Gentle entry into whole new world

LET’S face it, ocean paddling doesn’t have the same profile on the Gold Coast as surfing or surf lifesaving.

So to get an understanding of exactly what Cory Hill encounters, I joined him for a 6am venture into the surf near Northcliffe Surf Club in a K2 double kayak.

Heading out, Hill comments on how lugging around the long, heavy surf ski is often the hardest part of a session and it was hard not to agree.

Jumping into the back seat – I’m told of how the front person holds the key to balance and so on – I try to stay upright and synchronise my paddling with Hill’s, admittedly with limited success.

It’s a sublime morning and even though conditions are flat, the waves we approach head on suddenly look large enough to overthrow a far bigger boat.

The surf ski however cuts through the waves like a knife through butter and before I get a chance to wipe water from my eyes, Hill is back to busily paddling ahead. Before long we’ve reached the ocean’s shark nets and my legs are already aching a touch.

To show me the difference having even a smallish wave behind you can make, Hill waits a few moments before paddling towards shore.

As a wave catches us, there’s suddenly no need to paddle as we are propelled up to the beach at a reasonable pace. Another couple of journeys in and out are followed by an effort to haul the surf ski back up to the clubhouse and that’s that.

Good fun. Perhaps I’ve been lucky to catch a flat day. I can only imagine what it would be like taking on relentless, monstrous waves at locations on the world tour such as Hawaii or Tahiti.