World’s oldest surfer Sano Seiichi nearing 90 and adding new jumps to his repertoire
Recognised by the Guinness World Records as the “oldest person to surf (male)”, the Japanese octogenarian is busy learning new tricks on a surfboard, taking 10-kilometre walks, running a small business and singing along to Charles Aznavour.
Surfing
When it comes to surfing, Sano Seiichi may not be the most agile, the most powerful or the one with the most impressive aerial tricks.
But at age 89, he certainly knows how to make every second count.
Recognised as the 'World’s Oldest Surfer' by the Guinness World Records in July 2022, the Japanese octogenarian can be seen paddling, jumping and joyfully splashing into the water near the shores of Yokohama, regardless of the season.
And given that Sano only learned to surf at the age of 80, one could say he is just getting started.
“I always thought of myself as a late bloomer. I am an unreliable person, but I firmly believe I am a late bloomer, always believing that someday I can be somebody. I don't care what other people say about me,” Sano told Olympics.com. “I'm doing whatever I want.”
From Mount Fuji to surfboards
Sano was born in Hokkaido, Japan on September 23, 1933, and will turn 90 later this year.
His youth coincided with Japan’s difficult post-war years and Sano worked in an eccentric assortment of jobs to make ends meet. This included a staff position at a Tokyo cabaret and working as a doorman in a foreigners’ club.
In time, Sano transitioned into the timber industry and founded his own business which provides supplies for construction companies.
Fully absorbed in his work life, it was not until he turned 80 that Sano found the time to explore his personal interests. And when he did, he decided to make up for lost time by jumping straight into the most adventurous endeavours.
To start, 80-year-old Sano climbed Mount Fuji, Japan's highest mountain at 3,776m.
Surfing was his next mission.
Sano became intrigued by the sport when he asked a bank manager if he had become suntanned while playing golf. The manager whispered in reply that it was because he went surfing, and a few days later Sano himself was on the beach in a wetsuit with surfboard in hand.
Sano Seiichi, world record holder
Olympic Channel documented Sano’s journey four years after he started surfing. The video was published ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and introduced Sano as “one of the world’s oldest active surfers”.
Over the following months, Sano kept returning to the video to see if anyone would challenge his claim. Nobody did.
"So I decided to apply for the Guinness World Records," he said. “I thought there were people in the world who were older than me and surfed. I still believe there are. However, I think they are the kind of people who don't want to apply, unlike me.
"As far as I could see on YouTube, it seemed that there were only people in their 70s and 80s who surf like me, so I thought this would work."
Sano’s claim was verified on July 8 2022, when Guinness World Records recognised him as the “oldest person to surf (male)”. At the time, he was 88 years and 288 days old.
He currently surfs two to three times per month usually near Enoshima, the small island which hosted the Olympic sailing competition at Tokyo 2020. The waves there are small and suit him well.
“Sometimes high waves come and I get washed away. I'm scared of high waves because I feel like I'm falling from the top of a tall building,” Sano said. “I’m still not coping well with high waves.”
Sano also rides the waves during the winter and, whatever the season, makes sure to stretch well before every surf session.
Almost 90, and jumping higher and higher
Dubbing himself a “small-wave surfer”, Sano has tried to make his surfing more dynamic by adding jumps and stance switches into his skillset.
He can now perform several 180-degree jumps during a single ride – a feat many young surfers are not able to accomplish.
“I saw an instructor doing it one time. Then I thought I could do it, and I did. Then I was able to increase the number of times I jump,” Sano said. “I've never seen anyone around me who could do it like me. I've been watching for 10 years and I've never seen it even on YouTube.
"One day, a woman told me that she wanted to try it herself and asked if I could tell her how to do it.
“I hope that can be an example that even low waves can be fun if you jump like me.”
While Sano is eager to improve his surfing further, especially through professional instruction, he said the key to his success was the fact that he never put pressure on himself to be a great surfer.
"It's not important or anything like that. Just do it when the time is right. I'm not overdoing it,” he said. “I do other things when I want to.”
Those other things include taking long walks along the riverbank or in the countryside – 10 to 12 kilometres is his norm – and singing while doing so. Sano's tunes of choice remain unchanged for several decades with those by French pop culture icon Charles Aznavour still his absolute favourites.
On top of his active lifestyle, Sano continues to manage his small company, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023.
But even with all these various accomplishments, it is now on the beach where Sano is best recognised.
“I often get greeted by people I don't know,” he said. “The world has become smaller."