A young professional surfer from Newcastle is preparing for a staggering feat of endurance that will see him attempt to ride a mind-boggling 5000 waves in the single month of January.
A Labour of Love for Newcastle's Homeless
Josh Levey, a 21-year-old semi-professional competitor from Merewether, will begin his monumental challenge on New Year's Day. His mission extends far beyond personal glory; he aims to raise crucial funds and awareness for Newcastle homelessness charity Soul Hub.
Levey told the Newcastle Herald that his motivation is deeply rooted in a powerful message of love and community. "The reason why I want to raise so much money for them is I love the message they represent," Levey explained. He highlighted Soul Hub's ethos that 'everyone's welcome' and connected it to his own belief that "love is the willingness to be inconvenienced by another."
Throughout the challenge, Levey will rotate across various Hunter region beaches, documenting his gruelling progress on his Instagram and YouTube channels, where supporters can follow his journey and donate.
Battling the Unpredictable Ocean
The sheer scale of the task is phenomenal. To reach his target of 5000 waves, Levey must average an incredible 161 rides every single day. While a world record for waves surfed in a month was set in July by former pro Blakey Johnston, that feat of 4097 waves was achieved in the controlled environment of the Urbnsurf wave pool in Sydney.
Levey's attempt is arguably more daunting. He is aiming to surf 903 more waves than the existing record, all while contending with the utterly unpredictable nature of the ocean. Beach closures due to weather, dangerous swells, or shark sightings are just some of the variables he cannot control.
His strategy involves "banking" waves on days with ideal conditions, surfing well over the daily average to create a buffer for when the surf is poor. "The biggest thing will be the endurance; to rock up day after day for a month straight is definitely intense," Levey admitted. "That uncontrollable factor that you have with the ocean is a huge one."
Community Support and a Champion's Dream
Levey is no stranger to long hours in the water. He has competed on the World Surf League's Qualifying Series since 2021, representing Japan where he was born, before moving to Newcastle at age seven. Recent strong results have propelled him to 34th on the QS rankings, with qualification for the elite Championship Tour being his ultimate dream.
Local Newcastle business, Lords Supply coffee roasters, is supporting the challenge after co-owner Daniel Brown befriended Levey in the surf. Levey is also extending an open invitation to the community, hoping people will join him in the water or cheer him on from the sand. "We're just trying to spread the love," he said. "Let's bring a community together."
He believes the challenge is a powerful way to demonstrate compassion and choice. "I really believe that love is a choice, and I really want to show people through this challenge that every single human in their heart has a choice to love."
