Meet The Kids
OUR TEAM
The students at the school are members of Association Surfeur Avenir de Fort-Dauphin or A.S.A.F.
Our Team.
Marcel Ravelomanantsoa
Founder and Director
In 1990 at the age of 25, Marcel became one of the first Malagasy surfers when, after watching visitors from Réunion Island, he asked to borrow a board and discovered the unique joy of riding the waves he had watched growing up. 4 years later, equipped with a board of his own, he was finally able to take full advantage of the beautiful waves of Fort Dauphin and become a talented surfer.
In 2005, after beginning to teach his own children to surf (including his son Joe and nephew Antonio), he founded the École de Surf Lenda and the Association Surfeur Avenir de Fort Dauphin, in order to introduce the sport to others in the community, as well as visitors. In 2010, he organized the first ASAF competition. His most memorable wave was at Lavanono, but the waves of Fort Dauphin are a tradition to him and his family of surfers. He has 5 children, a cat, a dog, and his family band Voazavo Lenda performs traditional Tandroy music at local events.
Joe Kennedy Ravelomanantsoa
Head Coach, WSL Pro Surfer, Certified Lifeguard, ISA Surf Judge
Madagascar’s first ever professional surfer, Joe was ranked 19th in Africa in the World Surf League for 2023-24. He has competed all around Africa, Asia, and America with surfers from all over the world. In addition, he is a lifeguard certified by Lifesaving South Africa in 2024 as well as an ISA Level 1 Surf Judge. In between competitions, coaching, and training, he teaches the young kids of his community for free, including a free program just for girls and the first ever free lifesaving program for kids in Madagascar
Born in Fort Dauphin to one of the first surfing families in Madagascar, son of Marcel, Joe caught his first wave at age 9 years. He won his first surfing competition at age 14 and traveled to compete in Reunion Island at age 18, where he helped Madagascar take home a 3rd place trophy. When a south wind hits, you can find him chasing barrels at Monseigneur Beach, and he’s surfed all around Madagascar from Lavanono and Anakao to Tamatave, but his favorite wave ever surfed was a huge barrel at Jeffrey´s Bay in South Africa. Surfing is his dream and his passion and he loves to share the joy of riding the waves with others. He speaks Malagasy, French, and English. Able to teach swimming and surfing to both children and adults. He sings and plays guitar and drums with his family’s musical group, Voazavo Lenda.
