League Legend Mark Gasnier Experiences the Maldives

Mark Gasnier is an extremely well-regarded former Australian rugby league footballer of the 2000s and 2010s.

A New South Wales State of Origin and national rep centre, he played eleven seasons in the NRL with the St. George Illawarra Dragons. Gasnier was a member of the Dragons’ NRL premiership-winning team in 2010. He is the nephew of the renowned St. George 1960s star Reg Gasnier. Mark is a good surfer who starred in a Fuel TV doco with good friend Mark Occhilupo.

Mark recently stayed at S-Resorts Maldives with The Perfect Wave and after coming back from his family surf holiday, he caught up with Ben Horvath for a short interview.

How did you find the waves at S-Resorts Maldives and nearby breaks, Mark?

Gaz – I loved the right straight out the front of Kandooma. I only got it small, but it still had plenty of push. I didn’t venture to any of the numerous other waves nearby, as I had the family with me and wanted to hang out with them all day.

I used to see you in the water at Cronulla back in the day – where are you doing most of your surfing these days?

I am based on the northern beaches of Sydney now, so I do most of my surfing around there and also head up the coast when I can.

I saw you carving it up on The Fuel TV Mentawai special with Occ – how would you compare the Mentawai to the Maldives?

Mentawai was the best full-on surf trip I have ever had, but that is purely just for surfing, this was a family trip and I couldn’t have picked a better place as Claude and the kids where just as happy as I was.

Finally, do you think the Maldives is more family orientated – i.e. ticks all the boxes for fam and you can get some fun waves too?

Absolutely. Even if you’re not a surfer and you’re just a family that loves the water, then this is the perfect place. I couldn’t fault it – the staff were lovely and we met some great families on the island and had a ball.