Surfing in Australia

Australian Surf Australia is renowned as one of the world's premier surfing destinations. Its 37,000 km coastline is blessed with beach, reef and point breaks to challenge the most experienced board-rider. Surfing was brought to Australia in 1915 by Hawaiian Duke Kahanamoku. He demonstrated this ancient Hawaiian board riding technique at Freshwater (or Harbord) in Sydney, New South Wales. Surfing is an iconic Australian pastime that is enjoyed by by more than 2.5 million Australians. The Sweeney Report indicates there are two and a half million surfers in Australia and shows 14% of the population are active surfers. In the year 2011 107 Affiliated Surf Schools Operating on over 550 Beaches Australia Wide. SURF SCHOOL 2,292 Surfing Australia Accredited Coaches Over 1 in 10 Australians are 212 Affiliated Boardriders Clubs surfers (Gemba 2010) CLUBS More than 20 National Events Annually 3 in 10 surfers are Female (Gemba 2010) Australia's 8 greatest surf spots Around a third of non surfers would be interested in learining to surf (Gemba 2010) According to Na- tional Geographic one of the top 10 Noosa - Point Break, QLD Margaret River – Yallingup and Prevelly Park, WA Surf Schools is Snapper Rocks, Byron, Australia QLD at #5 slot. Crescent Head, NSW North Coast - Angourie to Byron Bay, NSW Torquay – Bells Beach, VIC Seal Rocks and Pacific Palms, NSW- Northern Beaches, NSW Top 5: Best Australian Surfers Mark Richards Mark Occhilupo Layne Beachley Tom Carroll Steph Gilmore A research was conducted by staff member of Southern Cross University's school of health and Human Sciences. A total of 772 surfers accessed the Southern Cross survey web site with 685 of these completed the majority of questions, thus University representing a response rate of 88.7%. 1. A total of 272 (38.4%) of 685 respondents indicated that they had sustained an injury in the 12 months 2. Of the 389 reported injuries the most common forms were identified as involving the: Head (n = 50; 12.8%) Neck and spine (n = 31; 7.9%) Shoulder (n = 51; 13.1%) Torso (n = 54, 13.9%) %3D Arm, including hand (n 27; 6.9%) Hip/groin/leg (n = 35; 9.0%) Knee (n = 62, 15.9%) Ankle and foot (n = 58; 14.9%) Surf Safety tips 1. All surfers must now how to swim 6. Protect your head 2. Surf on a lifeguarded beach whenever possible 7. Sun protection 3. Seal Rocks and Pacific 8. Use a leash Palms, NSW 9. Never depend on a leash as a life saving devic 4. Rip current survival 5. Don't dive headfirst /protect 10. The buddy system your neck How to choose your surfboard 1. 2. 3. 1. Surfboard length 2. Surfboard shape 3. Surfboard construction For more information please visit www.surfboardsdirect.com.au/choosing-your-board.html