KELLY MARGETTS
Kelly lives in the Ocean | Lifeguard
- SUPTHEMAG ARTICLE
- SUPCONNECT | MAN OF THE YEAR AWARD
- TOTAL SUP ARTICLE
INTRODUCTION
Kelly Margetts lives in the ocean. The famously laid-back Aussie has spent most of his life on the sun-drenched surf mecca of Queensland’s Gold Coast, where he works as a professional lifeguard and where he began stand up paddling over a decade ago (before the sport even existed in Australia).
After pioneering the sport at home, Kelly hit the international stage in 2010 by finishing top 10 at the uber-prestigious Battle of the Paddle in California. Over the next five years, the ‘Bronzed Aussie’ continued to be a fixture at the biggest races in the world, regularly beating guys half his age thanks to a superior knowledge of the ocean and dedication to training.
Kelly’s race highlights include a 4th place at the 2013 BOP Elite Race, one of the biggest races of all time, as well as an epic victory at the Gorge Paddle Challenge in 2015 where he out-paddled the likes of Danny Ching, Travis Grant, Connor Baxter and Kai Lenny.
Kelly follows a serious training regimen and helps coach the next generation of stars at home on the Gold Coast, while his gifted mind for racing strategy and a keen knowledge of the surf has allowed him to stay on top of the sport despite having already celebrated his 45th birthday. The humble Aussie is currently ranked top 20 in the world on the SUP Racer World Rankings, and loves nothing more than to pass his knowledge and stoke for the sport on to others.
He doesn’t mind a beer or two, either…
AWARDS
never slowing down
