Travel News

4 New Adventures in Australia’s Gold Coast

Locations in this article:  Sydney, Australia

Paddleboarding

Credit: Wikimedia, user: Bill Ebbesen

Standup paddleboarding is the latest water sports craze, making surfing seem so 20th century. Leading the huzzah is JM Standup Paddleboard (JMSUP) outfitters. Based in the beachy town familiarly named Palm Beach, JMSUP is owned and operated by brothers Justin and Jamie Mitchell, and their dad Paul. You can take a reasonable priced private or group lesson (1 person AUD$80/2-8 persons AUD$60-$40) that includes gear and even a rash guard.

It’s not often a plebe can take lessons from a world champion, but you’d never guess from their humble and self-deprecating manners that Jamie and Justin are world champions, and Paul their coach.

Lessons are taught in the peaceful setting of the Gold Coast City-operated Palm Beach Parklands. The Mitchells start slowly and carefully. First, you practice on dry land. The key is holding the paddle properly. Then, you practice going from a kneeling position on the board to standing and back to kneeling.

After about 20 minutes, you are launched on the mirror-still waters of Currumbin Creek. Follow directions and you will find yourself standing up and gliding across the water.

Staying up is the real trick! The most important thing to remember is “Don’t look behind you!” You’ll lose your balance and wind up being dunked in the refreshingly cool creek. Not a bad penalty. Just watch out for sleeping stingrays burrowed below the sand. It gives the sport a touch of excitement and danger.

The Creek has an estuary not far from the beach and it is there you can practice riding the gentle waves coming in from the open sea. The hardest part of the lesson is carrying the gear back to the parking lot. Somehow, it didn’t seem quite this heavy an hour ago.

more>>