Ukraine do it, Kocherga
SEVEN years ago Igor Kocherga swapped the Black Sea of Ukraine for the sandy beaches of Australia.
It didn’t’ take long for the 45-year-old to adapt to the Australian lifestyle.
Now he represents the wide variety of athletes to strut their stuff at the Aussies.
“I live in Brunswick Heads (near Byron Bay) and I joined the local surf club,” he said.
“I’m still learning how to compete but it’s amazing.
“The surf and beach lifestyle is amazing.
Kocherga competed for Brunswick at the Queensland Surf Life Saving Championships earlier this month.
His team finished sixth in the 40-44 male surf board rescue and in the 110+ years male surf board relay he helped his club to third.
However he revealed that his pursuit of another water sport drew him to the club. Clubs will be involved in the national titles.
“I wanted to learn how to surf and I’m still learning but I’ve become a lifesaver so it’s a good way to learn about surf,” he said. “The surf conditions
are never the same and it’s changing all the time so you need to adjust.
“There’s beautiful people at the club and you learn a lot from them.” Korcherga admitted that his pursuit of surf lifesaving wasn’t about getting state medals but rather personal improvement and his commitment to his local community.
“I’ve competed in a few races like the swim board which was pretty good,” he said.
“I’m not aiming for places but in the middle.”
After spending his formative years in the European country, Kocherga said that he had fallen in love with the Australian way of life.
“It’s a great lifestyle here first and we don’t have surf in Ukraine so it’s beautiful,” he said.
“Spending all my time on the beach gives you a great boost.
“You get hooked on it and want to go down every day and get wet and in the ocean.”
Lining up in the masters events, Kocherga will join the small Brunswick team set to compete at the Aussies.
“You understand how big surf lifesaving is in Australia, there’s people from all different clubs and you make friends with people who live all around Australia,” he said.