Your Family-Owned Margaret River Water Sports Shop
When I first rode a windsurfer in 1984 at the fearless age of 11, I had no idea it would shape the trajectory of my life. Yet, here I am now running my own water sports shop in Margaret River – one of WA’s most well-known surfing hotspots!
My first ride was on the Canning River in Perth, WA, and the whistling sound the windsurfer made when it got up to speed has stuck with me ever since. I was hooked. My mates and I would windsurf in the suburb of Shelley, adrenaline pumping through our veins as the wind blew by.
From there, my path was set. I progressed into more advanced equipment and sports, and started competing.
While spending as much time on the water as possible, I completed a Bachelor of Science. One of my favourite units was “Climate and Weather”; it taught me how to read both. Through my studies and life experiences, I’ve gained an intimate, practical understanding of weather and ocean conditions.
Competitions
Opening Mainbreak Water Sports
Mainbreak Water Sports was born out of my love of water-based activities, and I wanted to share it with others.
Kitesurfing, windsurfing, and surfing allowed me to explore the fantastic coastline of Western Australia. Long road trips from Gnaraloo in the north to Denmark in the south, and east to Esperance kept me busy. Eventually, I settled in Margaret River in 1998.
In 2000, I discovered kitesurfing. After completing an International Kiteboarding Organisation (IKO) instructor training course, I set up Margaret River Kitesurfing & Windsurfing in 2002, now Mainbreak Water Sports. What started as a school has expanded into a water sports shop, selling kitesurfing, windsurfing, and SUP equipment.
Passing On The Thrill Of The Ride
Passing these skills to my students at Mainbreak is a reward in itself. Seeing students embody a more relaxed lifestyle with improved strength, self-esteem, fitness, and more time in nature is an honour. Every day I get to do what I love for work.
Since foiling appeared on the watersports scene a few years back, it’s ignited a new passion. Foiling is one of the fastest-growing water sports in the world with so many different directions – wingfoiling, surf foiling, downwind foiling, and SUP foiling, the list goes on!
The Future Of Mainbreak Water Sports
And now, I get to have the greatest gift of all. I get to pass on my decades of wipeouts, massive waves, and the wind whistling through my ears to my children, Levi and Jasmine. Levi is following in my footsteps, teaching watersports alongside me from our favourite spots in and around Augusta.
Once you get the feeling of flying on the water, I promise, you’ll never want to stop.
See you out there.
Simon Peters
