Prince Harry Crushes the California Waves in Surprising New Surfing Video!

Mar. 15, 2025

Prince Harry at Abbey Road Studios in London on Feb. 28, 2020.Photo:Shutterstock

Shutterstock

Prince Harryis immersing himself in a California pastime — surfing!

On Oct. 16, professional surfer Raimana Van Bastolaer posted a new video of the Duke of Sussex, 40, showing off his surfing skills. Van Bastolaer said that the surfing excursion happened at Kelly Slater’s Surf Ranch, a man-made wave facility in Lemoore, California.

“In tahiti, we still call you Prince harry but at surfranch, it’s my Brother,. It was an honor to have you surf with me &@kellyslater@michaelanders_at@kswaveco,” Van Bastolaer wrote onInstagram, tagging photographer Todd Glaser and three other accounts.

The minute-long video showed Harry wearing a dark top and shorts and hopping up on a surfboard as Van Bastolaer seemingly shared words of encouragement — as well as some technical tips!

He also shared an action shot of Harry surfing through the tunnel of a wave, called a barrel, on his Instagram Stories with an approving caption. “Pretty deep brother Harry,” he wrote.

Prince Harry speaks on stage at an ISPS event in Tokyo on Aug. 9, 2023.AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko

AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko

When Prince Harry andMeghan Marklerelocated from the U.K. to her home state of California in 2020, it was reported that she bought him surf lessons as a birthday present when he turned 36.

The Duke of Sussex has also previously crossed paths with “surfing royalty” Slater and Van Bastolaer, and the trio spent time together at theFormula 1 Grand Prixin Austin, Texas in October 2023, theDaily Mailreported.

In the past, Harry and Meghan have met with groups that use surfing as a mechanism to promote positive mental health. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex saw the work ofWaves for Changein Cape Town, South Africa during their royal tour of the continent in 2019, and learned visiting Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia during their royal tour there in 2018.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry meet members of OneWave at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia on Oct. 19, 2018.Chris Jackson - Pool/Getty

Chris Jackson - Pool/Getty

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The local surfing community group is dedicated to raising awareness for mental health and well-being in an engaging way, and Sam Schumacher told PEOPLE Harry touched on his own struggles when the royal couple joined their “anti-bad vibe circle” for a discussion.

“Basically he showed us that actually opening up and talking about your emotions is a sign of strength, not a sign of weakness,” Schumacher said. “And the sooner you can do that, it actually helps you so much. That was the thing that helped him so much.”

Prince William, Prince of Wales throws a football as he attends a NFL Foundation, flag football event, a non-contact form of American football, in London on Oct. 15, 2024.KIN CHEUNG/AP POOL/AFP via Getty

KIN CHEUNG/AP POOL/AFP via Getty

It’s been a sporty week for Prince Harry and his brother,Prince William, who practiced throwing a football (the American version!) during aday outwith the NFL Foundation UK on Oct. 15.

source: people.com