Nathan van Vuuren Joins Gath Sports Team: A New Chapter for a Full-Throttle Waterman

Gath is proud to announce the newest addition to the Gath Sports Team: Nathan van Vuuren, a South African-born, Hawaii-raised extreme waterman whose deep roots in ocean culture and unwavering passion for wind and wave sports
make him the perfect fit for Gath’s ethos of performance, safety, and style.

Nathan is a full-spectrum waterman—fearless, skilled, and endlessly stoked.
His passion for water sports started young, nurtured by sun-soaked mornings on the shores of Maui, where the surf was both a playground and a classroom.
With the wind in his sail and salt in his blood, Nathan has evolved into a standout rider in the exploding world of wing foiling,
a sport he not only lives and breathes, but actively shapes through both performance and product innovation.

“There’s no better feeling than being out on the water with 30 knots on a wing foil and some firing waves,” says Nathan. “That’s my happy place.”

But Nathan’s story doesn’t start on the podium—it starts with family.

A Legacy Born in the Tropics

Picture a warm Hawaiian sunrise.
A young boy and his father load surfboards into a car on the south shore,
chasing waves before most have had their morning coffee. That’s the origin of Nathan’s journey
a daily ritual that laid the foundation for a family legacy in watersports.

His father, Ivan van Vuuren, is a South African-born water sports pioneer: a former professional athlete, filmmaker, and board shaper who helped document and develop early windsurfing, kitesurfing, and SUP culture.
After moving to Maui in the early ’80s to compete, Ivan found himself drawn to the Aloha spirit and decided to make Hawaii home. It’s where Nathan was born, where the ocean became a second parent,
and where their future as a father-son brand duo was quietly being written.

Years later, the family would relocate to Cape Town, South Africa—a move that brought new winds and waves,
and eventually, the launch of Signature Performance Gear, their globally respected foil brand.
Today, Nathan and Ivan stand as a formidable team, blending innovation, performance,
and style in gear designed by riders, for riders.

Rider. Competitor. Innovator.

Nathan’s competitive record speaks for itself. He placed 2nd in the legendary Molokai 2 Oahu SUP foil event in 2018 and recently took home 3rd at the Wingfoil World Tour in Cape Verde. These aren’t just results—they’re statements of intent from a rider dedicated to pushing the limits of what’s possible on water.

“My goal is simple: keep progressing, compete at the highest level, and have as much fun as possible on the water,” says Nathan.

Cape Town’s Melkbosstrand serves as his current home spot—an ideal launchpad for the high-wind, wave-rich lifestyle that fuels his training, gear testing, and riding. When asked about his all-time favorite location?

“Punta Preta in Cape Verde—when it’s on, it’s the best wing foil and surf wave in the world. The power, the intensity—it’s next level.”

Safety Meets Style: Why Gath?

Nathan’s belief in progression is matched by a strong stance on safety.

“I feel safer wearing a helmet out in the water. It gives me the confidence to push harder and go bigger,” he explains. “Things can go sideways fast in this sport. Protecting your head is just smart.”

His choice? Gath.

“I’ve been using Gath helmets for years. They’ve always been the ultimate water sports helmets. So when the opportunity came up to join the Gath team, I was all in.”

Nathan is particularly stoked about how head protection is evolving with the times: “It’s awesome to see more pros wearing helmets and pushing boundaries. With a Gath, safety looks cool.”

A Message to the Next Generation

For Nathan, the ocean is both a proving ground and a playground—and his message to up-and-comers is simple:

“Wearing a helmet is RAD! As you start going bigger, it’s important to take care of your body so you can keep progressing. Protect yourself, stay stoked, and always send it!”

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From his roots in Maui to the reefs of Cape Town and the big wave playgrounds of the world, Nathan van Vuurenrepresents the next wave of ocean athletes: fast, fearless, and future-focused. Gath is proud to welcome him aboard as we continue to support those pushing boundaries on water—safely and in style.

Welcome to the Gath Sports Team, Nathan!

 

Nathan will be riding with nearly the entire Gath helmet range, including the SFC and GEDI models—Gath’s top-tier designs engineered specifically for high-impact protection and the extreme demands of foiling.

Discover more about the SFC:
https://gathsports.com/product/gath-sfc/

Discover more about the GEDI:
https://gathsports.com/product/gath-gedi/

 

Photo Credit: PremierHawaii.com