Dick Metz, US surf legend and SHACC founder

Miles Masterson began his career in the early 1990s as Associate Editor at Wavelength surfing magazine in the UK before returning to South Africa in 1997 to co-found the youth magazine blunt.  His freelance work has been published locally and overseas, including in Sports Illustrated and The Surfer’s Journal. Currently he works as Communications Manager for the South African NGO, Protect the West Coast. He is the author of How to Surf (2009).