Most surfers have a deep-rooted desire to escape. Whether it be escaping to the tropics, escaping the hustle and bustle of the city on a weekend strike mission, or maybe it’s just a quick rain check from the daily responsibilities. We find solace in the waves, and our journey to find those waves is half the fun.
In March 2020 when Sierra Lerback boarded a plane bound for Australia, she had no idea she was leaving her Hawaiian home for the foreseeable future. No stranger to the HNL to BNE route, Sierra figured she’d spend some time in Noosa then head back to Hawaii once this “COVID thing” blew over. As the plane touched down, passengers were informed they’d just caught the last flight out as international borders slammed shut behind them.
“I’ve only been on one plane in almost two years,” says Sierra from her home on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. “It’s definitely the longest I’ve stayed in one place for a very long time.”
Not that she minds too much. At 16, Sierra came to Australia to compete at the Noosa Surfing Festival. With each visit, her love for its world-class point breaks and beautiful national parks was growing. She’d also uncovered another one of the coast’s gems: Her now-husband Zye Norris. They did the long-distance thing for close to four years before deciding it was time to semi-settle in one place, with frequent sojourns to Sierra’s home on Maui thrown in.
“I do miss home but it’s nice to buckle down and stay put,” Sierra reflects. “You can kind of build your life in one spot where usually we are traveling all the time and it’s like whatever, we don’t need to buy any furniture or plant a garden because we’re never home.”
In a perfect world, Sierra will soon be able to get back on a plane and make up for lost time in Hawaii.
“I want to spend a couple of winter months there and catch up with my friends and family,” she says. “After that, I just really want to go on a boat trip to the Mentawais and surf my brains out!”