30-year-old Ivorian surf coach Souleymane Sidibe is relishing the opportunity to learn from the "pros" as he competes in the Africa Surf Tour at his home beach of Assinie, the first time Ivory Coast has hosted this continent-wide contest. "For us who haven't had the opportunity to travel much, it's a chance to gain experience and learn from these guys, who are really strong," he says. Some in the West African nation want it to harness its long coastline to become a surfer's paradise. "More Ivorians want to try a new discipline, which means that surfing is currently booming," says Souleymane Sidibe. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES ARRANGED IN SEQUENCES N°36YU9KU