Cairns city's great outdoors
Lauren Meade, cable/wake skier and manager of the Cable Ski Park at Smithfield.
THIS Cairns action girl has shunned the uninspiring confines of the traditional workplace for a room with a different view: the action, adventure and beauty of the city's outdoors.
What many people pay for the privilege of doing, Lauren Mead, 26, does for an occupation. The champion cable/wake skier is also the manager of the Cable Ski Park at Smithfield, handy for keeping up her skills.
She has travelled the world with her sport and says hers is truly her dream job. Lauren, 26, has been in retail management for more than 10 years and started at the Cable Park in 2005 when it opened.
A work day at the park can entail retail work in the pro shop, working in the cafeteria and ticketing departments, cable operations, wakeboard and watersport coaching, running the online story on ebay "and of course wakeboarding".
Lauren says the biggest perk of the job is that she can wakeboard whenever she wants, which is why she fell in love with the job.
"I also get to travel around the world for wakeboard championships regularly, experience amazing countries and meet great people," Lauren says.
"I love being in an industry that I am so passionate about. I love watersports and the weather of tropical North Queensland, so it'sperfect."
The job is a dream come true for the blonde bombshell.
"I always wanted to be a pro surfer and living in Cairns - not possible! As soon as I was introduced to wakeboarding I knew it's what I wanted to do.
"Every day is great when you teach watersports as well. There's so many funny crashes you see and great times to be had when learning. A lot of my friends are in the industry here in Australia and around the world, though the ones that aren't are always interested in what I'm doing or where I'mgoing.
"It takes a lot of explaining sometimes as the cable wakeboarding industry is only just beginning in Australia, though so popular in Europe and other parts of the world. Once people understand the concept of doing watersports being pulled by a cable rather than a boat, they always want to come and have a go."
And Lauren says working on site has improved her skills.
"I've been able to train when I want and have had loads of support from family, friends and the owners of the cable park. I hope to be in this position for as long as my body can keep wakeboarding and more. Fingers crossed for no injuries and I should be here for a while."
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