world's richest surfer

The world’s richest surfer

There are very few signs of conspicuous wealth in Yamba. This is generally a poor area of Australia. Up to a few years ago, it was a farming and fishing village with a budding retirement community. But due to the highway improvements and the great surf, there is a growing contingent of rich surfy types. (Author included) Nat Young started the trend several years ago. Mark Richards, former world champ, owns a vacation home here. The street where we are staying is in a prime location on the beach in a protected cove. When I was here ten years ago, the street was populated with older 2 and 3 unit vacation flats. Now those flats are being razed and replaced by modern, if not opulent condos and large single-family homes. Definitely going upscale!

But the real sign of Gucci-goes-Yamba is Gordon Merchant’s 3 stories, 17,000 sq ft mansion, complete with indoor waterfalls and assorted over the top amenities. For those NOT in the know, Gordon Merchant is the founder and CEO of Billabong, an Australian/Global surf-ware manufacturer. Legend has it that he got his start traveling around the surf spots of Australia selling surf trunks his wife made from the back of the car. Whatever the story, Billabong is huge and Gordon can jolly well build the mansion of his dreams anywhere he wants.

Yesterday, Kate and I were surfing Back Beach with a half a dozen other guys. The surf was a very inconsistent 2’- 4’. As I was paddling out a surfer picked off a set wave and got a good ride past me and another bloke. The other guy looked at me, “There goes the worlds’ richest surfer.” It was Gordo! He’s about my age, a very solid surfer who over the course of the session got more than his share of the best waves. One by one the others in the water went in till there was only Kate, Gordo, and myself in the water. The take off spot at Back Beach is about a 50-yard diameter, so you’re not bunched together but within talking distance. Now this is a Saturday, around noon, winds are off shore, 2’- 4’ and there are only three people out. While I don’t necessarily want to hob-nob with the rich and famous per se, I thought it was worth a conversation between sets. “This is amazing, Saturday, fun waves warm water and no one out” This observation elicited a shrug from Gordon.

Soon an overhead set appeared, the peak splitting the distance between Gordon and myself. For me to get it would require a steep, difficult take off from behind the peak then race around the white water to the wave face. For Kelly Slater, or Gordon Merchant, this is not a problem, but for me it represented a challenge. Gordon also paddled for it, wisely hedging the bet that I would make the wave. I nailed the stand up, raced around the foam and started up the face of the wave. I could see Gordon looking down as I went by. It was a good long wave, one of the best of the day. Had there been anyone else out I would have gotten a few hoots along the way. I paddled back out and sat a few yard inside of Gordon. It had been a one-wave set and the ocean showed no promise on the horizon. Gordon never looked back.