Sunshine Coast women's surf club may close
Tue 11 November 2008
Elaine Blattner, Journalism
The only remaining all-girls surf club on the Sunshine Coast is on the brink of closing down by the end of the year.
Sunshine Coast Girls Boardriders Club is considering shutting down after more than 20 years due to lack of members, an ongoing committee and helpers.
Club president Scarlett Siri says many people are leaving at the end of the year and there will not be enough members or a committee to keep it going.
“The club is struggling ... we need people to join and people to help out and be a part of the committee,” Ms Siri says.
“The club needs more coaches with coaching certificates.”
Ms Siri says the club has been very committed, with many people putting in hours and money to build the club’s reputation.
“It would be a shame to see it shut down, we’ve put in a lot of work,” Ms Siri says.
“The club has a lot of good equipment.”
Sunshine Coast Girls Boardriders Club was originally known as Women in the Waves, created by Lynn Jones in the late 1980s, and became a part of Surfing Australia, meaning the club provided a surfing certificate and first aid coaching.
The club was created to encourage women into surfing, as it was a male dominated sport.
Kerris McLiver, who has been a part of the club for six years and was a previous president, says that women’s surfing is at an all-time low.
“When I first joined there was strong member base but the last two years membership has gone down,” Ms McLiver says.
“A lot of girls are interested but it’s hard to get people there to do the work.”
Additionally, some of the strongest all-girls surfing clubs with secure memberships and sponsors have closed down recently, or are considering doing so.
Ms McLiver believes this is due to increasingly busy lifestyles or commitments to other clubs, and even though participants are keen, the financial support for the younger girls comes from the parents.
Kristen Veltmeyer, a surfing coach who has been with the club for three years, says it is brimming with activities for all ages and skill types.
“We organise monthly club days where beginners can have a free lesson with ladies who understand exactly what it was like to be in your position,” Ms Veltmeyer says.
“We are supportive and friendly and welcome any newcomers no matter what age and ability. “We organise friendly surf comps, trips away ... and beach activities.”
All three women agree that the club is about girls getting together, supporting each other to have a good time and get fit, regardless of age or skill level.
“It’s an iconic club on the Coast, and we really need some new committee members to spice it up,” Ms Veltmeyer says.
“We could breathe new life into it and get a whole new wave of keen surfer girls.”
For enquiries or to join the club call Scarlett Siri on 0401525659.
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Submitted Comments
Well done Elaine! This is terrific!
Kristen Veltmeyer