South Coast Surfers to Get a Boost Thanks to New Scholarship Opportunities

Our Member Surfing NSW is pleased to announce a new scholarship program for junior surfers and coaches on the NSW south coast.

The South Coast Surfing Academy program is offered in partnership with Surfing NSW, South East Sports Academy and in conjunction with Illawarra Academy Of Sport for talented young surfers and coaches, from Kiama down to Bega.

South East Sports Academy (SESA) is a new regional academy of sport in NSW that is being administered by the Office of Sport.

SESA will provide development opportunities for talented athletes and coaches in the south east area of NSW with the boundaries aligned with the Canberra Region Joint Organisation of Councils.

"The South Coast Surfing Academy is the perfect platform for promising South Coast junior surfers and coaches to be able to chase their passion and gain a helping hand in their chosen field," said Surfing NSW CEO Luke Madden. "Over the years the NSW south coast has produced some incredible surfers like Owen, Tyler and Mikey Wright, Sally Fitzgibbons, the MacDonald twins, Mick Lowe and Shane Wehner and is now home to coaches like former World Champion Pam Burridge. We hope that the South Coast Surfing Academy program will allow the region to keep producing champions in the forthcoming years."

The program supplements any home based coaching and training program that the surfer has in place and provides surfers with skill assessment and development, education, strength and conditioning and personal development.

The surfing program will include two two-day training camps and three one-day satellite training days plus the opportunity to participate in competitions. The squad will be divided into a northern squad (Kiama and Shoalhaven) and a southern squad (Bega and Eurobodalla), with satellite programs being held in each area. The whole squad will come together for camps.

The program will run for approximately nine months commencing in October and concluding in June. Scholarship holders will be required to undergo an induction process, attend weekend training camps, and participate in academy activities.

The coaching scholarship provides financial support to accredit and upskill coaching qualifications as well as mentoring support to help coaches gain valuable elite level experience whilst augmenting their knowledge and skills through hands-on coaching and education opportunities.

For more information visit Surfing NSW

Image: Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW