From Samoa to South Georgia: The Waterman Journey of Jason Latham

From the riverbanks of South Georgia to world-class waves in American Samoa, Jason Latham’s life has always been guided by the ocean. A proud Samoan American and true waterman, he moves easily between surfing, stand-up paddling, foiling, and wing foiling. Rooted by his Polynesian heritage, Jason sees the ocean as both playground and teacher; a source of discipline, healing, and joy. His journey has taken him from the ISA World Surfing Games and Olympic trials to running J.LAY SUP and surf camps, serving as a wildland firefighter, and raising a family.

In this spotlight, Jason shares how surfing has influenced his identity, community, sobriety, and the way he approaches life. His story and surfing skills inspire us and we hope you enjoy this spotlight as much as we do.

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Q. Can you briefly introduce yourself?

Jason: Hello/ Talofa ! My name is Jason Latham and I was originally born in American Samoa and raised in rural South Georgia from ages 1-18. (Specifically Brantley County, Georgia.) I now reside in Glynn County, an area we call the Golden Isles, Georgia. (Georgia Coast: between Savannah, GA and Jacksonville Florida.)

I was raised up along the Satilla River in Brantley County, GA and after graduating high school I moved to American Samoa to catch up with my mother’s side of the family and my strong Polynesian roots. It was an easy and strategic move knowing the surf was world class and it was an opportunity to surf uncrowded (tropical) waves while trying to balance schoolwork. Haha! Honestly it was always surfing 1st, school 2nd! LOL!

I later discovered that the ocean was a school of infinite life lessons in itself and I have learned more from the ocean than any organized institution.

Q. You’re a versatile waterman, excelling in surfing, stand up paddle boarding, foiling, and even wing foiling (among others we may have missed). How did you get into these different water sports, and do you have a favorite that captures your heart the most?

Jason: Thank you! Yes, I absolutely love riding different water crafts and pretty much sum it up by saying I love to ride what I feel the ocean calls for on any given day I’m granted the opportunity to go out and enjoy its offerings. I was inspired by my father (Sam Latham) and Uncle (West DeGive) to start pursuing wave riding, both who were surfers back in the 1960’s growing up in Central Florida and told me inspiring stories of riding hurricane swells and dawn patrols. My dad was also a marine biologist and that’s one way he ended up in American Samoa as a diver biologist studying the marine life/coral reefs and eventually meeting my mom who was born and raised in Samoa. I started off riding waves just body surfing when I was about 3, then body boarding up until I was 11. Short boarding came next when I was 12. Long boarding/SUP didn’t come in my life until I moved from Samoa to Hawaii and I was teaching surf lessons for the Hans Hedemann Surf School at the Turtle Bay Resort (North Shore). (Now it’s the Jamie O’Brien Surf School). We would use longboards to teach the surf lessons and it was a natural progression to start riding longboards for fun.

A classic story about how I got into SUP: It all started at Turtle Bay around 2012 and I was trying to keep my seniority strong at the surf school and work as much as possible when I got the call to go into work. It was a slower Sunday afternoon and the legendary surfer Bobby Owen’s was managing the school as it turned out I was the only instructor on duty that day. Bobby then asked me to do the SUP demo for the hotel which basically is just grabbing a SUP and paddle and going out in front of the hotel for a quick paddle to demonstrate SUP. (Generate interest). Without hesitation and not mentioning I had never tried SUP, :| I nodded my head in agreement, picked up the paddle and board, and went straight out to the cove for the demo. Funny part was I was doing the demo for the surf school but it also happened to be my first time ever on an SUP and had no prior instruction myself. Lol! The rest was history. I figured it out eventually after a good amount of time spent in the water experimenting, falling, and lots of laughing. I instantly loved the challenge, especially catching waves!

Flash forward to today and I would say SUP surfing is my favorite discipline of wave riding. Mind you, I am a taller surfer (6’3 and close to 200lbs) so I felt like the bigger boards matched up well with my style and body type. Aside from that, there is also something that feels very ancient or primal that draws me to it and just feels really natural. Other reasons are the fact that I can catch small waves which suits the area I live (Georgia), but also for the fact that I can catch really big waves too which I love and have a deep passion for.

Q. Your Polynesian heritage plays a big role in your identity. How has your Samoan background, where surfing is deeply rooted in culture, influenced your approach to the sport and life?

Jason: My Samoan roots and heritage play a huge role in the person I am and how I live my life. I have a strong family base and a deep love built around respect for culture and traditions. I honestly feel like I have a deeper purpose on this earth to be the best waterman I can be. It’s designed in my DNA from birth to live in harmony with the water and also share this gift with others. (Share the Stoke!) The islands of Samoa were once called the “Navigator Islands” for their incredible ability as sea farers to navigate the ocean so well using the stars as a map and guidance to other islands throughout the pacific. I know that there is a much deeper connection than just the pure enjoyment I get from the water. There is a duty or even a responsibility inside of me to carry on a legacy on the water. This legacy is not just for me, but for everyone I have the privilege to meet in my everyday life, through business, and the people closest to me to share this gift that the energy and “stoke” that the water provides.

Q. You’ve competed at high levels, from the ISA World Surfing Games for Team Samoa to the Olympic trials in El Salvador. Can you walk us through your journey from South Georgia to these global stages?

Jason: Yes, I am so grateful to have the wonderful opportunity to compete at high levels of surfing and one of the only surfers to compete in Longboarding, Shortboarding, and Stand Up Paddle surfing in the ISA. Coming from South Georgia, this was never thought to be in the cards for me. I loved surfing enough to pursue it at my personal highest level, but I never imagined the places it has taken me, the amazing people I’ve met, and the beautiful cultures I’ve got to experience. I competed a bit growing up (age 15-16) but honestly never had pleasant experiences and always felt like such an outcast.

