We did it. We moved. This is our first update from the new headquarters up North. We are spending a lot of time exploring at the moment and I can tell you gidgets…I feel like a kid in a candy store. Absolutely fantastic waves up here…almost every surf I went for was an epic session and according to the locals it’s not even the best time of the year for surfing at the moment. Can’t wait to see what it looks like when it’s really good…
It also has been a steep learning curve. These are the things I’ve learnt so far:
No crowds (well, compared to Bondi anyway)
Yesterday, I went for a surf at the beachie of my new local Lennox Head. And far out, it was so much fun. 3ft glassy perfection. A nice rolling wave. Just the way I like it. A whale was breeching in the background and dolphins (definitely dolphins) were playing behind the breakers. I was out there by myself on one break at first (well, there were other people on some of the other breaks further down) and then a local older guy joined in. We were having a bit of a chat and I told him how awesome it is that it’s not crowded. His answer: “oh well it’s not always like this…you should have seen it on the weekend…there were at least 70 people in the water.” Sounds like a lot right…but he was actually counting 70 people on a stretch of 5km with at least ten decent banks…ha if that’s what they call crowded…
I guess the pass in Byron gets quite busy and so are the points when it’s firing but until now, I haven’t even found anyone to drop in on ;-)
I’m the new kid on the block – eek
Being used to Bondi where I’d surfed for the past ten years and known lots of people in the line-up, it’s really a bit weird to paddle out not knowing anyone. Well, I guess I need to remember, I did not know anyone in Bondi either when I first started. Smile and don’t drop in (which is pretty hard here anyway – see above).
The other thing that does my head in a bit…I knew exactly which conditions worked best around the Eastern suburbs and Northern Beaches of Sydney. Up here, it’s of course totally different. So I’m back to meticulously checking the surf report and see how tides, winds and swell directions affect local beaches. A few times, I saw NW winds and I was like: Oh awesome…offshore…ah hang on…not offshore here. But Southerly winds which were bad in my old hood, work quite well on some of the points….total headf$%&
Gidgets rule
It’s awesome to see so many girls in the water. There are heaps of women surfing up here. The All Girls Surfriders – the local Girls Surf Club – is apparently massive with a big focus on encouraging mini gidgets and have some fantastic talent in their ranks. Gooo ladies.
Must learn how to nose-ride finally
On the smaller days, the points are soooooo much fun with the longboard. The waves go forever and ever and ever and ever. It’s time to learn how to cross step properly. I’m still shuffling my way to the nose but no more excuse…Oh well…except…the board excuse…I need of course a proper noserider before I can learn. There is always a good excuse to get a new board…haha…
Wildlife is friendly but creepy
Absolutely loving it here. The only thing that’s causing me a bit of trouble in paradise is the local wildlife. And no, I’m not talking about sharks. Not talking about whales and dolphins (who would be bothered by them anyway). No, I’m talking about snakes. Massive snakes. PYTHONS!!! No one ever told me this but apparently they are bloody everywhere. WTF? Nothing for the fainthearted Austrian who has not grown up with snakes (that would be me). But then no one who lives here seems to bat an eyelid when I tell them about my encounter with a couple of 6ft snakes…I guess you’ll get used to anything…I hope.
All in all, life is certainly much slower and much more relaxed here away from the big smoke. It reminds me a bit of our Surf&Yoga Escape spot in Manyana. It’s just so chilled and the stresses of living in a big city just drop away. No traffic, no crazy energy. It’s so goooooood ladies!
Stay tuned and we’ll keep you posted on any new VGG adventures once we’ve figured it all out up here. In the meantime, you can still get your piece of paradise three hours South of Sydney in one of our other fave spots Manyana.
Happy Surfing
X Claudia
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