We talk a lot about the Surfers and Lakeside Paradise Family, and nothing could be further from the truth... Members become friends for life, share the same passions and also find each other a lot outside our paradises. They go out together, travel together, meet up, the youngsters play sports together and enjoy beach, sea & lake in a safe way... But what you all may not know is that both paradises are also run by a family... a growing family.
Frank learnt windsurfing at a young age as a pioneer in 1975. He was immediately passionate about the sport and found it very exciting to pass on his passion and teach other people the joy of gliding across the water. In 1982, he co-founded Channel Surfing Club and in 1989, Surfers Paradise saw the light of day. After windsurfing came surfing, kitesurfing, supping, foiling etc, each time with the aim of motivating as many people as possible to learn new water sports and have fun doing them together. When Joyce (35), Frank's daughter, was born in 1986, the succession was assured.
Growing up on the beach as a real water rat, she earned her first spurs in the "Sunset bar" selling drinks and ice creams since the age of 13. After her studies in 2005, she took up her responsibilities in the hospitality industry and came to work full time at Surfers Paradise. After a few years as a hospitality manager, she took the plunge to become general manager, under Frank's wing. Meanwhile, we are more than 9 years on and Surfers Paradise is her home and indispensable part of her sunny life. Joyce is also a busy bee on the sports front as surfing, windsurfing, wakeboarding, skateboarding & snowboarding are all among her hobbies. In 2012, a new sport joined the family: wakeboarding on the Duinenwatermeer with the launch of Lakeside Paradise. The perfect job for Natalie, wife of Frank to run the day-to-day management. With a degree in business management, and already a career behind her as a shop manager at Mexx, Chill Out and O'Neill Sales rep, she already came from the surfing world and learned windsurfing, kitesurfing, snowboarding, surfing and wakeboarding in no time...
Quincy (35), daughter Joyce's (handy)husband, was there with Natalie from day 1 to build and run Lakeside Paradise. A very exciting moment for him in 2012 when Frank asked to join the family business. He was working as a welder on naval ships in Zeebrugge, but after hearing about the Lakeside dream, he stepped fully into the watersports story. To this day, this has been the best decision in his life in terms of work. Thus, he has also discovered many boardsports like kitesurfing, wakeboarding & surfing, having previously done a lot of skateboarding. Due to numerous family trips to the mountains, he has therefore been bitten by snowboarding: For him, this is still the greatest feeling of freedom! Familially, Joyce & Quincy were lucky to become mum and dad in 2020 of a hefty son, Nate, who is already a real water rat... all in the family! They thought their family was complete until suddenly in late 2020 another little surprise grew in Joyce's tummy... And there she was... in September 2021 little princess Ivy. Slightly older is Natalie's son, Berend (22) who already earned his spurs on the mat, in the hiring of Lakeside Paradise and also at Surfers Paradise provided all the help where needed. It was Berend who, during a visit to the kiekenkot" in Ostend, suggested that "chicken on a spit" should also be offered on Lakeside Paradise, and so it was. Then there is Faye (14), daughter of Frank and Natalie, who at the age of 12 already asked if she could not help out a bit at Surfers Paradise. First early in the morning at the opening, later to make sandwiches and even later to do the reception and answer phones, Faye is already standing her ground! Surfing is her big speciality, but she has also already mastered kitesurfing,wakeboarding, skateboarding and snowboarding! And last but not least there is Ike (13), already 2x Belgian Champion wakeboarding with the mini boys, surfer, kitesurfer and also kiteboarder. He loves helping out at the Tomorrow team training sessions and can't wait until he is old enough to get his diplomas so he can give water sports camps. So you see, it's all-in the family, welcome to our world!