Sean Holmes

Sean Holmes, born on 30 July 1977, is a South African former professional surfer who competed in the World Surf League. In 2000 he won Red Bull's Big Wave Africa, taking the event with a very large wave caught in the dying seconds of the final, which he rode through to the channel and was tubed on. He grew up in Wilderness, in South Africa, and began surfing at the age of ten. He spent three years on the World Qualifying Series and reached a highest combined qualifying and championship tour world rating of 32nd. He is known for barrel riding and clean carving manoeuvres and was sponsored by Billabong and Red Bull for most of his professional career. Away from the water he earned a Bachelor of Business Science degree majoring in marketing at the University of Cape Town, worked as marketing manager for Billabong South Africa and then joined Primi World as a marketing manager in 2007. He is the nephew of the Paralympian Richard Holmes.