Growing up on Hastings Street in the 60′s and early 70′s was the start of my addiction to Noosa and it’s world famous surf breaks. Most days sharing my playground of Main Beach and the points with just my four siblings and a handful of locals! Moving to Sunshine Beach in 1974 (thought to be the end of the earth in those days!!), I found that surfing the Opens with little or no company was both fun and scary at times. I am truly grateful and humbled by my blessed surfing life and my biggest thrill is sharing special days in the surf with friends and especially my family. Surfing perfect Noosa point waves has been described as like having a cup of tea with god, if so then I have had to top up my cup hundreds of times over 40 years of surfing Noosa.
I first learnt to surf in the frigid waters of the North Atlantic in Cornwall, UK — the waves were empty, but so were my toes of feeling most winters. After too many years in booties and 4/3 wetsuits, my wife and I packed up our lives (and our two young daughters) in 2013 and headed for the warmth and year-round sunshine of Noosa. I left my shortboards behind and bought my first longboard at the ripe old age of 36. It wasn’t long before my youngest daughter, Poppy, caught the bug, and we joined the Noosa Malibu Club so she could meet other Pee Wees who shared her stoke. We couldn’t have found a friendlier, more welcoming crew, and I was honoured to step into the Vice President role in 2022. I’m proud to help honour the rich history and legacy of this iconic club, while also keeping it fresh, inclusive, and responsive to the changing needs of our surfing community.
I grew up in a little surf town called Gonubie in South Africa, where I always wanted to surf - but girls didn’t really surf there in the 80s. Fast forward a few decades, a few countries, and a handful of other sports, and I finally started surfing in 2023 after moving to Noosa. Now I’m making up for lost time, often sneaking in two surfs a day. There’s honestly nothing better than starting the morning in the ocean... and I’m so grateful for the local surf community and Noosa Mal Club - everyone’s so incredibly generous with stories, advice, laughs, and even the odd wave. Joining the committee feels like a natural way to give back to something that’s had such a big impact on my life.
I first jumped on a surfboard in 1964 at Mount Maunganui in NZ - a 35 pound log my sister had bought for 5 quid – I was hooked and an Atlas Woods ‘light weight’ 9’4″ quickly followed. The 70′s and 80′s saw me riding 4’11″ twin fins, side slippers, eggs, the 90’s riding old man shortboards and finally Mals in the new millenium at beaches up north from Auckland, the Coromandel and the best of all – Piha on the West Coast. I worked in Corporate IT for 35 years before bailing and heading to Noosa for warmer climes and better surf. My wife Donna and I managed The Lookout Noosa Resort for 5 years, which allowed me to walk to First Point for a surf. During my time in Noosa I have met many warm and friendly Noosa folk (yes, that even includes the crew at First Point) and have surfed absolutely amazing waves on all the Points. Donna and I are here to stay!
Born and raised in Michigan USA, the water, winter wonderland where I did everything water and snow except surfing. In 1999 when my son said “ dad I want to buy a surfboard “. I couldn’t figure out but yeah ok. Looked like fun so I started the next year and still learning. I really enjoy the monthly competitions for the chance to surf with friends and challenge myself.
I became obsessed with surfing while living in Perth, where I had my first lesson in 2020. For the next few years, I spent most of my time surfing in the whitewash at a very crowded ‘Trigg’ beach, before purchasing a longboard, and learning to navigate reef breaks in Cottesloe & South WA. After moving to Noosa in 2024, I joined the Noosa Mal club & have loved surfing the points, meeting the locals and being involved in several competitions, including SunnySets. I’m stoked to be constantly learning about the ocean and hanging out with others who share my passion for all things surfing.
