Surfing in Australia: At ICMS dreams turn into daily life
Going surfing before class, jumping into the shower and then heading straight to uni. Sounds like a dream, right?
When your Instagram feed is once again full of surf reels and you see someone riding a massive wave, you quickly think: “That doesn‘t look so hard.” Paddle out, stand up on the board, ride the wave, paddle back and do it all over again, sounds simple enough. But in reality, it is a little different. It is not as easy as it looks. Still, with a bit of practice, suddenly everyone starts to look like a pro.
For students at ICMS, like myself, this surfer lifestyle can quickly become reality. Whether you have always wanted to learn or you are already advanced, you will definitely have a good time here. From our campus, I can look straight out at the stunning Manly Beach as soon as I wake up. And as if that was not enough, there are eight other beautiful beaches just around the corner. No matter the weather, you can always go surfing and the variety is amazing.
Even complete beginners will not take long to catch their first wave. The free ICMS Surf Club makes sure of that. Jay and Tom explain surfing in such a simple way that you just want to get out there straight away, and in the water, they are right by your side to help.
For me, surfing in Australia had always been a dream. Before coming here, I had only been on a surfboard twice. Thanks to the great surf instructors, it did not take long until I was riding my very first proper wave, and that feeling is honestly indescribable. A special highlight was our very first surf lesson, when we even had a professional photographer with us. He somehow managed to make even the worst beginners, like me, look like pros in the photos.
Now my daily routine looks completely different. I bought my own surfboard and go out whenever I feel like it, usually with other ICMS students. There is really nothing better than paddling out to the ocean, watching the horizon, seeing the sunrise or sunset over the water and waiting for the next perfect wave.
Of course, surfing does not work straight away. You fall a lot, but that is part of the journey. And once you start standing up on more and more waves, there is no better feeling. That mix of achievement, community and excitement while waiting with other surfers for the next wave, is just unreal. It does not matter if you have been surfing for years or if it is your very first time, around Manly everyone finds the right waves.
That is exactly what surfing means to me: the fun, the butterflies in your stomach and the thrill when the next wave rolls in. It is a feeling you just cannot beat. You completely lose track of time and at the same time you feel totally calm inside.
My recommendation is simple. Just give surfing a try. Who knows, maybe you will enjoy it as much as I do, along with countless other students here. And honestly, what could be better than going surfing with your friends?
