Australian Surfers Ride the Waves in Bluffdale Canal

Australian Surfers Ride the Waves in Bluffdale Canal


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Keith McCord ReportingIf you're into surfing, you know that Hawaii and California have some of the best waves to ride. But here's the story of two guys from Australia who are on a journey to surf not just in Hawaii and California-- they're going to do all 50 states!

We met up with them in Bluffdale, Utah, where there are no waves. But it doesn't matter! These guys love surfing so much, they'll try surfing anywhere on anything-- a body of water or a big wave isn't necessary!

Australian Surfers Ride the Waves in Bluffdale Canal

For Jonno Durrant of Pt. Lonsdale, Australia, and Stefan Hunt from Sydney, it's all about a great adventure. For these two, they really are "Surfin' USA."

Here's something you don't see everyday in Bluffdale: A guy in a wetsuit surfing--yes, surfing-- down an irrigation canal!

Jonno Durrant and Stefan Hunt are on an adventure they're calling "Surfing 50 States."

Australian Surfers Ride the Waves in Bluffdale Canal

Jonno Durrant/ Surfing 50 States: "It's just a dream of ours that we devised a couple of years ago, to do some crazy travel. And we thought, what better to try to do than try to conquer all 50 states."

They started on the west coast in August. This canal ride means they can now check Utah off their list-- nine states down, 41 to go!

Stefan Hunt: "We're going canal surfing in a 4x4. The board and a tow rope, cruising along the canal. What better way to surf in Utah?"

Australian Surfers Ride the Waves in Bluffdale Canal

Jonno and Stefan are well aware that they'll have to be somewhat creative in their 50-state journey. They already have-- like yesterday in Idaho.

Stefan Hunt: "We went out to a potato farm, met the farmer. First we skied his conveyor belt. Then after that we went out into the field and got towed behind the tractor on a surfboard."

They also surfed down a huge pile of beets, which was easier said than done.

In Wyoming, they surfed the dry hillsides with a view of the Tetons in the background.

When they're not riding on the surfboards, they're riding in an old ice cream truck from state to state. The truck was donated by one of their sponsors, and gets a lousy eight-miles to the gallon.

Australian Surfers Ride the Waves in Bluffdale Canal

Jonno and Stefan figure their seven-month surfing journey will cost about 40-thousand dollars. They've saved a lot of the money themselves, and for a donation, they'll give you a tee-shirt.

After they're finished Surfin' USA, what then?

Stefan Hunt: "In the back of my mind I keep thinking there are a lot of countries in Europe that need to be surfed! Surfing every country in Europe-- the sequel! Surf the E.U. or something."

After we interviewed the guys today, they were headed up to the mountains to see if there was some snow to surf on. Tomorrow morning, it's off to Colorado.

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