A SURGE in the number of people enjoying the benefits of surfing has buoyed the dedicated crew at Rip Curl\u2019s Torquay store.<\/p>\n
Store manager Nathan Austin and his team are relishing the opportunity to help customers of all ages to discover \u2013 or rediscover – a love of the sport the Surf Coast is famous for.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince the pandemic, surfing has just gone through the roof in popularity,\u201d Nathan said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are seeing a lot of females whose boyfriends have always surfed and a lot more couples taking it up to enjoy the sport together.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nathan said the store was fully stocked to ensure no-one left disappointed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey know they can get the whole thing here and walk out, jump in the water and go for gold,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think because we can still surf there is a buzz and it\u2019s a nice feeling to know that we can do something to help the community.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nathan said keeping staff and customers safe was paramount and there was extensive signage, hand sanitising stations, social distancing decals on the floor and separate entry and exit points.<\/p>\n
He said his team was more appreciative than ever to work for a Surf Coast-based company.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re a real team here and we are like family so we all look after each other.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another member of the Rip Curl team helping surfers enjoy the ocean all year round is Global Wetsuit Chairman, Cam Lamperd.<\/p>\n
Cam\u2019s team is on a constant search for the latest developments in wetsuit technology to cope with all conditions.<\/p>\n
\u201cInterestingly the water here gets to its coldest point around the last week in August and the first week in September,\u201d Cam said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, for surfers at this time of year it\u2019s all about warmth, mostly, with the waters getting down to around 12.5 degrees.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cam said wetsuit technology has come a long way since the days when it weighed four times as much, lacked stretch and did not provide warmth.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt used to be just the hardcore surfers who would surf all year round and intermediate surfers would hang up the surfboards and wetsuits over winter,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow on a nice small, perfect day you\u2019ll see hundreds of people out there learning to surf in the depth of winter.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rip Curl\u2019s global development team is based in Torquay and Cam said it was always exciting to see what came next.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat might seem impossible today could be completely plausible next year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cam is also grateful to work in an industry dedicated to a sport with many psychological and social benefits.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhilst everyone is stressed and dealing with their respective situations around COVID, to be able to go for a surf is a way of releasing the mind,\u201d Cam said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can paddle up and sit respectfully near someone and have a conversation.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the benefits of surfing are shining through under these tough times.\u201d<\/p>\n