Watch: Maurice Cole on the nightmare that turned into a blessing

Stu Nettle picture
Stu Nettle (stunet)
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We ran this one on the forums last week, embedded it off Instagram, yet it deserves a wider audience and filmer Peter Baker has obliged with a higher quality copy.

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Bnkref's picture
Bnkref's picture
Bnkref Monday, 3 Aug 2020 at 12:05pm

Thanks for giving it the attention it deserves.

Excellent to hear some very good news in what's a dark period down here in Vic.

blowfly's picture
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blowfly Monday, 3 Aug 2020 at 12:14pm

Good on you Maurice. Great to hear, stay well legend!

JM's picture
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JM Monday, 3 Aug 2020 at 12:41pm

Thank you Maurice — soooo good to hear.

zenagain's picture
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zenagain Monday, 3 Aug 2020 at 1:10pm

MC- so glad to hear the good news after so long of no news.

When all this covid madness dies down, hope to see you back here in Japan.

Taprobane's picture
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Taprobane Monday, 3 Aug 2020 at 1:48pm

Wow inspirational stuff! Puts my trivial ,self centred problems into perspective. Been very close to shelving surfing altogether with a run of covid inactivity, weight gain and subsequent lack of performance.
Thanks Maurice- as you say 'there is light" .

NDC's picture
NDC's picture
NDC Tuesday, 4 Aug 2020 at 2:02pm

+1 on being at risk of shelving surfing - weight gain, covid surf crowds, niggling injuries - trying to find my way back to fitness, lose weight and find the love of surfing again now - fuck it’s a mountain though at 51 yoa and a with 12 consecutive weeks out of the water. Wish u luck in trying to rekindle the fire tropobane

memlasurf's picture
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memlasurf Wednesday, 5 Aug 2020 at 3:43pm

Try it when you are 10 years older and surfing with your son and his mates who are late twenties, and who you used to surf rings around! Your on a very slippery slope from now on.

NDC's picture
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NDC Thursday, 6 Aug 2020 at 7:58am

Thans Memla and Mickpalmy - think my plan is to get a new board with a litttle more volume for extar assistance and inspo .... then never take another long break till I'm really ready to throw in the towell - haha ... in 10 years time it'll be my 20 year old duaghters (rather than sons) who are surfing rinds around me - if I'm lucky enough that they continue getting in the water haha - cheers boys

palmymick's picture
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palmymick Tuesday, 4 Aug 2020 at 3:01pm

I hear ya
I just bought a new board (seemingly along with the rest of Oz) and that has renewed the vigor for a surf, always does
That and my young bloke giving me a metaphoric kick up the arse
Maurice just confirmed I'm on the right path!!!

3dfins's picture
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3dfins Monday, 3 Aug 2020 at 1:52pm

such great news Maurice is an amazing guy and a gift to surfing.

servant's picture
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servant Monday, 3 Aug 2020 at 2:34pm

Amen Brother. All Praise, thanks & Glory to God.
Romans 8:28

Webbsmart's picture
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Webbsmart Thursday, 6 Aug 2020 at 9:12pm

Human faces a life threatening illness and with help from science lives: all glory to god.
Human faces a life threatening illness, and even with the help of science, lives but doesn’t have the quality of life that one would hope for: god works in mysterious ways.
Human faces a life threatening illness and the medical crew put all their knowledge of science into saving them, but the human dies: Well they are with god now.

servant's picture
servant's picture
servant Thursday, 6 Aug 2020 at 9:58pm

Thanks Webbsmart.
No offence taken or intended : I'm not sure if your comment is sarcastic against God or for the Truth (Jesus God)? see John 8:32
Anyway I'm a Christian, a cancer patient too, a keen surfer since 1973 and actually I'm eager to go home to be with Him, the creator of all things, sooner than later.
The definition of "science" is the search for the truth about the world we live in. I did a Science degree at Melbourne University.
God Bless you.
see Isaiah 55:8-9

andy-mac's picture
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andy-mac Monday, 3 Aug 2020 at 3:22pm

Thank you for those very wise words!
May good health be with you.

Sunnysideup's picture
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Sunnysideup Monday, 3 Aug 2020 at 3:25pm

Good on you Maurice. You lifted my day. Sending you a big hug.

love surfing hate surfers's picture
love surfing hate surfers's picture
love surfing ha... Monday, 3 Aug 2020 at 5:33pm

That was awesome! Good luck to you MC. Legend.

Ingings's picture
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Ingings Monday, 3 Aug 2020 at 5:51pm

Great news, Maurice. I still remember you from when you were a little grommet in Warrnambool.

Dazza27's picture
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Dazza27 Monday, 3 Aug 2020 at 7:09pm

Awesome news for the great MC. An inspirational human!!

Rochko B's picture
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Rochko B Monday, 3 Aug 2020 at 7:21pm

Walking down to the beach, with a brand new bodyboard one of my sisters just offered me, my australian neighbour down the street swings open his kitchen window and asks me what I think I'm doing. "Going surfing". "That's not surfing". Next think I know he shaped me a surfboard.
Life is good.
Merci Maurice

Finntim's picture
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Finntim Monday, 3 Aug 2020 at 7:56pm

Thanks for the joy Maurice, never been a better time.

