Surfers will regularly dodge bull sharks and a fast-moving current to get to the legendary break at South Stradbroke Island. For many, the exhilaration is priceless. But according to the researcher and surfer Neil Lazarow, the break off Queensland's Gold Coast is worth about AU$20m (€12m) a year, if you add up what surfers spend on food, equipment and petrol to get to the spot.