Surfing royalty Craig ‘Boots’ Garrard chats openly on the traumatic surfing incident that changed his perspective on mental health, and how men should ‘lend an ear to a mate’.
Third generation surfing royalty of Victoria’s Surf Coast and innovator behind local surfing manufacturer Gboards Australia, Craig ‘Boots’ Garrard chats with renowned Australian guitarist, entertainer and musician Phil Ceberano on the near-death surfing incident, which saw him, develop a new outlook on life, as part of a new YouTube series by Australia’s number one caravan and RV manufacturer, Jayco.
“A few years back I nearly died when I was in Bali, after having a brain aneurysm in the surf. I had to save myself by paddling in, and it was a reckoning of what life is and what it means to me”, said Mr Garrard. “There have been a few major changes in my life since that moment”.
The conversation-based video series titled ‘Innovative Australians’ features the country’s greatest thinkers and deep dives into how they innovate in each of their fields. They also discuss the outdoor experiences their field has seen them encounter, and their love for caravanning, camping and adventure.
“Surfing is still my go-to to relax and fulfil my life,” he said. “A little while ago we took a year off and did the hot lap around Australia. We loved the Ningaloo reef in Northwest WA. We needed a decent sized caravan, so we had a Jayco Expanda and that was our home for a whole year”.
Following his life-changing surfing incident, Garrard is now an avid supporter of men engaging in activities they feel positively contributes to their wellbeing, and encourages men to become comfortable with engaging in conversations around mental health.
“I find surfing a good way to cleanse the mental anguish that men do have and we need to talk about this more’, said Mr Garrard. “Australian men are a tough, hearty bunch but sometimes it’s good to lend an ear to a mate – it can make a huge difference to someone’s life, and can even save their life”.
“We have put together a charity surf contest called the 50 Year Storm to highlight men’s health which is our way of voicing our support for men’s mental health”.
Being the third generation of one of the nation’s most renowned surfing family iconic to the Victorian Surf Coast, Craig Garrard’s late family were key figures into the introduction of surfing throughout Victoria and Australia after helping fund the early stages of the ‘Great Ocean Road’, leading the surfing community to discover now-famous Bells Beach.
Garrard continues to positively impact Victoria’s Surf Coast surfing culture, leading Australia’s surf innovation that is both environmentally and sustainably friendly, through the introduction of state-of-the-art customisation technology used by Gboards Australia, who currently supply beginner boards to over 70% of the Surf School market throughout Australia, with the aim to protect and support the local and national surfing markets.
“There was an opportunity to offer a state of the art shaping machine, which saves time and effort for our shapers. Boards get cut, replicated and manufactured right here in Victoria’s Torquay”, said Mr Garrard.
Jayco National Sales Manager, Scott Jones, said Jayco’s Innovative Australians YouTube series gives people a front row seat to watch and hear unexpected and interesting stories of Australians who have sharpened their edge and are willing to think differently.
“Innovation is at the forefront of everything we do at Jayco. In our new YouTube series we connect with like-minded Australian innovators making waves in their industries, and uncover their secrets of success, and how camping and caravanning helps them switch off,” said Mr Jones.
Each interview features a new host and Jayco product. This episode is presented by renowned Australian guitarist and musician Phil Ceberano, in Jayco’s compact, lightweight and adventure ready J-POD Outback.
The J-POD Outback has all the ‘just pack and go’ benefits of Jayco’s renowned J-POD sport – but takes the adventure opportunities of this new lightweight trailer range to new levels. The unique design marries functional living with practical space-saving features, such as Roof Racks, Slide Out Kitchen and Bush Ranger Awning.
The new episode will be live from Monday, 3rd February 5PM AEDST. To view the new episode, visit: https://www.youtube.com/user/JaycoCorporation.
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