Old Gregg's picture
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Old Gregg Monday, 3 Aug 2020 at 8:03pm

Incredible!
Was going to call the am paddle off because its cold. my backs sore, got surfers ear ect. Bugger that! I’m grabbing life tomorrow. thanks Maurice!!

stanfrance's picture
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stanfrance Monday, 3 Aug 2020 at 8:21pm

Well done Maurice, great to hear the positive news. Keep kicking goals!

fad's picture
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fad Monday, 3 Aug 2020 at 9:51pm

Some welcome good news. Respect to a surf board maker that just makes boards. Still got my MC gun on the rack. One day soon hopefully......

evosurfer's picture
evosurfer's picture
evosurfer Monday, 3 Aug 2020 at 9:55pm

Thats so inspirational to so many people.
Keep positive, fit, shaping and surfing.
Maurice your amazing.

Nickc's picture
Nickc's picture
Nickc Monday, 3 Aug 2020 at 10:03pm

Thanks Maurice
Thanks for sharing
So glad to hear you're good news
Nick
PS
You made me a nice 6'7" board 15 years ago

AlwaysOffshore's picture
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AlwaysOffshore Monday, 3 Aug 2020 at 10:17pm

That's amazing Maurice. Please keep gifting the surfing humanity with your rockers and deep concaves of life. Yewww!

leeBell's picture
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leeBell Monday, 3 Aug 2020 at 10:42pm

Great news to hear from you Maurice and to hear some good news that you have got through such a dark time of health issues. Waves Roll Always. Watch for me waving to you at Bells Pioneer Day hopefully in 2021

fitzfoo61's picture
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fitzfoo61 Tuesday, 4 Aug 2020 at 12:40am

Really glad to see the light arrived MC....

views from the cockpit's picture
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views from the ... Tuesday, 4 Aug 2020 at 3:22am

Good stuff and its great that the medicine did what it was designed for.
That should provide encouragement to others with medical conditions plus the therapeutical benefit of surfing for happiness and mental well-being cant be understated.
Keep those shapes coming!

Island Bay's picture
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Island Bay Tuesday, 4 Aug 2020 at 4:21am

So good to see the joy in your eyes and your heart, Maurice.

I hope you have good people around you to share it with.

theblacksheep's picture
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theblacksheep Tuesday, 4 Aug 2020 at 8:26am

Fuck yea
That’s the kinda of news I like to watch and hear
Thanks so much for sharing Maurice

theblacksheep's picture
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theblacksheep Tuesday, 4 Aug 2020 at 8:26am

Fuck yea
That’s the kinda of news I like to watch and hear
Thanks so much for sharing Maurice

aussieguy's picture
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aussieguy Tuesday, 4 Aug 2020 at 9:36am

Maurice, you are a beacon of light and hope in these dark days. Thank you.

rogerelastic's picture
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rogerelastic Tuesday, 4 Aug 2020 at 1:19pm

Inspirational Maurice - thanks for passing around your joy for living

SI's picture
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SI Tuesday, 4 Aug 2020 at 1:29pm

Loved it, and the very solid message of turning adversity into something good. This feeling of light has a unifying element which came across strongly and I agree its a time to unite, not divide. It’s a time we can help each other out and look out for each other. Awesome message Maurice which reflected beautifully on you.

Dave Drinkwater's picture
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Dave Drinkwater Tuesday, 4 Aug 2020 at 2:52pm

Thank you, humbling...

Zenmaster's picture
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Zenmaster Tuesday, 4 Aug 2020 at 3:55pm

Awesome news MC
When I ordered my weapon recently I was shocked to hear you weren’t doing well .. so stoked to see you and your son sharing the positive vibes for a session at Winki
Keep on powering .
Ps love those wild fins

drew.mcpherson's picture
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drew.mcpherson Tuesday, 4 Aug 2020 at 5:45pm

These days I'm so used to seeing people whining about the world it was really odd seeing someone make a video just to say how happy they are. What an awesome video.

H2O's picture
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H2O Tuesday, 4 Aug 2020 at 8:31pm

Stoked for you Maurice and thanks for sharing it!!

brent383's picture
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brent383 Tuesday, 4 Aug 2020 at 9:42pm

Fuarkin legend good to hear. Was epic to hear his stories on ain’t that swell

Polly2's picture
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Polly2 Thursday, 6 Aug 2020 at 4:31pm

Will be looking that up right now. Cheers champion

JamesFerguson's picture
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JamesFerguson Saturday, 8 Aug 2020 at 6:29am

He also does a good one with Horses Mouth podcast from a while ago

Dazman's picture
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Dazman Wednesday, 5 Aug 2020 at 7:47am

Good on you Maurice. I look forward to seeing you back out there in the line up at Bells some time soon.

