Winter’s Day in Queensland. Photo: Shayne Nienaber
Well, it hardly feels like winter. The days are clear and mild, the water is still 22 degrees (that’s Celsius, people). The surf can be variable, but the winds are light and so are the crowds. My local never really gets crowded, so when there is a little pulse running, it can still be the groms, a few neighbors and me.
It is a pretty idyllic time of year on the Sunny Coast (Queensland, Australia), which can struggle for quality and is literally in the shadow of its crazy cousin, the Goldie, and to an extent, it’s drunken uncle Byron. But it is home and surfing with the local crew is always enjoyable.
This weekend was small, super clean, a bit weak but perfect for all the neighborhood grommies to get amongst it. Easy paddle out, knee-to-waist, deep, back bank, spilling to throwing one to two-footers and plenty of hoots for each other.
Despite the recent run of favorable conditions, it can be challenging when your own groms are dead set against going surfing. On days like these, there is not a reason (that I can see) for them not to enjoy themselves. So after 30 minutes of to and fro about why they should come for a surf, I cracked the shits. I know that other dads and mums can struggle to motivate the kids to go surfing, and I have had my fair share of frustration in this space. I am even aware of an absolute ripper on the ‘QS who said, “dad used to pay me to come surfing…”
So my shit cracking escalated, I became directive and said, “get your wettie on, grab your board and come with me!” The short walk to our beachie was very quiet. We got to the beach and some of the heaviness of the journey lifted when son two and three realized the surf was as I had described it and perfect to catch a couple and have some fun.
After some encouragement, we paddled out and took our place in the lineup. The session itself was alright, but the outcome was what I had hoped for. Son two and three were stoked, chatty, smiling, and they had had fun. They had given it a go, which was all I had asked.
I was proud of their efforts and the thought lingers about what they have at their doorsteps, that many don’t, but I guess you encourage your kids to have a go and reward them when they do.
It did, however, take all of my freakin’ control not to kick them in the dot for the carry-on before we got going and even more control not to, “I told you so” about how much fun they had.
My takeaway: do good, have fun.
