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Scrap Facebook. Hit the surf instead.

Scrap Facebook. Hit the surf instead.

As Gold Coasters we love sharing our waterways and beaches with our mates, but with the new age of technology and social media, we see ourselves and the next generation becoming more distant from friends and less likely to spend time outdoors. Our latest crops of local surfers are finding new ways to scrap the ongoing bombardment of social media and share their tips on riding the wave of ongoing enjoyment and positive health.

The young people from Burleigh Heads have come up with a simple solution: surfing. “The surf is all the entertainment you need. It is one big playground and it lets you escape your laptops and iPhones,” says Burleigh Boardriders junior president, Toby Mossop. These young kids aren’t just taking away the temptation of social media but also grabbing onto stronger networks of real friends, not just cyber friends online.

Cameron Macdougall By Cory Roberts Surfing Queensland

 Fit for life

Studies from the Australian Bureau of Statistics discovered that one in four Australian kids are overweight or obese, and that Australian kids’ most common past time is using screen-based activities, such as computers, TVs, phones, etc. It is obvious that these matters link together and are responsible for the increased incidence of these conditions over the past years. Our new generation has a problem to solve. The innovative attitude of young surfers and beachgoers can be a solution and method to tackling these issues.

Not only are these young surfers keeping fit and forming strong social networks, they are gaining knowledge and experience in our oceans. As Gold Coasters our beaches and waterways are regularly used by everyone and can be a dangerous hazard at the best of times, making surf safety and awareness 100 percent necessary for all kids. “All of the junior members of the club are able to surf and swim without the aid and assistance of a parent or guardian,” says junior coach Jed Denison.

Water safe

Kids need to learn to swim and feel comfortable at an early age. Children as young as four months old can start getting suitable lessons to help them understand getting wet is a part of life. After a child has learned to swim, then it is time to start thinking about nippers at your local Surf Life Saving Club, where kids can start as young as five years old. These skills last a life time. Tobby Mossop agrees, “It has helped me so much, I wouldn’t be as confident in the water as I am now if it was not for the nippers.”

A new trend of surfing at the Boardriders clubs on the coast includes taking in kids from four to 12 years old, where they go surfing with the assistance of parents or guardians. This is a great way for kids to make friends and get mum or dad involved. Check out Surfing Queensland clubs to know where this program is available.

Hopefully, if we can teach and guide our generation of kids to become healthy and active on our waters, it can become not only a solution to childhood obesity and other social problems, but also another way for kids to have fun and be active.

By Byron Hoskins

Main Photo – Rip Curl Grom Search By Cory Roberts Surfing Queensland

Insert Photo – Young Surfer Cameron Macdougall By Cory Roberts Surfing Queensland

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