Events Program

9:00am-10:00am: Discover the basics of surf rowing, how to register with North Wollongong SLSC and the benefits available to club members. Club President Lance Tarrant, surfboat Sweeps Martin Fox and Dean Anise and all members of the club's women's and men’s crews will be available to provide information and friendly discussion

10:00am-11:00am: North Wollongong's Junior, U23 and Open Women's crews will show you how it's done with demonstrations of starts, rowing through the wave break, turning around the cans and wave catching techniques.

11:00am-12 noon: Discover how to keep your body boat-ready all season long with local business Savy Fitness. Pick up some healthy tips and enjoy a free Zumba workshop.

12 noon- 1pm: Watch as the city's rival clubs come head to head to determine who really rules the waves. Junior Women, U23 Women and Open Women's crews from both clubs will race a gruelling competition-length course. May the best club win!

1pm-2pm: Medal-winning sweep Martin Fox will run an hour long introductory surf rowing course. Bring your swimmers, jump in the boat and give rowing a go for yourself!

A FREE BBQ lunch will be provided between 11am and 1pm. All activities will take place in front of North Wollongong Surf Club.

Links

For more information about North Wollongong SLSC visit our club's website.

Some useful sites about Surf Life Saving and rowing include:

* Surf Life Saving Australia

* Surf Life Saving NSW

*Australian Surf Rowers League

*Ocean Thunder Boat Series

North Gong Photos

* North Wollongong Open Women's Crew

at South Coast Boat Series carnival- Warilla beach.

* North Wollongong U23 Women's crew- NSW Country Championships.

* A tasty team mascot !

* Boat crew night out.

* Women's surf boat waiting patiently, Port Kembla beach.

Meet Our Members

North Wollongong SLSC is home to three women’s surfboat crews: Junior (16-20 years) Women, Under 23 Women and Open Women. Have a look what some of our ladies have to say about rowing with North Wollongong!

Cathy Frusco

Occupation: Financial Advisor

North Wollongong Crew/ Seat: U23 Women / Bow

Other sporting interests: Soccer, swimming, running,

tae-kwon-do.

Best thing about rowing: Being part of a close-knit team.

Biggest rowing misconception: That female competition is less competitive than male and that it is easier.

Why should women row for North Wollongong? North Gong is such a beautiful beach. Also, the women’s crews are involved in a lot of social activities out of the boat such as nights out and team lunches at Diggies.

Joanne Goss

Occupation: Pool Lifeguard

North Wollongong Crew/ Seat: Open Women/ Second Bow

Other sporting interests: Gym, swimming, surfing, running.

Best thing about rowing: Traveling to carnivals, fitness and socialising.

Biggest rowing misconception: That it is easy. Rowing is hard work and requires a lot of fitness.

Why should women row for North Wollongong? North Gong is a very well-respected club and has just bought a band new boat for the girls!

North Wollongong Crew/ Seat: Open Women / Second Stroke

Jenny Maidment

Occupation: Year 12 student/ surfing instructor
North Wollongong Crew/Seat: Junior Women/ Bow
Other sporting interests: Touch football, surf ski, soccer,zumba, surfing.

Best thing about rowing: The energetic atmosphere.

Biggest rowing misconception: That rowing makes women look bulky. It is a toning sport and won’t make you look beefy and too muscular.

Holly Taaffe

Occupation: PE student

North Wollongong Crew/Seat: Open Women/ Second Stroke.

Other sporting interests: Running and athletics

Best thing about rowing: Meeting new people from all over the country and attending some great after parties.

Biggest rowing misconception: That rowers are dumb. Many crew members are doctors, lawyers etc.

Why should women row for North Wollongong? North Gong is the most beautiful location on the South Coast. Rowing is a very social, active sport.

Hayley Simpson

Occupation: Accountant

North Wollongong Crew/ Seat: U23 Women/ Stroke

Other sporting interests: Hiking, going to the gym

Best thing about rowing: Getting to exercise and hang out with friends

Biggest rowing misconception: That it’s scary. Rowing isn’t as risky as it looks.

Why should women row for North Wollongong? Women can be as competitive or as relaxed as they like within the club. Everyone is very supportive and friendly.

Jessica Boniface

Occupation: High school HSIE teacher

North Wollongong Crew/ Seat: Open Women / Stroke

Other sporting interests: Running, surfing and going to the gym.

Best thing about rowing: Great fitness, lots of socialising, good looking male rowers!

Biggest rowing misconception: That it’s a dangerous sport. If you do as the sweep tells you you’ll never be put into dangerous surf conditions.

Why should women row for North Wollongong? It’s a friendly, fun club to be a part of. Rowing also promotes a healthy lifestyle both on the beach and in everyday life.

About North Wollongong SLSC

About the club:

· North Wollongong SLSC was established in 1918.

· The club is commonly referred to as ‘North Gong’.

· North Wollongong Beach is located along the Illawarra’s coast, about one hour’s drive from central Sydney.

· The club’s facilities include: Secure swipe card access toilets, showers and change rooms, storage space for all equipment, fully equipped gymnasium, function hall, kitchen and lifeguards office.