It wasn’t until I gained more experience traveling, living in Samoa and Hawaii, and then later moving back to Georgia that I felt confident and ready to get back and pursue competitive surfing again. (Age 24)

That’s when I went on to invest full energy into competition and ended up winning an East Coast Surfing Championship (2015) and as a result, I gained sponsorship to travel, compete, and earn a salary marketing my supporters.

Q. As a father, you balance running J.LAY SUP and surf camps, wildland firefighting, and working part time as a trainer at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, all while surfing professionally and traveling. What do you find is the key to balancing all of it, and how do your passions all fuel you to be a better father, worker, surfer, and human?

Jason: believe the key to balancing out what I do is maintaining a clear mindset and consistency in everyday life. This involves my dedication to my sobriety and staying present as much as possible. (Showing up each day 100% as possible). Just over a year ago, I made the decision to get completely sober just to try something new and see how it affected my life. As a 15 year old kid, I started binge drinking and experimenting with other mind altering substances pretty early on, so I pretty much had never experienced a completely clear mind/body up until October of last year.

Another huge factor was my son Nua coming into the world 2 years ago and him, along with my 6 year old daughter Neia, and beautiful wife Jesy, I realized that balancing and sustaining the life I wanted to live and balancing everything out was nearly impossible without me being all in 100%. It’s only recently that I feel I am starting to unlock my fullest potential because of the positive decisions and sacrifices I’ve made out of the water. All of my passions keep me mentally, physically, and spiritually strong and motivated to wake up striving to be the best version of myself each day. My family and the water are my fuel to live everyday to the fullest!

Q. You’re working on a documentary exploring your Samoan heritage family, and career as a pro waterman. Has exploring storytelling, and your life in this way, shifted your perspective in any unexpected ways?

Jason: The documentary I’m currently working on has definitely changed my perspective in many positive aspects. The main thing is consciously realizing that there is a documentary being made and working hard to create the genuine story that I want to share with the world. Every day I think about all the setbacks, or what I thought to be negative experiences that have actually turned out to be my biggest blessings by shaping me into the human being I am today.

There has been a lot of reflection and realization about my past that shooting the documentary has put things into clearer perspective and made more so much more aware about. A good example would be that I do not believe there is such a thing as failure, only growth and life lessons. The documentary has also helped me to understand what is truly most important to me in the present and makes me want to focus more on those things like my presence with my family and making sure that I’m making every day and each moment count.

My story is unique and I hope to inspire viewers to see past criticism, find the courage to face your fears, and follow your passions no matter what your background is like or what area they come from geographically. You can be anything that you are capable of imagining in your mind!

Q. What role does surfing play in your life, and how has it shaped your community?

Jason: Surfing brings pure positivity and peace to my life. The person I am after a surf is what I call the best version of myself and it doesn’t matter what happens after that salt water therapy session. The world could be coming to an end and I would feel peaceful and content to make the most of the situation. Lol! That’s what surfing is for me though, it’s a meditation, a spiritual practice (feeling closer to God), ticking all the boxes of what’s good for us; most importantly, good health (physical, mental, spiritual).

I believe that there are more surfers than ever before in my region of southeast Georgia today. I feel like surfing has and continues to take off worldwide along with Coastal Georgia for all the best reasons. People are noticing how surfing continues to positively impact lives, exercising mind/body without hardly realizing how much exercise you’re getting because it’s just so much fun, and greatly improving overall wellbeing in and out of the water. Everyone can benefit from feeling the stoke!

The ocean and surfing are both the best teachers of wisdom, freedom, and adaptability. I’m stoked to say that I’m taking part in a movement towards the water/waves in my community. Just being able to share the stoke of surfing/water sports with others is one of the greatest gifts that I have been blessed with to offer the world.

Q. What advice would you give to someone interested in experiencing the surf culture of Georgia, and what unique aspects should they know about surfing in the region?

Jason: The best advice I would give to someone wanting to experience surf culture in Georgia is that nothing comes easy or served up on a platter for you. Familiarize yourself with the tides and get to know them well before you go out. Don’t just go out. Target incoming to high tides because pretty much all of the breaks in Georgia rely on the tidal push coming in to bring the most energy and break to its full potential. Like most beach breaks, the sandbars are constantly shifting and it also helps to see a break at low tide to understand why it breaks the way it does at high tide. Don’t be afraid to chat with a local surfer or even call someone like myself for advice on where to surf or what’s currently happening in the local waters to save yourself precious time, energy, and money. Be cautious of surfing past high tides as the tide turns and starts to go out! (Outgoing tide) Outgoing tide proposes great hazards or life threatening situations.

The local surfers in Georgia are also some of the coolest and most easy going and pleasant surfers I have ever experienced anywhere in the world. The majority of Georgia surfers would love to share a wave with you or answer any questions you may have. The vibes are good :)

Q. What lessons do you hope to pass onto your children from watching you pursue your passions?

Jason: The lessons I hope to pass on to my children are realizing how powerful pursuing passions can be, the incredible places it can take you in life, and discovering true fulfillment. Pursuing your passions can make all the difference in how you feel when you wake up each day, provide you with purpose, and help bring out the best version of yourself to share with the world.

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Follow Jason's journey here

Photography by (in order of appearance): Steve Sjuggerud, Ivan Rivera, Angelo Cordero, Greg Bartush, Eric Nappier, Ash Kelly, Ivan Rivera, Betty Haynes