Fear Is Fuel

Always up for an adventure, Michael Brosnihan, or “Brossie”, has a unique ability to motivate and bring people together. Whether it’s a skateboarding mission to the KwaDabeka pump track – complete with boerie rolls and extra decks for local kids – a sunset bonfire on the beach, or skimming across the foamy surf after work, Brossie’s infectious lust for life and boundless stoke get people moving, rallying them for a good time wherever he goes.

He is the quintessential adrenaline junkie. The list of death-defying antics he has pulled off suggests that fear is Brossie’s oxygen. “I love pushing my limits. Scary things make me feel like I’m really living,” he says.

From freediving with sharks off Aliwal Shoal, to tow-skimming (being towed over water while riding a skimboard) 15-ft waves reaching speeds of 70km/h at the “Mound” in Durban, and surviving a near-catastrophic static line jump from an aeroplane, where he somehow untangled himself from a fall-line wrap-over and still landed squarely on the bright orange competition mat to win, Brossie admits he feels fear. But it is the “hormonal avalanche”, the surge of natural chemicals that prepares the body for survival while triggering the brain’s pleasure and reward centres, that he chases for a more organic “high”.

“I am a nutter,” he laughs, recalling a downhill skateboarding race along Florida Road that he completed with raw hands after crashing in the first run without gloves.

His extreme pursuits and high-energy personality have even earned him a feature on CNN’s African Voices. But beneath the hard-core adventure façade lies a philanthropic spirit that gives his pursuits purpose. “I love giving back,” he says. He sees board sports as a metaphor for overcoming obstacles in life. When you fall, you get back up, and you keep going.

He founded Evolve Academy 031, through which he uses board sports as a vehicle for youth development. Operating under the slogan “My Life on Board”, the programme aims to “evolve” children into high performers by teaching focus, resilience and coordination through outdoor activities such as skateboarding, surfing and lifesaving. Drawing on his own background in lifesaving, which has seen him complete several heroic rescues, some earning bravery awards, he also educates children on ocean safety, tides and currents.

Ten years ago, Brossie faced one of his greatest challenges when lumbar spondylosis threatened to derail his active lifestyle. “Doctors told me I was on the verge of paralysis. I was bedridden, my back frozen in a hunched position for a month,” he says. Refusing surgery, he turned to a biokineticist to rebuild his strength from the inside out. Today, he maintains his fitness through calisthenics; a form of strength training that uses body weight for resistance.

Committed to health and constantly trying new things, Brossie also turned to the kitchen during the lockdown, creating Brossie’s Magic Potion, an all-natural chilli sauce that, he says, “has bang for your buck”.

From adrenaline-fuelled exploits to giving back, and even a fiery side hustle, Brossie’s life is driven by the same ethos: push limits, uplift others, and keep the stoke alive.

Photos: CK Designs