· All members are welcome to join the club’s football, running and beach volleyball teams.The club is also a competitive force in Nippers, Junior and Senior Surf Life Saving and surf boat rowing.

· The club offers extensive member training opportunities such as Bronze Medallion, Surf Rescue, IRB, Advanced Resuscitation and Jet Ski Driver qualifications. All are available to members at reduced prices.

· Club Commitee:

Lance Tarrant– President

Richard Bradberry-Vice President

Secretary– Steve Maidment

Boat Captain– Dean Anise.

For more information: Contact the club via email on the_office@nswslsc.com.au or phone 4229 7287.

Video- Open Women's Surf Boat Australian Titles Final 2009

Watch as the best surf boat crews in Australia take to the waves in the 2009 Australian Titles Open Women's final.

Surf boat rowing: the facts.

About Surf Rowing:

· Surf boats were originally used for rescue operations but have now been replaced by Inflatable Rescue Boats (IRBs).

· Intense competition at national, state and regional level has kept the thrill sport alive.

· In recent years there has been a huge increase in female boat crew numbers.

· Surf boat competition began in Australia in the early 1900s.

· All surf boat rowers must be members of a Surf Life Saving Club, hold a current Bronze Medallion qualification and attend regular club patrols to compete in competition.

· The competition season begins in November and reaches its height at the Australian Surf Life Saving Titles in April.

· Women's crew row the same weight boat and distance as men's crews.

· A full boat race is 800m and will take an average women’s crew just over 4 minutes to complete.

Boat Positions:

A surf boat crew includes four rowers and a Sweep. Most Sweeps (but not all) are male and are responsible for keeping the boat straight, steering, staying on a wave and coaching the team. The Sweep stands at the back of the boat. Seats in the boat are:

· Stroke: Sits in front of the Sweep at the back of the boat. Responsible for setting the pace of the crew.

· Second Stroke: Sits behind the Stroke in the centre of the boat.

· Second Bow: Sits behind Second Stroke in the centre of the boat. Second Stroke and Second Bow are both responsible for maintaining the boat’s power through the water.

· Bow: Sits at the front of the boat and is the first to hit and go down a wave. The Bow is responsible for keeping a long, powerful stroke through the water and helping to turn the boat around the can.

Rowing for North Wollongong SLSC:

· North Wollongong SLSC currently has 3 Women’s crews: Junior (16-20), Under 23 and Open Women.

· The club competes in all local, regional, state and national competitions.

· Most crews train 3 times per week (boat sessions) and 3-4 times per week (gym sessions).

· North Wollongong SLSC has a fully functional gymnasium. All members have free access to the gym at all times.

· The club currently has two Sweeps: Dean Anise and Martin Fox. Both have swept Australian Title medallist crews.

· North Wollongong has two new boats reserved especially for its women’s crews.

· The club hosts a number of social outings for both male and female crews throughout the year including a Sydney nightclub crawl, Pub to Pub running race, fancy dress nights and an end of season presentation.

· North Wollongong beach is the perfect setting for rowing training. Beginner crews can train in the protected harbour, teams can run or cycle on the bike track and the main beach is perfect for catching waves and swimming activities. When training is complete, many of our crew enjoy breakfast or lunch on the beach at the well-known Kiosk or Diggies Cafe.

Row Like a Girl Media Release

Row Like a Girl: North Wollongong to host surfboat showcase.

Women of all ages have the opportunity to experience the thrill of surf boat rowing at North Wollongong Surf Life Saving Club’s ‘Row Like a Girl’ event on April 30.

‘Row Like a Girl’ aims to raise awareness of the sport amongst females and encourage new members to join the club’s respected boat division.

The event will be held in front of the surf club at North Wollongong beach between 9am and 2pm and will feature surf boat rowing demonstrations by the club’s Under 23 and Open Women’s crews, information sessions and a do-or-die race between North Wollongong and rival club Wollongong City. Attendees will even be able to hit the water themselves in a beginners training session with national medalist coach Martin Fox.

A free BBQ lunch will be provided between 11am and 1pm.

Club President Lance Tarrant said he hoped both young and older women would attend the event.

“Our club has a proud history of surf boat rowing since it was founded in 1914,” he said.

“We currently have three very successful women’s crews and are looking forward to signing up even more ladies for the 2012 season. I hope lots of people will come down to the beach, have a look at our crews in action and then give it a go for themselves. It really is great fun.”

North Wollongong Open Women’s crew member Jessica Boniface said the event’s training session would convert even the most hesitant beginner to the sport.

“So many women think surf rowing is dangerous,” she said.

“While it is definitely an extreme type of sport, North Wollongong has some of the best coaches around and no crew would ever be put into conditions they couldn’t handle. Anyone can learn to row and nothing beats the rush new girls will feel when they catch their first wave.”

‘Row Like a Girl’ will be held in front of the surf club at North Wollongong Beach from 9am-2pm on April 30.

Best photo/ filming opportunities: 12am (boat race) and 1pm (training session).

All media enquiries: Jenna Bradwell ph: 0400413534 email: jb194@uow.edu.au

For more information and full program of activities visit http://rowlikeagirlnwslsc.blogspot.com/