Container party to mark successful Surf Swap

GO WITH THE FLO: Gisborne Boardriders Club’s (GBC) surfing development manager and surf swap organiser Florian Bub is looking forward to this year’s “surf swap”, which will be held at GBC’s Surf for Life site — the container next to Midway Surf Life Saving Club, on Sunday. File picture

Surfers and supporters donated so much equipment last year to get Gisborne Boardriders Club’s Surf for Life initiative started that this year’s “surf swap” will be a little different.

The surf swap on February 24 will give boardriders an opportunity to trade surfboards and paraphenalia, but the main point is to say thank you to contributors, says Gisborne Boardriders Club’s surfing development manager Florian Bub.

Contibutions made at last year’s swap went into the GBC’s surf programme for underprivileged youth.

This year’s event will be a big get-together, with food and music at the club’s storage container by Midway Surf Life Saving Club.

“We did the surf swap last year and that got us started with the container,” said Bub.

“Sixty wetsuits and about 10 boards were donated. It was very successful with more than 100 people there. We’re not asking for too many donations this time or we’ll need a new container.”

What is needed for the programme are women’s wetsuits.

Bub hopes kids who have been through the programme, and have learned surfing and water safety skills, will turn up, grab some of the equipment and head into the surf.

Run in collaboration with organisations such as Alternative Education YMCA, and Turanga Ararau the Surf for Life programme runs in five-week blocks.

The surf swap will mark the first time the container is opened on the weekend.

“That’s the goal for the rest of summer — to open it on the weekends.

“We’re not running a usual surf lesson but we hope kids who have been through the programme will come down and use the equipment.”

Gisborne Boardriders Club “surf swap” will be held at the club’s Surf For Life shipping container by Midway Surf Life Saving Club on Sunday, February 24, from 10am to 1.30pm.