There’s no better time than summer to grab your mates, jump in the car and head to the beach. But when you get behind the wheel, respect the road like you would the surf.
That’s the powerful message surfers Adam Robertson and Jack Perry are sending young groms, as they embark on the VicRoads Surf with the Boys Tour Presented by Play it Safe by the Water and Metricon. The tour consists of 10 sessions held at locations along the Victorian coastline from Portland to Lakes Entrance.
VicRoads Surf with the Boys Tour will start at Jan Juc on Friday 3 February, when Adam and Jack will take young surfers through their paces and educate them on safety both in and out of the water.
Aimed at male surfers aged 14-22 with intermediate surf skills and their own gear, Surf with the Boys is about driving safe and surfing safe.
“Part of the fun of heading for a surf is the road trip,” said Robertson.
“Strapping your board to the roof, picking your mates up and searching for the best break is something all surfers enjoy.
“While that’s a great part of the experience, the reality is that young male drivers and passengers – like those attending our surf clinics – are most likely to be injured or killed on the roads.
“It’s vital that these young guys realise that and know the conditions and how to handle them – whether they’re on the road or in the surf,” he said.
VicRoads Regional Director Scott Lawrence said the Surf with the Boys Tour emphasises the parallels between surf and road safety.
“Research has shown that learner drivers who log 120 hours are 30% less likely to crash when they start driving solo.
“This partnership between VicRoads and Surfing Victoria provides a valuable opportunity to communicate the importance of safety and awareness to young drivers and their families.”
VicRoads Surf with the Boys Tour presented by Play it Safe by the Water & Metricon is a program aimed at young male surfers who have passed through the learn to surf stage and have their own equipment, i.e. surfboard and wetsuit.
Surf with the Boys Tour is FREE and just above an introductory learn to surf class. All participants are expected to be able to swim 200 meters and have the basic surfing skills of being able to catch and ride an unbroken wave.
It is a skill development program that aims to help male surfers become more competent in the open ocean environment and has as its goal the aim to help young surfers develop strategies that will help them be safe in the open ocean environment and become better surfers.
Full Dates:
Feb 3 – Jan Juc
Feb 6 – Portland (Cape Bridgewater)
Feb 7 – Warnambool
Feb 8 – Apollo Bay
Feb 9 – 13th Beach
Feb 14 – Mornington Peninsula
Feb 15 – Sandy Point
Feb 16 – Inverloch
Feb 17 – Phillip Island
Feb 20 – Lakes Entrance
Links
- Surfing Victoria website: surfingvic.com
- VicRoads website: www.vicroads.vic.gov.au
- Play it Safe by the Water website: www.watersafety.vic.gov.au
- Metricon website: www.metricon.com.au
