At Mossy Point on the NSW south coast, a new wave of over-50s is swapping the couch for a kayak. The ‘Young at Heart’ program proves once again that adventure doesn’t have an age limit.

By Amanda De George

Just a few hours down the coast from Sydney, at glorious Mossy Point in the Eurobodalla Shire, people in their 50s, 60s and 70s are out on the water, putting their fitness, skills and adventurous spirit to the test.

The Tomaga River laps, quite literally, at the door of Region X, a tour company offering guided walks, camping and kayaking. They have the usuals, such as paddle hire, on offer but it’s the ‘Young at Heart’ kayak program launched in 2022 that’s making waves.

It’s the real deal

The brainchild of guide Garran Carnall – who believes there’s real benefit, physically and mentally to getting outdoors – the 6-week program was designed to get people over 50 doing just that. He said, “I was sitting around in a cafe with my mum and dad and I was watching all of these senior, retired people and I was going, ‘They’re not doing anything. They need to get out’.”

And by ‘get out’, Garran means, go all out. While the 6-week course teaches the basics and is designed with beginners in mind, this program doesn’t treat its participants with kid gloves. Instead students can expect to try their hand at sea kayaking, to perform rescue drills (yes, that means capsizing and getting wet), and managing some seriously challenging weather. No cancelled classes for choppy water here.

Garran said his mum was part of the inspiration to create such an intensive program. “I taught my mum to scuba dive at the age of 60 and she’s a left leg amputee… She’s done some amazing trips and that’s what gave me the idea to say, you can do this, doesn’t matter what age you are. You can get out there and do some really cool stuff.”

From strength to strength

Annie Loveband was 63 when she was part of the first group to go through the program. Prior to ‘Young at Heart’, she only had one leisurely paddle under her belt but was an avid daily ocean swimmer. “I love the ocean and wanted to try something that challenged me. I wanted to learn something new,” she says. 

And just 6 weeks later those new skills were put to the test. “Our very last class was especially challenging, in strong winds and choppy waters,” Annie explains. “But it was that class that also showed us how far we had come and how strong we were.”

Since the program’s launch, Region X have added ‘Young at Heart - Remastered’ to its roster. Featuring new strokes, more rescue skills, a sunset kayak tour and even an overnight ‘kayak-in, kayak-out’ camp. 

Who said life after 50 was all about sensible footwear and early nights tucked up in bed?

Finding an unexpected passion

Lisa Ryrie, 64, is one of the program’s most recent graduates. After watching the Region X trailer rattle down to the water’s edge each morning, and having bought kayaking gift cards for her kids and husband, Lisa decided it was finally her turn to have a crack and enrolled. “There must be a name for that syndrome where you buy for other people the presents you really wish for yourself!”

While Lisa had completed a few paddles over the years, she by no means considered herself an experienced kayaker. She had hoped that by doing the course, she’d be able to safely test out her current skills, expand on those, explore new waterways and try new kayak types. Turns out she got more than she bargained for, finding her passion and gaining a couple of kayaks in the process.

“I've gone on to complete the follow-on Remastered program; regularly attend social paddles and organised longer trips; been gifted a kayak and bought a new kayak; and I've just returned from 8 days sea kayaking around the Yasawa Islands in Fiji!” says Lisa. “I love being on the water and feel completely at peace as I take that first deep breath when we push off and get the paddle rhythm going. I feel ‘home’.”

Low impact means it’s accessible for most

But let’s be honest here: our bodies age and even the fittest amongst us deal with the odd ache and pain here and there. And for those who suffer from a bit more than the occasional niggle, that’s okay too and it’s baked into the program. Lisa said that the guides were “forever kind, helpful and considerate” while the low-impact aspect of the sport means it’s more accessible than some others. 

“Our time here is not infinite,” Annie says. “Seizing these opportunities, especially as we age, gives us the opportunity to feel joy in our natural surroundings as well as a sense of achievement in rising to a challenge that we may have doubted we could do.” 

^{Feature image: Amanda De George}

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