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There is an incredible sense of freedom in grabbing a surfboard and paddling out beyond the breakers. You can leave your problems far behind on the shore and enjoy some calm among the waves. It is little wonder then that during the turmoil of 2020, following bushfires and then the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic, surfing experienced a massive resurgence. With gyms and team sports shut down for lengthy periods, pent up Australians turned to individual sports in previously unseen numbers – and stocks of bicycles, surfboards, wetsuits and more were emptied. After an incredibly difficult year, two Broulee businesses have directly benefitted from surfing’s renaissance as both locals and visitors hit the waves. Former world tour surfer Shane Wehner, who has run the Broulee Surf School with his family since 1996, has had one of his busiest years, partially making up for last summer’s lost season. Even during the traditionally quiet winter period, the Broulee Surf School had lessons booked every day. “People that had an interest in surfing but never had the time before have really had a fire lit under them,” Mr Wehner said. “You can get your daily dose of vitamin sea, as we call it.” Mr Wehner was certain many in the community had turned to surfing as a way to cope with trauma and also as an exercise alternative during COVID-19. The combination of being in the fresh air, doing something active where you could avoid other people made it a healthy and attractive pursuit, he said. Surf shop Offshore Broulee and Moruya co-owner Brett Muskett said his store was inundated with beginners looking to secure their first board all the way through to old hands looking to add to their collection. “One company stopped accepting our orders in late August and closed all orders until mid-November,” Mr Muskett said. “They just couldn’t keep up with demand. “Normally you’d order a custom board and wait three to four weeks at most, now it’s three months or more.” The surprise surfing boom helped keep the businesses afloat after a traumatic summer. With the Kings Highway closed at the Clyde Mountain, practically all south coast businesses suffered. Mr Wehner lost almost all of his bookings and the surf shop did barely any trade. “There was a lot of shock in the community,” Mr Muskett said. “I just remember people walking around like zombies, not knowing what to do because there was nothing you could do.” Mr Wehner and his family were stuck living without power for three weeks following the fires. He would go for drives just to charge his phone and seek out reception to cancel bookings. Many people wrote off the fee and told him to keep it as a show of support for the business. Mr Muskett said these displays of generosity were common in the community. Many people bought vouchers from the surf shop to give to people who had lost homes so they could buy clothes. The renewed passion for surfing combined with increased visitors at traditionally quiet times of the year due to restricted travel at the height of the pandemic allowed for an unexpected recovery for many businesses. “These things have a funny way of balancing themselves out,” Mr Muskett said. Both men were looking forward to what was expected to be a massive summer season with accommodation along the coast booked solid for weeks. Mr Wehner said he had pre-bookings for lessons right through to Easter and thought this summer would help recover what was lost due to the fires. However, he admitted feeling anxious due to the COVID-19 cluster in Sydney’s northern beaches, as he had with other clusters, as it could result in a big hit to the business if people were unable to travel again. “I owe lessons [that were postponed] from last year,” he said. “But that means less opportunities to get business from new customers this year. You don’t want that continuing year on year.” What effects the northern beaches cluster will have on the south coast remains to be seen, although it continues to attract visitors, particularly from Canberra. What seems certain is that for many people who fell in love with or rediscovered a passion for surfing, it will continue to be a safe haven in troubled times.
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There is an incredible sense of freedom in grabbing a surfboard and paddling out beyond the breakers.
You can leave your problems far behind on the shore and enjoy some calm among the waves.
It is little wonder then that during the turmoil of 2020, following bushfires and then the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic, surfing experienced a massive resurgence.
With gyms and team sports shut down for lengthy periods, pent up Australians turned to individual sports in previously unseen numbers – and stocks of bicycles, surfboards, wetsuits and more were emptied.
After an incredibly difficult year, two Broulee businesses have directly benefitted from surfing’s renaissance as both locals and visitors hit the waves.
Former world tour surfer Shane Wehner, who has run the Broulee Surf School with his family since 1996, has had one of his busiest years, partially making up for last summer’s lost season.
Former world tour surfer Shane Wehner, with Holly Carswell, 12, (left) and Elizabeth Morrison, 7, has witnessed a massive increase in people surfing from beginners to old hands. Picture: Dion Georgopoulos
Even during the traditionally quiet winter period, the Broulee Surf School had lessons booked every day.
“People that had an interest in surfing but never had the time before have really had a fire lit under them,” Mr Wehner said.
“You can get your daily dose of vitamin sea, as we call it.”
Mr Wehner was certain many in the community had turned to surfing as a way to cope with trauma and also as an exercise alternative during COVID-19.
The combination of being in the fresh air, doing something active where you could avoid other people made it a healthy and attractive pursuit, he said.
Offshore Broulee and Moruya co-owner Brett Muskett whose surf shop at one point couldn’t place any more orders due to the demand for surfboards. Picture: Dion Georgopoulos
Surf shop Offshore Broulee and Moruya co-owner Brett Muskett said his store was inundated with beginners looking to secure their first board all the way through to old hands looking to add to their collection.
“One company stopped accepting our orders in late August and closed all orders until mid-November,” Mr Muskett said.
“They just couldn’t keep up with demand.
“Normally you’d order a custom board and wait three to four weeks at most, now it’s three months or more.”
The surprise surfing boom helped keep the businesses afloat after a traumatic summer.
With the Kings Highway closed at the Clyde Mountain, practically all south coast businesses suffered. Mr Wehner lost almost all of his bookings and the surf shop did barely any trade.
“There was a lot of shock in the community,” Mr Muskett said.
“I just remember people walking around like zombies, not knowing what to do because there was nothing you could do.”
Offshore Broulee and Moruya co-owner Brett Muskett said people visited the coast at traditionally quiet times of the year in part driven by a desire to surf. Picture: Dion Georgopoulos
Mr Wehner and his family were stuck living without power for three weeks following the fires. He would go for drives just to charge his phone and seek out reception to cancel bookings.
Many people wrote off the fee and told him to keep it as a show of support for the business.
Mr Muskett said these displays of generosity were common in the community. Many people bought vouchers from the surf shop to give to people who had lost homes so they could buy clothes.
The renewed passion for surfing combined with increased visitors at traditionally quiet times of the year due to restricted travel at the height of the pandemic allowed for an unexpected recovery for many businesses.
“These things have a funny way of balancing themselves out,” Mr Muskett said.
Both men were looking forward to what was expected to be a massive summer season with accommodation along the coast booked solid for weeks.
Mr Wehner said he had pre-bookings for lessons right through to Easter and thought this summer would help recover what was lost due to the fires.
However, he admitted feeling anxious due to the COVID-19 cluster in Sydney’s northern beaches, as he had with other clusters, as it could result in a big hit to the business if people were unable to travel again.
“I owe lessons [that were postponed] from last year,” he said.
“But that means less opportunities to get business from new customers this year. You don’t want that continuing year on year.”
What effects the northern beaches cluster will have on the south coast remains to be seen, although it continues to attract visitors, particularly from Canberra.
What seems certain is that for many people who fell in love with or rediscovered a passion for surfing, it will continue to be a safe haven in troubled times.
