Duuuuude…
I went surfing for the first time back in Newquay in Cornwal about 8 years ago. Here, I was lucky enough to get a private lesson (friend of a friend type thing) which meant that I was able to stand up by the end of the lesson. I remembered how much fun it had been back then, and was so eager to get back out on the board in Spot X, one of the places that the Oz Experience will take you to on the way up the East Coast.
It will cost you AU$50 to stay here, but that includes a buffet style dinner, buffet style breakfast, your four hour surf lesson the next day, and an incredible lunch after you get back to the camp (which is optional and if you do not want to have it you can knock AU$5 off the price of the stay, but believe me, you will WANT to have this lunch!).
The night before you get your lesson, after dinner, there’s a chance for you to get to know your fellow surfers and your instructors over a camp fire, a guitar, and a box of goon. Cue some slightly inebriated camp fire sing alongs. I love my job.
The next morning it’s straight out onto the water. And I am proud to say that I got standing on my first try. It then took me a further 45 minutes to do it again. Beginners luck indeed. Once you have the hang of it though, it gets addictive, and I can see why these guys do it for a living. I can also see why they are so fit, after four hours of this I was exhausted and all my muscles were aching. The most exercise I’ve done in a long while.
Nearer the end of the lesson, myself and Charlie, a guy I met on the bus, were getting up the board most of the times we caught a wave. And as they started to call everyone back into the beach, we went out to catch our last couple of bigger waves.
On the penultimate surf, we both started paddling under a wave about 2 metres high (this might be inaccurate, but to me, this wave was 2 metres high) and after a bit of a wobble both got up and standing. Realising how close we were standing to each other, we high-fived, and promptly fell off. How many times can you say you have done that?
Again, I love my job.
Matt M
Hey,
What is your youtube channel? I am struggling to find any videos about your trip, only a couple so far!
Also, where is Becky? Is it true that she has quit the STA trip and has flown home early? I heard that there was pandemonium when she was picked for the trip, everybody was saying she was unsuitable…
Hi Amanda,
The youtube channel is http://www.youtube.com/mystatravel but the best place to check for all the latest updates is the homepage http://www.worldtravellerintern.co.uk/. Matt’s just uploaded 6 great new videos
Unfortunately Becky did have to fly home early due to family reasons but Matt is doing a cracking job so will be continuing to fit in as many crazy adventures and updates as possible!
Happy viewing,
STA Travel
I see. Will you be sending out the runner up in replacement? It seems like such an amazing chance, and a shame for there only to be one intern after all the applicants…
Thanks for the videos Matt!