In a recent post, I chronicled memorable moments from 2009. One of them included ticking 8 fun as hell items off my Daisy List. Well, as it happens, I managed to tick off another couple before 2009 faded into the distance.
The first of which was number 22: Learn to Surf.
For my partner Chris’ birthday, I bought him a surfing lesson and decided it only fair I join him. After all, I thought, he’d be bored on his own. 
I booked it for while we were in Sydney visiting his family for an early Christmas. I figured they’d enjoy pointing and laughing at us from the beach.
Learning to surf in Sydney is ironic seeing as we live on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, which is known as the “Sunshine State” and is home to some of Australia’s best (and warmest) beaches.
Granted, Sydney has some beautiful beaches too but one thing’s for sure, the water is a hell of a lot colder. Before beginning the lesson, we asked the instructor whether he thought we’d need a wetsuit to which he replied, “Nah, it’s a beautiful day. You’ll get hot in a wetsuit.”
Now, apart from the fact that strangely, learning to surf REQUIRES WATER, Sydney is 1000+km south of the Sunshine Coast, in the direction of the SOUTH POLE!!! When I exclaimed how f****** cold the water was, the instructor said, “Oh yeah, I forgot you guys come from Queensland. Don’t worry, you’ll warm up.” He was right. 10 minutes of paddling in choppy surf sorted the blue, hypothermic limbs out.
For the uninitiated, surfing lessons generally start on the beach where you learn how to get up on the board. Interestingly, at this point, neither of us fell off. Even more interestingly, trying this in the surf was somewhat more of a challenge.
My first attempt resulted in an unceremonious face plant, much to Chris’ delight. Revenge, however, was sweet. Chris’ first attempt reminded me of the Shaolin Monks and their cartwheeling back-flips.
To our surprise though (which was even more of a surprise to the instructor), we both managed to get somewhat upright on our boards after a couple of attempts. We shall disregard the fact that the boards were made of a highly buoyant material and were big enough they could carry a small car. And the fact that I needed a push onto the wave by the instructor because my paddling style was akin to a paper windmill.
Nonetheless, our snowboarding days whilst living in Banff apparently helped with learning to surf.
As they say in the classics, a picture tells a thousand words, or in our case, just one; amateurs…
Chris almost up, although it doesn’t look like this will end well.
Me up and on-board a cracking…20cm ripple.
Chris could almost pass as a pro in this shot (if it wasn’t for his giant, Big Bird yellow, flotation device surfboard).
Wipe out! I don’t know who this was…I’m pretty sure it was Chris.
Layne Beachley look out! I’m coming after your title…with my giant, Big Bird yellow, flotation device surfboard.
Daisy List #22. Learn to Surf – done!
Watch this space for the last Daisy List goal achieved for 2009. Hint: it involves something hairy, and poo.
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Surfer Girl,
Hey!! At least you’ve got water, and not ice!! (i.e. surfing for us would be more like ice skating…) Just sayin’…
And this reminds me of when Lora and I went sky diving – I got that for a birthday gift for her…and decided I’d join in the craziness too! It’s a great bonding moment, right!! Or maybe…at least it’s a moment where we get a really good laugh in!!
You guys look like you had a BLAST!! And that’s what it’s about right…having fun, challenging yourself, learning something new…
I LOVE IT!!!
@Lance
Hey Skydiver Guy! Yep, I suddenly feel very grateful to have done that on water. Had it been attempted on ice, I would have nicely rearranged my face! Actually, if I remember my past ice skating escapades, it would be my butt that would get rearranged! Hmm, come to think of it, maybe that’s not such a bad idea.
There certainly were many laughs, mostly for spectators but hey, I do what I can to help the people!
Too, too funny! Love the pics Sami and well done. Gosh that list is getting shorter. Have you thought about adding more to it?
K
@Kirsty
Thanks Kirsty! You know, it’s amazing how quickly you can tick things off the list when you put your mind to it. Opportunities just seem to present themselves. You’re right, it probably is time to add more to it!
Way to tick another item off the Daisy List, Sami!
I loved reading this post – and seeing your journey, literally on the screen. How cool!
Having lived in Southern Cali about a decade, I had my share of surfing – and girl, the pros make it look soooo easy!!! It’s freaking hard! And, I’m even pretty good a skiing, rollerblading, and such, but surfing is a whole other dimension.
