Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
So on to Surfers Paradise it was for me (Thank god!!). I arrived late morning on Saturday to the most beautiful blue skies. Just how you would imagine a placed called Surfers Paradise. I had dumped my bags at my hostel, as in Noosa I had heard there was an Olympic distance Triathlon with an international field taking place that day. After a 30 minute walk around the bay I arrived at the Triathlon location, went and bought a fruit smoothie and found a comfortable place to watch the start and the swim section. The women competitors went off first, but it was the mens race that I had come to see as I recognised a few of the competitors, especially the british men. Fastforward 4 hours and it was the mens final section (the run) that was becoming really interesting as it was a Brit versus a Aussie guy battling out for the win. Unfortunatley it was Aussie guy who won the day! It was really exciting seeing an International Triathlon event in the flesh. It has really whetted my appetite to start training and competing when I get back to the UK.
The evening was less athletic! I had arranged to meet an austrian girl called Micheala who I had met in Cairns for a drink. We had a fabulous time chatting and catching up. We got talking to a couple of Aussie girls (don't remember there names!) and they recommended we should visit a bar called the minus 5 club. Its actually a bar that has everything made out of ice. We decided to go there because it reminded us of home! $25, a big coat, gloves and Micheala had to wear boots (which were a constant source of amusement to me!) later, we were stood freezing our @#lls off in this bar! Good fun and will try and visit the one in London when I am next there. The rest of the evening was spent drinking, drinking and of course some dancing! The walk home was cool!, walking down the beach paddling our feet in the warm sea, as we watched the sunrise! Perfect!
The next day was really exciting too! Two friends from the UK (you may know them). Sarah and Kieran Wilson came to visit me! Well it was so cool and weird at the same time. Cool because it was really good to see them and weird because they were familiar faces so far from home. For those who haven't seen for a while, they looked so well and really happy. We talked and joked about old times and they told me about there own Australian adventures and the house they have built. I haven't forgotten Kieran to add you as a friend on facebook, I really must see these pictures of your new home (i'm so jealous of you both!).
The few days were spent sunbathing and body boarding with a young german guy called Marlon. The surf was good, if you could get past the rip that kept dragging us sideways!! I kept telling Marlon I was better on the body board than him, but between you and me he was a natural. Made me look like an old man!
The next 2 days were spent at Seaworld and Coolangatta. Seaworld was good for one thing only! The dolphin show. They were amazing. I have never seen an animal jump so high!
The final day was spent at Coolangatta. This was just down the coast and the home of the Quiksilver / Pro Surfing championships. I picked the best day because they were going to surf to a finish. The likes of Andy Irons, Mick Fanning and the legend that is Kelly Slater were all present. Kelly Slater was positively awesome! He looked like he was surfing for fun, just enjoying himself with no pressure. The final of the surfing was betwwen Kelly Slater (8 times World Champ and best surfer ever) and Mick Fanning (local boy and reigning World Champ). The final was a tight affair until the final wave of the day and with Kelly Slater having priority he blew Mick Fanning away with the best surf run of the day! Totally awesome Dude!!
- comments