Surf club youngsters achieve united goal

JUNIOR members of Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club (ASLSC) braved new waters to swim ‘The Rip’ last week.

The Rip is a 3.2-kilometre swim spanning from Point Nepean to Point Lonsdale.

The Rip Swim Club Challenge was created by ASLSC to rebuild team spirit among the Surf Life Saving community following the loss of a year of so many activities throughout the COVID-19 affected 2020.

ASLSC youth development director Sam Hume spoke of the importance of keeping teenagers engaged in physical activity.

“It takes a lot of community effort to keep a club’s spirits high and importantly to keep teens engaged with club at the best of times,” Mr Hume said.

“We just couldn’t risk them not coming back after restrictions had lifted.

“This age-group is drastically dropping in numbers and they are the future of our clubs.”

Mr Hume was extremely pleased with the female participation, something that is important to the club. The club’s junior program has a balanced split between boys and girls, but the girls are less likely to continue through to the senior ranks.

“We do see the retention through to the senior part of the club is lower for the females … my goal is to keep that equality all the way through the club, it offers great diversity for the club.”

The group of 27, with the majority juniors as well as a handful of senior members, had 13 training sessions in the lead-up to the swim which provided a great challenge and team atmosphere which Mr Hume felt was crucial in keeping morale up.

He said it was a great day when the goal was achieved last week.

“They embraced the camaraderie and the joy of the experience,” Mr Hume said.

“A shared experience and a shared challenge is what provides the genesis for good friendship.

“(There was) an overwhelming sense of achievement (after completing the swim) … it really did achieve its goal.”

The swim was well-supported by many at the club, with more than 50 members attending on the day of the swim to encourage and congratulate.