Miles Masterson Communications

30/01/2026

28/01/2026

Stoked that the first consignment of 'The Oom' books delivered to my distributor Blue Weaver in December resulted in a 90%+ sell-through!

After chasing several book distributors through the back half of last year, only to be turned down or not responded to by most, the Blue Weaver contract came through in November, just in time for the summer season.

'The Oom' smashed it, with scores of books sold across SA, including landlocked places like Sandton, Malmesbury and Mooi River even. I've just delivered the second consignment, available in most leading bookstores across SA, Takealot and Airport Retail Concessions – or if it isn't, please ask for it!

Thanks to Blue Weaver and all the bookshops and book chains that ordered 'The Oom', seen here at the front of the store at Exclusive Books at Somerset Mall in Somerset West, who have sold almost two dozen copies of 'The Oom' alone to date.

So if you haven't got a copy yet, you have no excuses now.

A great way to start the year! Thanks for the support.



(Photos Justin Healy / )

19/01/2026

Stoked to see my book 'The Oom - The Biography of South African Water Sports Pioneer John Whitmore' on the shelves of some mainstream bookstores this summer - including Constantia Exclusive Books and Wordsworth in Long Beach Mall, Sun Valley (pictured).

I secured nationwide distribution for the book late last year, in time for the December holidays, so holding thumbs it has sold as well in the book stores as it has online and in the surf shops!

Get a copy in the book stores or surf stores - or better yet, purchase a numbered copy, signed by the author, with a limited-edition Whitmore Surfboards sticker for R495 at www.johnwhitmorebook.com

'The Oom' is also available as an ebook – all links in bio.

Thanks for the support!

11/12/2025

Surf Expo Africa Makes a Huge Splash in Cape Town; The Oom book raises R7,000± for NGO Protect the West Coast

I’m super stoked to have been involved in the first Surf Expo Africa at the CTICC in Cape Town recently. The first event of its kind in the Mother City for more than two decades, it was so cool to see the gathering of surf and ocean-sports related businesses and NGOs. Well-attended over the three days and full of good vibes, shakas, networking, business deals, long lost reunions, great attractions, talks, live music and displays like the live shaping bay, the event was a resounding success. Well done to the organisers and sponsors!

Apparently, the ocean-sports sector contributes more than R2 billion a year to the local economy, and is growing at 20% annually, not to mention its lure as tourism attraction. So surely SEA is a long-overdue celebration of ocean-inspired entrepreneurship and market potential. I say entrepreneurship as this year’s debut event did not enjoy the presence of any the larger legacy surf brands, but rather was supported by medium and smaller brands, start-ups, a few retailers, ocean-orientated environmental and community NGOs and manufacturers – the youngest of whom, Will from Trinity Surf, is only 14 years old.

Judging from SEA, future for this industry looks bright indeed. Hopefully, more brands and companies will support this amazing initiative next year, as Surf Expo Africa, I think, is set to grow from this humble and solid beginning into something truly special.

A big thanks to SEA for letting me give a talk on the founder of the ocean sports industry in Cape Town, the subject of my recent biographical book, John ‘The Oom’ Whitmore, along with my guests, surf legends Robin Solomon, Peter Wright and Bernie Shelly.

This was followed by a talk by PTWC MD Schlebach. Half of all my book sales at the expo went to the environmental NGO of which I am Comms Manager, Protect the West Coast, and I am stoked to say we sold dozens of books and raised more than R7,000 for the organisation.

Thanks also to Pippa Hudson from (who broadcast live at the event on the Friday) for the opportunity to talk about my book on her show.

Personally was also great to check out the shaping bay, where my friend and shaper Justin Healy of Waveworx surfboards and several other shapers made boards for a charity raffle for Sentinel Ocean Alliance (SOA), watch the talks by ocean luminaries such as big wave surfer Matt Bromley and free diver and activist Hanli Prinsloo among many others, and to hang around talking story with all manner of surfing and ocean sports legends, long lost buddies and stoked groms.

SEA you next year!

www.surfexpoafrica.com
www.johnwhitmorebook.com
www.protectthewestcoast.org

28/11/2025

Stoked to see on with I'm up next to talk about my book on the founder of the surf industry in Cape Town John Whitmore next after the news.

