GOLD COASTER ALLAN STEPHEN’S LOVE OF SURFING BEGAN AT 15 YEARS OF AGE WHEN HE JOINED HIS BROTHERS AND SISTERS CATCHING WAVES JUST A SHORT WALK FROM THE FAMILY HOME IN DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA.
Allan later went on to represent his state and often surfed at Jeffreys Bay – dubbed the best surfing spot in Africa and one of the best in the world.
“I come from a big family of four boys and two girls, and we all surfed,” he said.
“We all enjoyed it – the freedom of it, the good waves, and the good people.”
Even on his wedding day to wife Sue, the pumping waves at Durban were too hard to resist. Sue still remembers saying ‘I do’ to her husband while his hair was still wet and salty from the surf.
He laughed, adding: “Then Sue and I moved to Melbourne, and I have never known a winter like it in my life. That’s when I started playing golf, which I’ve been doing now for 40 years.”
While living in Melbourne, he did ride the waves at Bells Beach and Winkipop in Torquay. And when the couple moved to the sunny Gold Coast, that love of surfing only reignited.
The Gold Coast is known for its sunshine, white sandy beaches and world-famous surf spots between Burleigh Point and Snapper Rocks.
In recent years Allan says he prefers to play golf as he doesn’t feel fit for the ocean, though he did get on a board on a trip eight years ago during a holiday at Waikiki Beach in Hawaii.
“I was really surprised at how easily it came back to me,” he said.
These days, his love of the sport continues as a spectator, watching surfing events unfold on the coastal strip just 15 minutes from his home, or on the television.
Allan might consider checking out the Noosa Festival of Surfing from March 8 to 17, 2024.
The Noosa event is presented by GemLife and is one of Australia’s largest surfing events celebrating surf culture through art, live music, film, and environmental awareness. For more event information, head to noosafestivalofsurfing.com.
Allan and his wife Sue are looking forward to moving into their new resort home at GemLife Gold Coast when it is built this year. They will be in great company, as many of their friends have purchased there too. They are excited about making new friends and enjoying the state-of-the-art facilities at the three-level Country Club including the indoor and terrace pools and health club.