SURFING –
Central Coast Surf Academy recently received $2,500 to help encourage women and girls into surfing as part of a new focus on equality in the sport.
Head coach and owner, Amee Donohue, said the money will help offer free surf lessons to the children of their female members.
“As mums ourselves, we know how hard it is to take time for yourself to surf or do mental or physical activity, so we are so happy to be able to provide this opportunity for our local community of time poor mums,” Donohue said.
“We are making it easy and affordable for kids and mums to learn to surf together.
“They can then enjoy a safe and fun lifestyle with their children off surfing together.
“It is so important [to encourage women into surfing] as it is such a healthy sport for your mind and body and women have created such connection with each other and their own surfing families by being in the water surfing.”
The academy currently offers surfing lessons at Avoca Beach, Copacabana Beach, Terrigal Beach, Wamberal Beach, Macmasters Beach and Ocean Beach.
“We coach hundreds of women and girls every year at all ages and levels, from mini groms five-year-olds, and up to [60]-year-old women trying surfing for the first time,” Donohue said.
“We coach professional surfers to compete and lots of teenage intermediate girls who are really becoming confident in the water with a high surfing ability.”
Donohue said the academy will continue to encourage women to surf, aiming to launch ladies beginner and intermediate surf camps in 2022.
The inaugural round of the Her Wave ‘Get Her Onboard’ Grants Program offered 20 NSW surf schools and club projects a share in $50,000.
“We would like to thank all applicants for the time and effort invested in submitting an application under the Grants Program,” Surfing NSW Programs Manager, Claire Ellem, said.
“We appreciated the opportunity to consider all applications and learn more about each organisation.”
The program was built on the back of stage one of the ROXY and Her Wave “Get Her Onboard” campaign earlier this year, which resulted in 1,100 women joining the ROXY and Her Wave community, which included being offered discounted learn to surf lessons through their local participating surf school.
Maisy Rae