YELLOW
BOARDS
We’ve had a great season at the weekly yellow board sessions. We’ve been
on (and sometimes in) the water each Tuesday since April 2023 except for
one or two truly atrocious mornings. We’ve focussed on paddle technique,
kneeling position, turning and fitness.
After reflecting on some real-life rescues I’ve heard about and seen, I have
incorporated actual rescue practice as a much more regular feature of the
class. The session has grown this last year or two from an average of ten to
around 20 each week. With these numbers and sometimes more we have
regularly split into two parties and used different parts of the beach.
A big shout out to Anna Booth and Dan Rosado who have always been
ready to lead one of these groups as the occasion has called for it.
One of the disappointments for the season is that we had to stop our
weekly class in mid-March because the stock of usable yellow boards had
been reduced to a small handful through the season’s wear and tear.
I am in conversations with key people about how next season, we can lead
all yellow board users (the weekly yellow class, Nipper coaches, bronze
courses and others) to better care for, check, report and get boards back
into circulation if damaged.
As well as keeping the class at a just-post-Bronze level I have attempted to
create a pathway for some users to progress toward competition boards. This
is an avenue I plan to continue developing next season in consultation with
our Board Captain and the Competition board coaches.
Blake Hatton
Board Coach
98
BONDI SURF BATHERS’ LIFE SAVING CLUB