Go Ride A Wave

When I think of typically Australian activities, I think of cuddling wildlife, sampling fine wines, marvel at jaw-dropping scenery, and surfing. All these delights are within easy access to all visitors Down Undah - except surfing.

Surfing is an unofficial religion among the 80% of Australians that live within sea breeze of the coast, yet the only thing visitors like us can do is hang well back on the beach with all the senior citizens and toddlers and gawk at those bronzed Aussie gods and goddesses carving an ethereal trail across the translucent blue waves; an amazing blend of aerial and water acrobatics.

But now this poetry in motion is available to the rest of us, too. Just outside Melbourne, join the famously scenic Great Ocean Road and head west an hour or so, and you'll pass through charming seaside towns with names like Lorne, Apollo Bay and Torquay.

Torquay curves around a broad bay that has perhaps the friendliest waters for 100 miles on either side. The water is calm and shallow, and the waves around here are never more than large ripples.

A few years back, a couple of die-hard surfies saw how keen non-surfers were to learn the basics of surfing but didn't have the skills, equipment, or guidance to learn it easily. That's when Go Ride A Wave was formed. Since then, Go Ride A Wave has become the biggest surf school in the world.

They teach thousands to surf every year. Their team of friendly and helpful instructors are fully qualified in surf life saving and surfboard riding. They reckon they can teach you how to surf, whether you are an elite athlete or a couch potato, 8 or 80 years old.

Well, of course, I had my doubts. I'm not a strong swimmer and I take a mean satisfaction in proving people wrong.

You can take Learn to Surf classes at three locations along Victoria's famous Surfcoast. All locations have been selected because they are very safe and suitable for beginners. Even so, I showed up like the Grinch wanting to see how happy people learn how to surf.

I coughed up around RM80 for a two-hour lesson, including wetsuit and board, and joined a gaggle of school kids across the street and down to the beach.

The beach was uncrowded, hard-packed and very wide - a perfect open-air classroom for surfie wannabes. First off, our instructor Leanne issued us each a huge surfboard, and told us to form a wide circle around her, with our boards facing inwards. possible hazards.