Children enjoy day at beach
Surfing SA hosts training event at Nahoon
SURFING South Africa’s (SSA) Learn to Surf corporate social investment (CSI) programme had 72 children from previously disadvantaged communities treated to a day of beach fun and education at Nahoon Beach in East London on Sunday.
The event formed part of the third stop on the City Surf Series tour, the World Surfing League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) rated Mitchum Buffalo City Surf Pro, presented by Reef Wetsuits.
SSA development officer Daniella Johnson and her team put together an action-packed day during which the kids were fed and taught ocean safety and life skills.
A group of dedicated surfing coaches from Waves 4 Change and Surfers with Original Talent (Swot) took them under their wing.
This was followed by a friendly tag team competition where the kids were split up into four teams and put some of their newly acquired ocean knowledge and skills into practice.
Two of Tsogo Sun’s professional chefs presented the kids with lunch before the group headed across to Nahoon Reef where they watched the finals of the men’s surfing. They then headed to the prize-giving area to receive their medals for competing in the tag team competition.
The kids also each received an event T-shirt and one child was rewarded with a special Sea Harvest teddy bear for showing the best spirit. The CSI component of the City Surf Series is at the base of its success and aims not only at social upliftment but also at producing future surfing champions.
“Our CSI learn to surf programme for the City Surf Series is fundamental to the success of our series. We understand the need to not only provide competitions for those needing the development, but also to expose previously disadvantaged kids to surfing and the positive impact it can have.
“We hope in years to come that kids who have come through these programmes are competing in our events and on the world stage,” Accelerate Sport CEO Edward Gregory said.