Record-breaking paddler teaches at Torquay SLSC

ATHLETES at Torquay SLSC learnt from the best in the business at a special event last month with former ironwoman and world record paddler Bonnie Hancock.

Sharing stories from her 13,000km circumnavigation of Australia on a surf ski, Ms Hancock also provided valuable insights into what it takes to prepare the mind and body to be at its best at the very edge of human performance.

Presented by Torquay SLSC sponsor SecMedic, the evening saw Ms Hancock guide conversations on team building, performance, planning and reframing of the mind with the club’s coaching team.

“Having Bonnie present to the coaching team was such an amazing opportunity for the club, ” Torquay SLSC club captain Grant Matthews said.

“Her journey not only leading up to her more than 12,000km paddle around Australia, but during and after was inspirational.

“There were so many lessons and nuggets of information, mixed in with both passion and a down-to-earth attitude that was the perfect fit for our coaches.”

 

The club’s competition director Tim Altman said Ms Altman’s presentation was “right on the money for our coaching team”.

“It reinforced to all the coaches that the direction that we’re taking this season is the right one for our athletes.

“It goes to show that with the right mindset, support structure, training and dedication, surf sports athletes can achieve truly amazing feats – all the way up to and exceeding the limits of endurance.”

The next day, Ms Hancock provided a special training session for all teen, youth and adult Torquay SLSC members.

With an emphasis on athletic performance and setting a competitive mindset, the classroom session and activities were augmented with a surf clinic, where Ms Hancock took the participants through various drills and activities drawing from her experience not only as a surf ski expert but also as an ironwoman.

The surf clinic participants spent more than an hour on the beach and in the swell at Torquay Surf Beach.

“While the intellectual property that exists across the Torquay Surf Life Saving Club is amazing, having access to additional inputs from Guinness World Record holders and other experts, and then sharing that with our athletes is a real privilege,” Mr Matthews said.

“Seeing the looks on the faces of the participants and feeling the connection that Bonnie was able to form with the members was what made it so special.”