Mount Maunganui beach should be swarming with a few extra grommets after a Surfing New Zealand pilot project launched this week at Tay St for primary-aged pupils using funding from Kiwi Sport and regional sports trusts.
The programme is giving primary and intermediate-aged students a shot at surfing under the guidance
of professional surf instructors in a safe and user friendly environment.
The first of several planned programmes kicked off in the Bay of Plenty this week with two days held at Mount Maunganui and one day at Ohope.
"We had a huge response," Surfing New Zealand's sport development manager Lee Ryan, who is based at Papamoa, said.
"The programme proved so popular that we have had to turn some schools away as we simply could not cater for that number of learners."
The two learn to surf days this week at Tay St attracted 240 kids, with another 120 at Ohope.
While much of the focus is on getting youngsters down to the beach for a surfing lesson, the long term vision is also to upskill teachers with an International Surfing Association (ISA) level one coaching certificate so they can continue the surfing programmes within their schools.
Surfing New Zealand will be leading teachers through the two day coaching course as part of the Learn to Surf Programme. Teachers can then use a newly developed Junior Surfing Programme log book which walks them through five levels of surf instruction. It is aimed at children aged under 12.
Ryan said the New Zealand way had been to head to the beach, borrow a board and simply 'give it a go', learning from mistakes.
"We're hoping to avoid troublesome solo attempts and get proper instruction to speed up the learning process. It's bringing a whole new level of kid to surfing - rugby and netball are constantly pushed in schools so why not surfing?
"We've had two Kiwis on the world tour [Maz Quinn and Paige Hareb] but it would be great to think we're helping to foster a few more."
Following the Bay of Plenty pilot this week, Surfing NZ heads to Counties-Manukau next month and Hawke's Bay later in the year.
