What Mark Gasnier thought of Kandooma Surf Resort

Mark Gasnier doing an air at Kandooma. photo by Claudine Gasnier

Interview By Ben Horvath

Mark Gasnier is an extremely well-regarded former Australian rugby league footballer of the 2000s and 2010s. A New South Wales State of Origin and national rep centre, he played eleven seasons in the NRL with the St. George Illawarra Dragons. Gasnier was a member of the Dragons’ NRL premiership-winning team in 2010. He is the nephew of the renowned St. George 1960s star Reg Gasnier. Mark is a good surfer who starred in a Fuel TV doco with good friend Mark Occhilupo.

Mark recently stayed at Kandooma Surf Resort with The Perfect Wave and after coming back from his family surf holiday, he caught up with Ben Horvath for a short interview.

BH –  How did you find the waves at Kandooma Surf Resort and nearby breaks, Mark?

Gaz – I loved the right straight out the front of Kandooma. I only got it small, but it still had plenty of push. I didn’t venture to any of the numerous other waves nearby, as I had the family with me and wanted to hang out with them all day.

BH –  I used to see you in the water at Cronulla back in the day – where are you doing most of your surfing these days?

Gaz-  I am based on the northern beaches of Sydney now, so I do most of my surfing around there and also head up the coast when I can.

BH – I saw you carving it up on The Fuel TV Mentawai special with Occ – how would you compare the Mentawai to the Maldives?

Gaz – Mentawai was the best full-on surf trip I have ever had, but that is purely just for surfing, this was a family trip and I couldn’t have picked a better place as Claude and the kids where just as happy as I was.

BH – Finally, do you think the Maldives is more family orientated – i.e. ticks all the boxes for fam and you can get some fun waves too?

Gaz – Absolutely. Even if you’re not a surfer and you’re just a family that loves the water, then this is the perfect place. I couldn’t fault it – the staff were lovely and we met some great families on the island and had a ball.