It reminded me of skiing in 1/2-way set up jello – so hard to balance. With that said, it’s very cool you guys got up on your first lesson. That’s great!
I know what you mean about the water, too. Up here in San Fran, there’s no way you’d get me in that water (well, the man-eating sharks make it an unwise thing, too). Down in So Cal, I was always amazed how cold it was getting in and how fast I’d warm up.
Thanks for sharing the pics, darling, you two look great!!! So much fun!!!
@Lori
Thanks Lori! You’re not wrong, surfing is a whole other kettle of fish (pardon the pun!). At least with snowboarding or skiing the mountain doesn’t move underneath you (unless you go over a cliff or into a tree well!). It was heaps of fun though. I can see how people get addicted to it.
As for the water temp, I have to admit I’m a bit precious when it comes to cold water. When we lived in Banff, I always thought how cruel it was that all the lakes and rivers looked so stunning and yet were about minus 4 degrees (Celcius) year round! How is that fair?! At least they were kept pristine. The locals used to swim at a place called Johnson Lake in the summer. It was apparently one of only 2 “warm” lakes around. “Awesome!” I thought, “somewhere to swim!”…then I jumped in. It took my breath away. There was nothing “warm” about it. Apparently it’s generally around 7 degrees. Nope, Banff is not the place to go swimming!
Hi Sami!!!
Love it!!! Surfing is very hard work isn’t it!! I must confess…. I’ve lived on the coast for 28 of my (almost) 32 yrs, and I’ve only had one surfing lesson!!! I didn’t mind the coming in thing,,,, it was the paddling back out that sucked the most!!!!! lol
Which beach were you at??? I’m just about 1hr north of Sydney… next time you’re down this way I’d love for you guys to come up and check out my beautiful part of the world – you’ll have somewhere to crash
Kristy x
Surfing is just like snowboarding… except the mountain is moving too.
It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done, and I’ve done some hard things.
@Kristy
Hi Kristy. Oh yeah, it’s almost blasphemy to live on the coast and not be a surfer!
I can see why you never see a fat surfer too. The paddling out is hard work for sure!
We were at Manly Beach so probably very close to where you live. Thanks heaps for the invite! V kind of you and yes, you’re right, it really is a beautiful part of the world. Thanks for stopping by Kristy.
@Dave
Haha! Yep, it’s not the easiest thing I’ve done either but it’s a great feeling when you get on top of a wave and up on the board. It’s like the feeling you get when you drop into some nice powder.
Hi Sami,
Very cool for learning surfing! It is much harder than it looks but it is so much fun to be out there. I loved the pics too and the board reminded me of a banana but maybe that is because I am kind of hungry at the moment.
By the way, I love the colors of the ocean. Did you take your lesson at Bondi or some other beach?
@Nadia
Thanks Nadia! Had to laugh at your “banana” description of the board. That’s exactly what it looked like! Not too many people can say they surfed a banana!
I was only saying to someone yesterday how the colour of the water looks amazing in the pics. We are SO lucky to have such beautiful beaches here. We were actually at Manly Beach.
Hello Sami!
I want you to know how much I love your Daisy List! Each time you share a story when you tick off another experience, I am inspired all over again. I draw some strength from that as it encourages me to “go for it!” in my life too. Thank you for that! You guys are awesome!
“Chris’ first attempt reminded me of the Shaolin Monks and their cartwheeling back-flips.” That would most likely be me! I’ll probably stick to yoga and jogging.
And it is interesting that you can even learn to surf now in man-made places.
Great pix. And that beach looks so so gorgeous — lucky you! And plucky you – trying something new — awesome!!
@Keith
Thanks so much Keith! So awesome my Daisy List is inspiring you to go for it. In my opinion, that’s what life is all about. You’re welcome by the way!
@Jannie
Thanks Jannie!
Haha! Yeah, I’m eternally grateful we had soft landings, although, Chris did land on his butt in much too shallow water on one occasion.
Sami,
Looks like fun. I love your Daisy list and sent it to my daughter knowing she’d love it as well. Thanks for sharing your fun. It’s very inspiring even if anything in the water isn’t my thing. Loved your description of the surf board!
@Tess
Thanks Tess. I hope your daughter is inspired by it. I know it helps keep me from the “shoulda, woulda, coulda’s” of life!