2024 was not the ideal year for the surfer from Kovalam, Kerala. In addition to missing out on qualifying for the Asian meet that year in Maldives, Ramesh lost his father, and encountered other personal issues. “I felt discouraged by all of this. Despite having good support then, I didn’t have moral support. Then I reset my mind, moved on from it, and trained hard,” he said.

Ramesh felt that training in Bali, Indonesia in April this year with high performance coaches helped him improve on his technique. He had to fund the trip, the coaching fees and the equipment out of his own pockets. But it was the sessions with Indian national team coach Samai Reboul that helped Ramesh mentally. “He helped the team improve their mindsets and our self belief,” he said. Training for the last three years in the conditions of Mahabalipuram has also given him edge.

Growing up in Kovalam in Kerala with his mother, who sold handicraft items, Ramesh’s tryst with surfing came when he studied at the Sebastian Indian Social Project (SISP), which was the educational wing of the Kovalam Surf Club, an NGO. It was Belgian tourist and teacher Jelle Rigole, who taught him surfing lessons and played an important role in shaping him as a surfer.