Disabled Surfers event to be held in February
Central Coast Disabled Surfers Association will hold a "Smiles on Dials" surfing event at Umina Beach on Saturday, February 3.
"We need large volunteer numbers to make our surfing experience safe and enjoyable," said association president Ms Rae Fletcher.
Interested volunteers are asked to register online at https://bit.ly/3FebEvent prior to the event.
This would allow organisers to decide how many surfers would be accepted on the day, she said.
"Volunteering consists of helping participants to and from the beach, assisting them in and out of the water and helping set up and clean up.
"Volunteers do not need to know how to surf although water skills are highly valued.
"A water refill station and a rash shirt will be provided for the day, but volunteers are encouraged to bring their own wetsuits.
"Volunteers will also be accepted on the day.
A sausage sizzle will be provided.
Ms Fletcher said the association was a volunteer-run organisation that "enables people of all ages and abilities to take part in one of Australia's most popular past-times, beach surfing". "Volunteers serve to provide a unique, safe, and happy surfing experience to a wide range of people with various disabilities who would otherwise be unable to access the beach.
"To ensure safety, the association has a high volunteer to participant ratio, with a minimum of 6:1 up to as high as 30:1 for more challenging participants.
"We only surf in broken waves, in waist depth water.
"Volunteers help participants enjoy the experience that abled bodied people often take for granted.
"The Disabled Surfers Association was established in 1986 and currently has 19 branches across Australia and New Zealand."
SOURCE:
Media release, 5 Jan 2024
Rae Fiechter, CCDSA