Surfing
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Description
This activity involves the use of purpose-made
boards to ride waves in the sea.
Forms
An Information and Consent
for Event/Activity form is required to
participate in this activity.
Who can
participate?
Open to those aged seven and over.
Some activity providers have their own age,
height and weight restrictions.
Participants must be able
to:
- swim 50 metres
- keep afloat for five minutes in the clothes
normally worn for the activity.
Participants may fulfil these rules wearing a
buoyancy aid or life jacket when either is required for the
activity.
If you have a participant with a medical
condition that will affect her ability to swim, ensure that you
inform the instructor and make provision to allow her to
participate safely.
Ratio of adults to
girls
The ratio for surfing and swimming in
open-water is one adult to every five girls with a minimum of two
adults for all sections.
There must be sufficient adult helpers to
supervise and maintain the appropriate ratio for the section at all
times.
Regulations
- The Leader must ensure that all participants
under 18 have written permission to take part from an adult with
parental responsibility.
- The local Commissioner must be informed that
the activity is taking place.
- Carry out a risk
assessment for the activity.
The Leader must:
- ensure that safety rules and alarm signals
have been explained to the participants
- be satisfied that everyone understands the
need for instructions to be obeyed immediately
- follow the guidelines in the Water
Safety Code and ensure that the responsible adult helpers
are familiar with them
- ensure that the water is suitable for
surfing, seeking advice if necessary
- decide on the day, with the instructor(s),
whether conditions are safe for surfing.
Instructor
qualifications
British Surfing Association (BSA) Level 1 surf
coach or above.
The instructor must be linked to a
BSA-affiliated surf club or an activity provider that has one of
the following endorsements: AALA, Adventuremark or
LotC Quality Badge for Adventure.
British Surfing Association – http://www.britsurf.co.uk/
Useful
information
On the day, the Leader should ensure that the
water is safe for the activity.
Water should be inspected for signs of visible
pollution, for example rubbish, blue-green
algae or chemicals.
If either the Leader or the instructor is not
satisfied that the conditions are safe, the activity must be
abandoned.
Ensure participants have suitable clothing and
footwear. Wetsuits or dry suits are advisable.
Ensure the equipment being used is:
- in good condition
- the correct size for the participant.
Page last updated: 4/4/2012