The tide is turning for local surfing, with increasing numbers of Sapphire Coast women of all ages hitting the surf.
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Pambula surfer Peta Lehoczky said the Sapphire Coast Boardriders Club has seen an number of local women participating in their competitions on a regular basis.
To help encourage more adult women, to consider picking up a board, Ms Lehoczky helped bring an All Women's Surf and Wellness Camp to Merimbula.
During April Chix Surf School and Smoothstar ran the camp that was specifically designed to cater for women over 18 of different ranges and abilities.
Twenty-two ladies participated in the five day event with four women travelling up from Mallacoota.
“This was very exciting for the women of the area as this is the first of its kind,” Ms Lehoczky said.
“There is a general growth in women’s surfing and in the Sapphire Coast the numbers are growing very fast.”
The camp began with a beginner - intermediate session in which the women concentrated on improving their pop ups and trimming across the wave in both directions.
Each lady had video footage of themselves surfing which enabled the coaches to critique. Ms Lehoczky said this greatly helped with improving technique.
The second group was intermediate to advance where the women worked on a range of turns and creating speed on a wave.
“The third group was a pure beginners group for women who have never surfed before and have never had the opportunity to,” she said.
The women were also introduced to and coached on the Smoothstar Surf Trainer board. This board is specifically designed to help improve your surfing technique and train on land.
“All of the women who participated in the camp walked away with so much excitement and feeling more confident in the water and on the Smoothstars,” Ms Lehoczky said.
Chic Surf School owner and founder Gee Cormack said “the camp exceeded her expectations and she was thrilled with the enthusiasm everyone brought to the camp”.
Ms Lehoczky said the camp was such a success they are looking at running another one in 2018.
“The camp could not have happened without the amazing support from our community,” she said.
Ms Lehoczky specifically thanked Club Sapphire, XO Foods, Merimbula Wharf and Aquarium, Sun Deck Cafe, The Waterfront, Wheelers Restaurant, The Picture Showman, Bar Beach Kiosk and Angi High Photography.
