What was your first car?
A second-hand Holden station wagon, which was kinda like the ultimate surfie's car. It was really cool. It was lowered, had the tint, and I could fit all the boards in the back and just drive up and down the coast. My brothers didn't mind borrowing it or going on surf trips with me. It was pretty reliable. You hear all those stories with breakdowns and whatnot but I think I only had one flat battery, which happened down at Bells Beach when I was competing. It went flat in the morning and we were stuck there all day until six at night.
What happened to it in the end?
I had it for about three years. Then my oldest brother came back from overseas and was in the market for a car, so he acquired it. I gave him mate's rates.
As a Land Rover ambassador, what are you driving these days?
A Discovery. It's really suited to my lifestyle and I'm really stoked to have one. It's so easy just to throw everything in. Obviously, I have multiple boards for each training session, and also really large board bags and a few suitcases when we go to the airport.
What's your pet road peeve?
When someone's parked in a perfect surf check spot, so you can't check the surf from the road. Or when you drive past a spot where you can get a two-second glimpse, and a truck or car passes you in the other direction at the same time and blocks your surf check. Both are really bad.
How did you find the whole learning-to-drive experience?
I found learning to drive a little unexpected. You watch your parents do it and it seems like the easiest task, but I thought it was really challenging. I think just the awareness of being on the road, having to be aware of other cars, your own car, and how fast you're going was the hardest thing. But now that I've learned I understand that it's like riding a bike - you never forget.
What's your favourite drive?
I've got two. The first is when you drive down the south coast through Stanwell Park and cross the Sea Cliff Bridge north of Wollongong. Then at home, coming over the hill and driving into Gerroa and just seeing the water and the national park always makes me take a deep breath.
You go to some incredible places around the world, but you often hear yourself saying, "this is just as good as the Gerroa drive".
