Their surf boat rowing background couldn't be any more different, but Miles Geddes and partner Bridget Tysoe have slotted in seamlessly to Wauchope-Bonny Hills Surf Life Saving Club.
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The duo moved to the Hastings region ahead of this season's North Coast Surfboat Series which kicks off at Woolgoolga on November 20 and 21.
Geddes is studying physiotherapy at Charles Sturt University after he spent the previous two years rowing for Swansea-Belmont Surf Life Saving Club.
He joined Wauchope-Bonny Hills for a number of reasons despite initial concerns the travel was too far from Port Macquarie.
"Port Macquarie and Tacking Point didn't have any under-23 crews and I wasn't going to go to Bonny Hills because I thought it was too far away and didn't know the area," he said.
"I'm glad I did because I love it. It's a good club, good beach, good crew of blokes. It's unreal.
Port Macquarie and Tacking Point didn't have any under-23 crews and I wasn't going to go to Bonny Hills because I thought it was too far away.
- Miles Geddes
"At Swansea-Belmont we were the only crew there so it's good having multiple crews. The beach is unreal and the surf is usually pretty good. Just the community in general is good."
He admitted sweep Steve Monaghan's influence was the key determining factor.
"The sweep at Redhead which is the beach north of Swansea-Belmont always wanted me to row for him, but he knew 'Mono' and got in touch with him," Geddes said.
"It all happened from there and I was lucky that Tyler who was rowing for them before me moved to Sydney so there was a spot that became available."
Having his partner also make the move to the Hastings had ensured the transition to a new town and club had been an easy one for the both of them. She works as a personal trainer.
I used to go and watch Miles row in his carnivals and I had a mate who did it and I wanted to give it a crack. It looked so fun and I love surfing and being in the water so thought why not.
- Bridget Tysoe
She was also lucky that a spot became available in the club's under-23 women's crew despite having no experience rowing, although she admits to being a keen surfer.
"I used to go and watch Miles row in his carnivals and I had a mate who did it and I wanted to give it a crack. It looked so fun and I love surfing and being in the water so thought why not," she said.
Tysoe can't wait for her first competitive race for Wauchope-Bonny Hills with the club's under-23 crew, known as the Flamingos, this weekend.
"I'm so excited, but a bit nervous," she said.
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