A heritage surfing club on the Far South Coast is undergoing quite a revival.
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After a 10-year hiatus, the Sapphire Coast Boardriders club is set to relaunch this weekend with a registration day.
Surfing advocate Patricia Mills said the club had been founded in the late 1970s as the Merimbula Boardriders Club with local surfers Steve Podger and Mark Simmonds at the helm.
Over the decades, the club re-emerged with a new cohort of young surfers getting involved.
In the 1980s, Danny Nuegent and Simon Emms were heavily involved, while Peter Byard and Matthew “Rocket” McGuire ran the club in the 1990s.
Ms Mills said this was “just to name a few” and the club had an extensive history.
Unfortunately, interest waned and the club had a steady decline throughout the 2000s, but a group has rekindled the spark of excitement and is looking to relaunch the club.
Now, under the guidance of local surfer and incoming president Craig Ryan, an enthusiastic committee of passionate surfers and supporters has been formed to rejuvenate the club this year.
“There’s lots of energy and new ideas are flowing,” Mr Ryan said.
“We’re looking forward to an exciting first year back in action.
“We have a really strong and supportive surfing community in this area and this is a way we surfers can give something back to this community.”
Ms Mills will serve as a women’s representative on the committee and is encouraging women and girls to get involved.
“For a long time surfing had been a male dominated sport, but it’s really not the case anymore,” she said.
“It’s not uncommon in our area to see at least equal numbers of girls and women enjoying a surf, attitudes in the line up are changing and the Boardriders Club is committed to supporting this change.”
Ms Mills said the revitalised club is inclusive of all surfers and will be offering something for everyone, no matter their age, gender, or ability.
The primary focus of the club will be to unite active surfers and encourage and cultivate up and coming young surfers, who are still learning the sport.
With this in mind, the group has set five dates for friendly competitions to run throughout the year.
Mr Ryan said the club also had social events brewing as well as plans to host some surfing workshops with plans in the pipeline to include beginners and women’s only workshops.
To grow interest, the club is holding a registration day this Saturday from 2pm to 6pm at the clubhouse at Main Beach Merimbula. A barbecue and drinks will be available, while local musicians will provide tunes throughout the session.
All interested surfers are also encouraged to bring their board.