Dazman's picture
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Dazman Wednesday, 5 Aug 2020 at 7:47am

Good on you Maurice. I look forward to seeing you back out there in the line up at Bells some time soon.

spiggy topes's picture
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spiggy topes Wednesday, 5 Aug 2020 at 9:14am

You are inspiring Maurice best wishes and respect from your brothers and sisters on Minjerribah.

nasigoreng's picture
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nasigoreng Wednesday, 5 Aug 2020 at 9:47am

Whenever anyone, friend or stranger gives a message this heartfelt - it is beautiful and inspiring. Thankyou Sir Brutus!

Polly2's picture
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Polly2 Thursday, 6 Aug 2020 at 4:29pm

Spot on mate.. Thankyou

ken.vincent's picture
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ken.vincent Wednesday, 5 Aug 2020 at 11:21am

Thanks Maurice. I'm amazed to say I have had a very similar journey this year, and have also been waiting for the "light". I have one more procedure to go, and hopefully get the all clear. Your joy and positivity have let me know I can aspire to great things again!. I hope to see you in the lineup at Bells or Rincon again, and I'll make a point of saying g'day.

ken.vincent's picture
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ken.vincent Wednesday, 5 Aug 2020 at 11:24am

PS: How shit is it when your best mate is the porcelain trumpet?.

I focus's picture
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I focus Wednesday, 5 Aug 2020 at 3:08pm

That was good Maurice long may it continue,

The Shaper's picture
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The Shaper Wednesday, 5 Aug 2020 at 5:26pm

funny how things we cant measure, can't see, are not tangible and have no financial value are so real, and yet can add so much value to so many .........very very well spoken Maurice, I felt your Joy as I watched and listened. "these three things are true, trust(faith) hope and love" ..................

dinnerdish's picture
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dinnerdish Wednesday, 5 Aug 2020 at 9:29pm

you appear to have a great acceptance of what is MC and thats always a humbling approach to living and dying well

bbbird's picture
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bbbird Wednesday, 5 Aug 2020 at 10:23pm

A flower in the desert

Craig's picture
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Craig Thursday, 6 Aug 2020 at 8:04am

Great news MC and all the best from here on as well.

ludoz's picture
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ludoz Thursday, 6 Aug 2020 at 10:41am

For French surfers like myself he's a hero, legend is he showed us the way of the tube at La Graviere. I remember seeing him checking the waves when I was very young. Now as a Margaret River resident he's still one of the top 3 people in surfing I respect the most. Thanks Maurice.

spelled3's picture
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spelled3 Thursday, 6 Aug 2020 at 12:49pm

Great news. Go Maurice!

Polly2's picture
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Polly2 Thursday, 6 Aug 2020 at 4:25pm

After 3 months of 24/7 agony with chronic ulcer on shin (diabetes/ heart desease), I ‘was’ nearly defeated. Even after my new ‘ol school new school cross’ board arrived couple weeks ago. But hearing the great man putting perspective on the similar ways I usually think.... I have just been given the best boost roost and kick up the backside I needed. Thankyou sooo much to everyone for sharing your comments and everyone involved in bringing this to us all. And especially the man himself. I hope I get the honour of meeting MC one day.. learning from greatness is the ultimate life experience
Cheers everyone

69longboarder's picture
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69longboarder Thursday, 6 Aug 2020 at 11:09pm

Best wishes M.C
You have done it all, and I hope you go around again.
Legend!

Shelds's picture
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Shelds Friday, 7 Aug 2020 at 11:11am

Wow such a life of challenges and inspirational bounce back. Thanks for the boards, thanks for the inspiration. Ps good to see you still havent managed to burn down the factory.

Supafreak's picture
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Supafreak Friday, 7 Aug 2020 at 6:29pm

Fantastic news MC I’ve always wanted one of your boards especially the ones for older not so slim anymore generation , MC if you truly want a challenge how about running for PM ? Seriously mate you could do a awesome job and we know you would be fair dinkum

the-u-turn's picture
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the-u-turn Saturday, 8 Aug 2020 at 10:15am

That was nice. Indeed MC has straddled both sides of admiration and despair. But, there is nothing better than seeing the joy and glow of humanity at it's best.

DaWaveslave's picture
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DaWaveslave Saturday, 8 Aug 2020 at 12:37pm

Wow Maurice, what a journey. Glad you made it through. My father also had cancer treatment through the pandemic, really stressful but hes ok too now.
As others have said, we can all draw from your inspiration, strength, positivity.
Thanks.

Roystein's picture
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Roystein Saturday, 8 Aug 2020 at 12:56pm

What an inspiring outlook and approach to life. Onya Maurice

Joe annetts's picture
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Joe annetts Saturday, 8 Aug 2020 at 2:16pm

Maurice. I have seen you around the Surf Coast on land and in the water, and read about your long history in the surf industry. An incredible story and this latest piece is inspirational. Take care and I hope to see you again soon around the 2 footers.

bellavista's picture
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bellavista Saturday, 8 Aug 2020 at 2:27pm

Hey maurie if your reading comments , always liked the rev vee, in better waves
How about making me a 7’6” 2 + 1 with Rev vee ?
We’re both older now hahahaha

Pete Howcroft's picture
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Pete Howcroft Tuesday, 11 Aug 2020 at 9:14am

WOW!
I love the part of the story where you pray .
Truly humble and massively inspiring.
Best news Ive heard in so long