16: Surfing

Will the real surf champion PLEASE STAND UP!

Every year for my birthday my girlfriend purchases an activity for us to do together. Kayaking, escape room and the Book of Mormon are just a few of the fantastic presents that Talia has bought for me over the years. So I was anticipating something special. I knew that she would choose an activity from this list, so I looked at the whiteboard and started to narrow things down.

"Hey Tal, are we going salsa dancing?"

"Not telling"

"Hey Tal, are we going rock climbing?"

"My lips are sealed"

"Hey Tal, you're not taking me to the Werribee Gorge are you? Because I have plans to go with Marko next week..."

"That would be interesting, but you’ll need to try harder to crack this egg."

"Hey Tal, are we going meditating on top of a mountain? That would be pretty cool."

"That would be cool, but still not telling"

All packed and ready to go I took bathers, hiking boots, 4 pairs of undies and my Dad's golf clubs, ready for anything. We got in the car and headed east down the M1 towards the Peninsula. What could it be? I could safely cross off meditating, 1000 steps, learning a magic trick, rock-climbing and the Werribee Gorge but what else??? As we got closer and closer the GPS directed us to turn into a side alleyway and I was completely lost. Were we going to go to some random person's house to make a painting? Surely not.

Unfortunately, the GPS took us to the wrong address. When Talia called up for directions I overheard "Point Leo Surf Club". SURFING! How could I not guess it! I think I went through every single possible Challenge and I still didn't pick it. In my head it was always likely that my uncle Jamie would help me with this task. But instead of the my cool surfing uncle, I got my very non-sporty, uncoordinated girlfriend.

I have surfed before, but never stood up on the board. This was my mission for today. After changing into the wetsuit and doing a practice run-through on the sand I was ready to go. Talia stood up on her first go, so surely I wouldn't have any problems. But after three run throughs I still couldn't find my balance. Finally, on the fourth try, the instructor told me to take a big step forward with my right leg as I stood up, and it worked! I was surfing the wave. For the next 6 or 7 waves I stood up on all of them. Cruising along, practicing turns as the wind blew through my hair. It was magical.