A young surfer from the Outer Banks of North Carolina moved 1,500 miles across the country to be a full-time surfer at Waco Surf.
Uriah Sheetz mounted his first surfboard at four years old and quickly discovered a lifelong passion for surfing. He grew up surfing as much as he could in the Outer Banks but wanted more than what the ocean there could offer him.
“I moved to Waco in 2021 from home on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. I moved here to work at Waco Surf, and now I’m a manager here,” Waco Surf Manager of Surf Operations Uriah Sheetz said.
Sheetz fully immersed himself and took every opportunity that his new home had to offer. He moved into a mobile home on the property so he could wake up every day to work and surf alongside his co-workers and friends.
The staff and customers at Waco Surf have grown to know and love Sheetz well. Fellow surf operator, Will Nichols, said that you can tell Sheetz is “really passionate” about his job and surfing.
Waco Surf offers a $200 million dollar facility that includes a wave pool powered by a high-tech machine. The waves it generates are virtually perfect, allowing customers and staff like Sheetz to perfect the craft of surfing.
“I try and surf like one hour every two days at least. Sometimes it’s a little more, sometimes it’s a little less, but I definitely still surf more waves here than I would at home.” Sheetz said.
When he isn’t surfing, Sheetz coaches both beginner and advanced sessions at the wave pool while also operating the machine from the surf tower on site. From the age of four, he knew that he had a passion for surfing. Now, at 25-years-old, he can both indulge in and teach his passion to others who are interested in the art of surfing.
Sheetz plans to stay at Waco Surf for the foreseeable future and continue to surf as much as he wants to, teach others his passion, and work alongside his best friends.
This story was produced by Baylor Student Breleigh Rose and is part of the Baylor University Student Journalism Collaboration with KWBU.