Surfboard riding is one of the most popular pleasure activities on the Gold and Tweed Coasts.
But surfboard riding is also a skill that takes some time to master as well as having an adequate knowledge of ocean processes.
With the advent of tourists coming here because of the worldwide exposure of the Quiksilver Pro and the world wide media coverage of the famous Snapper Super Bank, we also now have many surf schools teaching people how to get out there and rip it up like Kelly Slater or Steph Gilmore.
Unfortunately this has created a problem with novice surfers now being in the line up when they should be on the shore watching or taking photos.
Last Saturday I pulled a guy out of the Paddle Out at D’bah in four to five foot surf where this guy couldn’t even lie on his board properly, let alone duck dive.
When asked, he said the hostel had given him and his mates the board for a day hire but had no idea whether he could surf or not.
This is the problem. We have accommodation houses, surf shops and surf schools hiring out boards to people who don’t have the skill to use them safely.
More education is needed and more regulations need to be introduced so that only surfers with the necessary skills and ocean awareness are actually allowed in the line up, especially a crowded line up like our local breaks.
We have a Duty Of Care to preserve surfing as a pleasure activity, not as a struggle for life and death.
If they can’t surf or read the ocean, get them in the flags on a boogie board or bodysurf before we have to send them home in a bodybag.
Dave Burdon
Tweed Heads
