JACK OF ALL TRADES, MASTER OF ALL
Ostend, to the outsider, and even to the average Belgian gent, is not more than a city tucked away at the shoreline of Belgium. To many, the place is known as a classic European seaside holiday, renowned for its beaches, seafood, entertainment and monuments that make up Ostend’s vivid history. To some, the city is known as the place where Marvin Gaye recovered from his depression and cocaine addiction, all while writing his masterpiece, Sexual Healing. To a very few among us, the lucky ones, Ostend is known as a place where — once every blue moon — the stars align and waves form all along its sandy beaches. Born by the North Sea is a story about the incomparable sensation of riding a wave all the way to the shoreline in these frigid, inconsistent waters. In particular, it is a portrayal of Sascha Borrey, a member of a tight community of Belgian surfers who wait impatiently for those days to come.
Born by the Belgian shore, it was inevitable for Sascha not to fall in love with the ocean and the seaside atmosphere. His mom owned a restaurant on the boulevard right next to the beach, so his days growing up were mostly spent hanging on the waterfront or skating along the esplanade. The love for skateboarding started in his pre-teens, mainly out of a desire to be free and creative. The feeling of gliding on concrete, not having to be on a schedule, and the infinite circle of progression, got Sascha hooked straight away. But it wasn’t until his early teenage years that Sascha discovered the art of surfing. What got initially sparked by a grudge towards one of his friends — who could actually stand up on a board in the water — turned into an exciting journey mastering the craft of riding waves, all kinds of waves.
‘Have you ever heard the saying, jack of all trades, master of none?’ Well, Sascha is actually a master of all of them. Whether it is surfing various shapes or skating different boards, he knows his way around. Blame the unfavorable conditions or the inconsistency of weather patterns, but it’s places where things are hard to find that make you get more creative. Whether it is finding a dry patch to skate on or a knee-high wave hidden in an obscure corner, if you persist, you’ll find a way to do the things you love.
In this video — made by Belgian filmmaker Jade Madoe — Sascha talks about the reward of finding your own wave, the relationship with your craft and the artist building it, and appreciating the things in life often overlooked. Born by the North Sea is a story about how often the right imagination can lead to finding joy and beauty in the unexpected.
Words by Jonas Schilders
Cinematography and stills by Jade Madoe