22/11/2025

I'm down at the Kommetjie Festival on a beautiful morning right where John Whitmore rode the first wave at The Kom in the mid 1950s. A fitting place to get your signed copy of my book 'The Oom - The Biography of South African Water Sports Pioneer John Whitmore ' for R495!

15/11/2025

We down at Llandudno lifesaving club for the Cape Town Surf Riders Champs and rugby this arvo. Pull in and get yourself a signed copy of The Oom

11/11/2025

My biography on John 'The Oom' Whitmore is now an ebook. Print copies are also flying out the door, get your signed, numbered copy while you still can! Order online at www.johnwhitmorebook.com or get your ebook version at Amazon Kindle: https://bit.ly/493r77D or Books2Read: https://bit.ly/4qNIHCM

28/10/2025

Please join Protect the West Coast for The Ripple Effect Public Gathering and surfer Paddle Out in Langebaan on November 1. Save the date for a day of activism, awareness and community as we issue a critical call to protect South Africa’s West Coast from illegal and destructive mining practices, and instead champion alternative, sustainable economic activity that protects the environment and benefits all the people who call this land their home.

How to get involved:

- Join the gathering and/or paddle out in Langebaan at the Bree Street beach carpark at 10.30am on Saturday 1 November, or orchestrate your own paddle out at your home break!

- Share photos and tag us on social media with hashtags:


- Follow and and share the campaign content on social media to amplify awareness!

Sign our petition to urge lawmakers to place a moratorium on new mining until a cumulative impact study kickstarts an inclusive, sustainable economic plan for the future of the West Coast

https://mailchi.mp/protectthewestcoast/the-ripple-effect-petition

If you have any further questions please give me a shout or email [email protected]

09/10/2025

Stoked to be representing and South Africa at the summit in Santa Cruz California with

29/09/2025

Several years ago I clearly remember walking into Exclusive Books in Cavendish and visualising my second book – The Oom - The Biography of South African Water Sports Pioneer John Whitmore – on the shelves. A flight of fancy and overly ambitious perhaps for a massive project that on and off consumed a decade of my life, but one that burned deep within me.

Fast forward to 2025 it was deeply satisfying to seek my own work out on the bookshop shelf. While I have personally distributed the book to scores of surf shops up and down the SA coast and a few coffee shops etc, apart from Bargain Books in Jeffreys Bay (who have already sold several) and Village Book Shop in Plett, this is the only other book shop that has taken any copies.

Seven to be exact, they took three a while back and sold them all, and have just ordered another four – two are located in the Sports section (next to books by Shaun Tomson and Kelly Slater), and two in the Biography section.

I’m still trying to obtain wider national distribution for my book – which has sold so well through surf stores and direct online, I am seriously considering another print run – to get it into book stores for Christmas, so there is still a lot of work to do, but for now I can at least be super stoked and grateful that we made it this far!

I say ‘we’, while I am doing most of it by myself, I could not have done it without the support and encouragement of my long-suffering family, plus designer and production ace Jacque Smit, and editors Steve Pike and Richard Asher, who also created the Ebook version, which is also now live!

To get a hard copy head down to Exclusive Books Cavendish (or Bargain Books Jeffreys Bay, Village Book Shop Plett and almost every surf shop from Cape Town to PE, and most recently Groundswell Surf Shop in Ballito).

Order online at www.johnwhitmorebook.com for a signed, numbered copy that comes with a limited edition Whitmore Surfboards sticker (while sticker stocks last).

Or get it Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FSYJB2XT

Or other Ebook platforms (including Apple and Kobo): https://books2read.com/u/38p55L

I'll also put the links in my bio. Thanks for the support!

15/06/2025

Stoked to deliver a batch of John Whitmore biographies to Country Feeling in J-Bay and pay homage to the legend, I'm around St Francis for another day or so, so if you are in the area, hit me up if you want to get a signed copy from me personally!

John Whitmore Book Project

'The Oom - The Biography of South African Water Sports Pioneer John Whitmore' is also available to order online at:

www.johnwhitmorebook.com

Link also in bio.