Victoria’s own Michael “Captain Cowan” Cowan, 72, has been crowned the champion of Jetstar’s third Surf Classic: Golden Groms Edition, proving that age is no barrier to catching waves and taking on new adventures.
Held today at Bondi Beach, the event saw a cohort of adventurous seniors ditch quiet retirement routines to tackle the ocean for the very first time. Under the guidance of surfing legend Mark “Occy” Occhilupo and cheered on by host Denise Scott, the competitors battled small waves, monumental wipeouts, and heroic recovery times.
Cowan, a recently retired university accommodation professional, avid swimmer, and cyclist from Victoria, took out top honors following a combined tally of judges’ scores and public votes. He was presented with a novelty-sized Jetstar boarding pass, securing an all-expenses-paid trip for six to Jetstar’s newest hot spot, Sri Lanka.
Research Reveals Aussie Seniors Crave Adventure.
The event coincides with new research commissioned by Jetstar, highlighting a strong desire among older Australians to push outside their comfort zones and tick off bucket-list goals:
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While 66% of Aussies aged 60+ have never caught a wave, over a third (36%) admit that learning to surf is on their bucket list.
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Nearly half (49%) state they feel just as adventurous now as they did in their 40s and 50s.
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Over half (52%) say they would jump at or consider trying a new active skill like surfing if given a free, safe lesson.
Cowan is now preparing to swap Victorian shores for the warm swells of Sri Lanka alongside five family members and friends.
