Cashing in: A day trip surfing the NSW far south coast

The last months or so has been pretty hectic at work with little time for recreational pursuits. Fortunately I work for an understanding, flexible organisation, and when a rare winter northeast swell was predicted I took the opportunity to cash in my overtime and head to the coast. I left the mountains in the afternoon and had my tent pitched at the beach by 6:30. A takeaway burger and an episode of Game of Thrones and I was fast asleep and cosy in my sleeping bag.

Country living!

Sunset at the coast

I woke at dawn. There is no rush to get into the surf on the far south coast of NSW. Even during school holidays, the endless options and cold water keeps the crowds down. I had a fantastic surf at Moruya breakwall alone.

Good morning

The breakwall

Beautiful waves!

After my first surf, I spent an hour driving around on reconnaissance looking for options for another trip. I found this great setup but didn't have time to trek out to it.

Around Broulee

Saving this for next time

There is a rivermouth in the area that I have heard whispers about. Stuck behind the retiree drivers I slowly made my way out to the entrance. Checking a new spot, especially with good swell and offshore winds, leads to extreme excitement. I sprinted the last 50m and took in the sight of left and right peelers with no one out. I couldn't jump in my wetsuit fast enough.

Chunky rivermouth right handers

and the left

Who needs indo!

It was an incredible surf, perhaps one of the best of my life. Certainly the best in recent memory.

I had a quick bite to eat and it was onto the next nameless, empty beach. Punchy right hand wedges. My arms were shattered from the two hours spent battling the river mouth currents but I had to get back out there.

onto the next beach, punchy right handers wedging off an outer bombora

Yewww!

I lasted probably another hour or so before a rouge set washed me back into shore. With all my muscles burning and cramping I decided to call it a day. I got back into the mountains just in time to watch the sunset over the endless horizon, a fantastic, rejuvenating 24 hours.

Sunset on the Monaro Plains

Turning 30

Over the past few months I have been readying myself for the supposed entry into maturity that is turning 30. Like most of my friends who have already moved out of the 20’s, I have had a few minor spin outs, but have in general approached the impeding milestone with ambivalence.

The big day came just over a week ago. I was firstly spoilt by H with amazing presents that she had arranged. An Atomic Coffee Maker courtesy of her family in the UK, a Kindle from friends in Sydney and flights booked to Tasmania to do the Overland Track! We are booked in for late September, outside the official season and still quite wintery, just how I like it. For Holly to book such a trip is amazing considering her love of warm beach type holidays. I was and am stoked with these incredibly thoughtful pressies.

Awesome pressies

Arriving at work, I was greeted with 20-30cm of fresh powder, thankyou snow gods!

Fresh out on the Paralyser

Fresh snow around Blue Cow

After getting amongst it in the morning it was time for that fabulous office tradition, cake. Our very own resident pâtissière Carmen, although not at work at the moment, had made me a delicious chocolate cake and 30 mini cheese cakes.

Yum, cake!

On Friday afternoon, we took the well worn road up to Sydney to celebrate with friends and family. We had the most delicious dinner at Jamie’s Italian in the CBD. The antipasti plate was incredible with the best prosciutto I have ever eaten. Most of us went for the fresh pasta options for our mains, I had the chilli prawn linguine. Troy, my sister’s boyfriend, took on the 650g t-bone steak for two, by himself! It was a great night and we left with full bellies and warm hearts.

The fun continued the following morning when Holly and I went to my cousins café at Bronte for breakfast with my Aunt and some of la famiglia who are always in the café getting their coffee fix. As usual the breakfast and coffee were outstanding.

From Bronte, we went north to Manly to pick up my final present, a handcrafted surfboard made by Neal Purchase Jr. Neal makes the most incredible stub quads, single fins and other planing boards. Holly, a bunch of friends and my family had organised a beautiful blue stub quad for me. Massive thanks to the fellas at The Shop Next Door for pulling all the stops to get my new board to Sydney on time, cheers! I was keen to surf my new board but I would have to wait a couple days as it had only recently been glassed.

Neal Purchase Jr 5'8 Quad

We spent that night partying with new friends and old in the city. It was so great to catch up with so many of my friends and see everyone having a good time. I took bugger all photos, which is a shame but here a couple.

Team Canada from Sunshine Village, Banff 05/06

Headbanging?

I woke slightly hungover to a full house on Sunday. Mum and Dad had arranged for more friends to come round for breakfast. Again, it was great to catch up with everyone.

By this time I was well in need of a salt water cleansing. Unfortunately, although there was plenty of swell, a raging southerly was creating wild conditions for surfing.

Big south swell at Maroubra

Bombs breaking out at sea

A few people bobbing around at South Maroubra

However, I did have one secluded and rarely surfed left hander in mind. I grabbed my Dad’s beautiful Mark Rabbidge 8’1 and hit it. I got a couple of nice windy lefts, clearing the cobwebs.

Secret windy lefts

Dad's Rabbidge

Jumping off, I waited ages for a break in the swell

Windy late takoff

We had a quiet night at home on Sunday and prepared for the drive back to the mountains. Although the weather had cleared and was an unseasonal 26 degrees, the surf was still wild and out of control on Monday morning. I was keen to use my new board but it wasn’t looking good. I had an inkling that a fickle reef at Coogee may be breaking. We checked it and there was the odd wave coming through. My board probably hadn’t fully cured but it was time to get it wet.

Coogee outer reef on the my new Neal Purchase Jr quad

Although the surf was pretty crappy and I only got a few waves, the board went unreal. I can’t wait to get it back in the water.

It was finally time to hit the road back to the mountains. Thanks to everyone who eased my transition from a surfing and skiing bum of my 20’s into a minimally mature 30 something. Special thanks to Holly for making it all come together. I’m stoked to have such amazing and thoughtful friends and family and am looking forward to all the adventures that the 30’s offer, yew!

Thanks everyone!