Gavin Ottaway | Ray White Sutherland Shire , NSW
When did you first start surfing and where ? I started surfing when we moved to the Gold Coast when I was nine years old at Snapper Rocks , which was a great place to learn . Then when we moved back to Cronulla a year later , I was addicted .
What do you enjoy most about it ?
Sunday mornings I love to venture down the South Coast for an early surf ! It feels like being on a holiday and then a cafe breakfast after .
What ’ s your favourite surf spot ? The Mentawai Islands in Indonesia for sure and an amazing right hand break called Roxy ' s . It ’ s such a fun wave and mechanical so you can improve quickly , plus it ' s not supercritical so you don ' t worry about getting dragged across the reef .
Any tips for beginners ? Get some private lessons at a surf school to get the basics down then after that it ' s just time in the water . The more time you spend in , the faster you will improve .
Tony Farris | Ray White Stocker Preston , WA
When did you first start surfing and where ? I learnt to surf around the age of nine or 10 on a foamy in the beach breaks of Western Australia with my brother Dave and sister Brooke . I was whisked into the world of surfing - sponsors , surfing every day , competing at state titles , Australian titles and world qualifying series levels . There was lots of fun , lots of challenges , and lots of learning from a young age by just being in a competitive arena . I never won an Australian Open Title , but my sister Brooke did , so the family got one .
What do you enjoy most about it ? I can ' t hear my phone . The ocean is a beautiful place to enjoy with family and friends , only a surfer knows the feeling .
What ’ s your favourite surf spot ? Cloudbreak - Tavarua Fiji , my homebreak Lefthanders - Gracetown , Western Australia , and north-west , Western Australia .
Any tips for beginners ? Learn to swim first . Beginners need to find the right surf conditions for their ability , a soft rolling wave in waist deep water is perfect , catch the whitewater and learn the basics . From there beginners can grow their confidence , but turn the frustrations of not being able to learn quickly into fun . When you ' re in the ocean , there is more to learning how to surf than just riding a wave - grow your knowledge of the ocean and the many beaches around your local area , let the love of surfing take you on many more adventures .
Xavier Plunkett | HTL Property
When did you first start surfing and where ? I was very much a latecomer . I started surfing when I was at university on the Gold Coast in my mid-20s . I had an embarrassing youth as a bodyboarder in Port Macquarie .
What do you enjoy most about it ? It ' s healthy , it ' s very accessible to anyone , it is super fun , it gets you immersed in and connected to nature , and it takes you to the most amazing places with your mates . What ' s not to love ? Also it ' s infinitely cooler than golf or tennis .
What ’ s your favourite surf spot ? Cabarita Beach
Any tips for beginners ? Get some lessons with Blakey Johnson at Cronulla Surf Academy .
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