After their stirring come from behind win over North Melbourne at Carrara on the weekend, a handful of St Kilda players took some time out on Monday to shot hoops with the Gold Coast Blaze while others hit the surf to receive tips from none other than world champion Stephanie Gilmore at Kurrawa Surf Club.

The 20-year old set the surfing world alight in 2007, winning the world title in her rookie year and was on hand to show David Armitage, Jason Blake, Steven King, Max Hudghton and Fraser Gehrig a few tricks.

‘Armo’ looked right at home in the surf having grown up in Queensland and while his team mates didn’t quite display as natural instinct in the water, they gradually adjusted and improved under the stellar guidance of the world champ.

Across town, Leigh Montagna, Jason Gram, Andrew McQualter and Brendon Goddard met with NBL stars from the Gold Coast Blaze to try their hand at basketball. Fresh off a finals appearance in their debut season, the Blaze is busy preparing for its 2008/09 campaign which gets underway in September.

Gold Coast players Shane Heal, James Harvey, Tyson Demos and Scott McGregor were on hand to show off the silky skills that carried the team to last season’s quarter finals. Leigh Montagna also demonstrated his touch, hitting a half court shot with his first attempt before Jason Gram brought him back down to earth with a towering dunk over the top of the surprised midfielder!

While hanging ten and shooting hoops was a welcome change of scene for the players, it became quite clear after both sporting sessions that the Saints should stick to doing what they do best on the footy field!