Coffee Shop Goss Pottsville > Fingal - October 2014 | Page 3

>>>REALLOCALS>>> 101 Days of surfing... An unusual obsession February this year I found myself with 30 days off work so I decided to set myself a little goal.... to surf daily for the 30 days. Well...after the 30 days of daily surfing, I felt invigorated and committed myself to attempting 101 days. I’ve certainly set no records as I’m aware of people who have gone a year or more without missing a day, but, from a personal perspective, the benefits were far more than I imagined back on day one. After 30 days I noticed that my ‘love handles’ had vanished and I actually possessed abdominal muscles. My strength and energy levels increased and friends claim that I seem more relaxed and focused.one way or another. After 101 days I feel a sense of accomplishment and desire to make every day fruitful. So if you have been one of those locals wondering what on earth that weird guy is doing in the ocean when the waves were too rough or it was pre-dawn, it was just me trying to take ownership of my health and fitness. P.S. I’m 55 yrs old. What motivated you? Nothing at first, but as the days accumulated, I didn’t want to give up on my goal. I did boast just a little at work and it got to the point where my colleagues wouldn’t say hello, they’d just say “what day are we up to?” And your health improved? Well, I don’t really have any health problems, but the daily ‘salt water sanity’ has been beneficial to my mental health, general conditioning, flexibility, balance, co-ordination, motivation and cardio vascular fitness. Plus, I got a tan :) You are a 12 Hr a day shift worker. How did you surf during a 7a.m. to 7p.m. shift? I set the alarm for 5:15, into the ocean at 5:30, out at 6:10 into the car at 6:30 and at work by 7:00. By the way, I had more energy on those days due to my morning surf. Some mornings I walked to Fingal Beach in the dark waiting for the sunrise and giving myself a list of excuses why I should go back to bed, but it was worth it. Did you actually catch waves EVERY day? Thankfully I have a 9’ long board so you can catch a ripple if you need to. Yes, I was blessed with reasonable sized waves for the 101 days and YES I caught a minimum of 3 waves daily!! Any Highlights? Sharing a wave with dolphins was fun. I think that the opportunity to get out, clear my mind and do something positive was an overall highlight. I remember one day I called in sick as I couldn’t go to work due to flu type symptoms. I felt guilty but had a surf regardless (don’t tell my boss). Ironically, after my session in the ocean, my symptoms lifted and a well enough to go to work...but, I didn’t! Any Downs? Sometimes whilst wading into cold water early in the morning without a wetsuit...and when the cold water reached my thermometer (if you know what I mean) ...bit of a chilling experience! Did you consider going for 365 days? 1 considered it, but I was planning to fly to Mount Isa and the surf is very average there! Where did you surf? Mainly Fingal main beach but, depending on circumstances, ventured to Byron’s shipwreck, Cabarita, Kingscliff and Rainbow Bay. It was quite an adventure. Best and Worst Wave? Best... At the causeway. It was clean, glassy, strong and I stepped off onto dry land (almost). Worst... At Rainbow Bay. Wave was ok but I had to share it with about 15 grommets. And your surfing skills? As I tell my children. I have never fallen off a surfboard. I have ‘uncontrolled step-offs’. Next Project? Not sure. I’m currently doing something a little less selfish and looking into a project possibility regarding “men’s needs” in the local community. Any ideas or feedback gratefully accepted. Greg Stanyer www.coffeeshop.goss.com.au > POTTSVILLE TO FINGAL > OCTOBER 2014 3