The Surf Dream | Omar Sobky | TEDxYouth@CES

Engineer turned surfer Omar Sobky talks about finding his purpose in an alternate field and transforming his hobby into a successful career. By founding the first surf school in Egypt he aligns his career with his true passion. Born and raised in Cairo, Egypt, I'm an athlete with a passion for outdoor sports. With a career of 13 years in the Oil & Gas field, my job has never stopped me from building a deep connection with nature. My corporate path took me to the United States, where I spent 7 years living in the mid-west by the Rocky Mountains. My passion for outdoor sports began with surfing, where riding a wave felt like teaming up with mother
nature. It all started off as play, only to find out that the natural scapes hold the greatest teachings. In 2010, I founded the first Surf School in Egypt. Mean-while, I was pursuing several other sports like climbing, snowboarding, kite surfing and skating. These different activities were carving my understanding of integrating with nature in different ways.
Being the mechanical engineer that I am, I was always interested in the mechanisms of our environment and their interplay with the human body. This ideology pushed me further to formulate another brand of outdoor sports. Its mission is to build a community of outdoor enthusiasts and promote a better way of living, where nature is viewed as an adult playground. I was happy to see what I once viewed as a hobby turn into a seed of a new brand. There comes a point where