The Ride East Coast

Setting out on their Jet Skis, the boys rode 3,000 kilometres from Sydney to Cairns. Huge waves, blistering heat, sharks, box jellyfish, and crocodiles all stood between them and the finish line. So what drove them to do it? Just months earlier they were living the dream, working on one of the world’s most famous beaches: Bondi Beach. But beyond the sun, surf, and sex appeal they experienced a dark side to Australia’s busiest beach – youth mental illness. Over the years these lifeguards have dealt with everything from self-harm to suicide, and retrieved the bodies of young people, just like them. Wanting to do more, these two lifeguards joined Headspace, the national youth mental health foundation. On Jet Skis they rode the length of Australia’s East Coast meeting afflicted young people, inspirational Australians who’ve overcome drug and alcohol abuse, bullying, homophobia and depression to become dancers, bodybuilders, artists, and even an outback tent boxer! Ultimately it became their own rite of passage. The Ride is an emotional journey, often comical and uplifting, that culminates in a defining moment for these two lifeguards.