To members of the NSW surfing community,
See this as an update for our Surfing NSW position which relates to COVID-19 as of today.
As you are all aware, the COVID-19 information – not only from a state and national perspective but also on a global scale – is evolving constantly. The health and safety of our members, the wider surfing community, the Surfing NSW team and your environment are paramount; therefore we will endeavour to keep abreast of updated information and act accordingly in compliance with State and Federal Government advice as it happens.
As you may have seen the NSW Government and NSW Health have introduced new updated COVID-19 restrictions in certain areas across NSW to protect the people of NSW from the evolving COVID-19 outbreak. Current stay-at-home orders will be extended across all of Greater Sydney including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast and Wollongong until 11:59 pm on Friday, 30 July.
Please see below link to the latest COVID-19 update: Wednesday 14 July 2021 https://www.sport.nsw.gov.au/covid-19-information
All Surfing NSW staff are working remotely. Surfing NSW’s working days are Monday – Friday and the office phone (02) 9093 6035 will be attended from 9 am – 5 pm on these days.
For the entire lockdown period, between now and the 31st of July, no one will be able to physically visit the office aligned to the Public Health Order. Please call the Surfing NSW office on (02) 9093 6035 for all information.
Postponed event
As it stands, the below events have been postponed until later in 2021.
- Woolworths NSW Junior State Titles pres. By Ocean and Earth – now running 26 Aug until 30th Aug 2021
- High School State Titles – now running 31 August – 1 September 2021
- Havaianas NSW Grommet State Titles – now running 3 September 2021 until 6 September 2021.
For further enquiries please contact events@surfingnsw.com.au
- Skullcandy Oz Grom Open – now running 10 – 15 September 2021
See more about the Skullcandy Oz Grom Open here.
Surf Schools
Please see this email as an update for surf schools in Greater Sydney and in Regional NSW.
NSW Office Of Sport is keeping this page below updated with information for all sports in NSW in and out of Greater Sydney.
https://www.sport.nsw.gov.au/covid-19-information
Our Surfing NSW team will keep you updated on a weekly basis with updates and changes via email.
Greater Sydney Update for Surf Schools
On Friday 9th July the NSW public health order was updated. Please see here;
https://www.sport.nsw.gov.au/covid-19-information#advice-metro
https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/rules
Under the Public Health Orders, in Greater Sydney, Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong, and Shellharbour, there are only four reasonable excuses to leave home.
A reasonable excuse is if you need to
- obtain food or other goods and services
- travel for work or education if it is not possible to do it at home
- exercise and take outdoor recreation in Greater Sydney (including surfing)
- go out for medical or caring reasons, including obtaining a COVID-19 vaccination.
Our understanding of the current public health order and current restrictions is that the “intent across” all messaging is for all to stay at home.
In regards to Surf School learn to surf lessons NSW Health advice is that no formal competitions or training sessions are to take place and no community sport (whether training or a match) in Greater Sydney including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong, and Shellharbour should proceed. This includes coaching or tuition programs.
Our team has been involved in a range of meetings with Sport NSW, Office of Sport and have listened to the daily NSW Government updates and our understanding at present is that learn to surf lessons can not take place at present with the current restrictions in place.
The only coaching which is approved at present is that if you are coaching a professional athlete and it’s classed as that surfers/athletes work, under our interpretation this is the only coaching that could be considered reasonable at present. However, even on this professional level of coaching and/or private tuition, it is NSW Health’s strong recommendation that people remain at home. People must stay in their Local Government Area or within 10km of home for exercise and outdoor recreation.
Stating this please check in with your local council on your local rules and regulations.
Regional NSW update for Surf Schools
Restrictions in Regional NSW remain unchanged.
https://www.sport.nsw.gov.au/covid-19-information#advice-regional
The impact of COVID-19 will affect each organisation differently. Decisions to continue or alter operating schedules and physical activity offerings throughout this time may differ between organisations and locations. These decisions are the responsibility of the facility owners and operators, and activity providers, in line with their risk management and operating policies and ensuring Public Health Orders are complied with.
Surf Schools may wish to obtain independent legal advice on whether your activity can proceed in line with meeting the requirements under the Public Health Order.
Surfing NSW does not administer the Public Health Act or have enforcement powers under the Public Health Order and, consequently, we are not able to comment as to its interpretation or application.
Financial assistance is available from the NSW Government and Federal Government for individuals and organisations. For more information visit https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/financial-support
We are in the grip of a pandemic, with an extremely virulent strain, with no clear end date, as such we expect this to be an ever-changing landscape.
We will do our best to keep you up to speed with any changes we receive from NSW Government as they become available.
Boardriders Clubs
We have broken NSW Boardriders clubs into two areas based on the COVID-19 updated Public Health Orders.
Area 1) Greater Sydney, including the Central Coast, the Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour.
Area 2) Regional NSW (outside of Greater Sydney, Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour)
Area 1: Greater Sydney
No surfing competitions or club rounds can be held up until at least the 31st of July as the NSW Government have stated residents of Greater Sydney must stay at home unless it is for essential reasons. There can be no community sport (whether training or a match) in Greater Sydney including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour.
Area 2: Regional NSW (outside Greater Sydney)
- These clubs can run club rounds but must adhere to the current public health orders. These events can not have any members participate or attend that work or live in Greater Sydney.
- Club rounds and surfing events can happen but with the following COVID safety plan and restrictions in place.
Minimum Recommendations for clubs are:
- Local council approval and communication that you are running
- Have a COVID-19 safety plan – You can easily create one here
- Wear a mask
- Ensure one person per four square meters 1.5-meter physical distancing
- Canteens and barbecues can operate with physical distancing in queues
- Participants contact details are documented and recorded
- Wash your hands regularly
- Use contactless payment where possible
- Use gloves when serving customers
- Provide hand sanitiser in high traffic areas
- Clean and wipe down all communal equipment
- Rash shirts are disinfected between users
Participants and Spectators
- Download the COVIDsafe app
- Communicate an “Arrive, Surf, Leave” message and schedule your competition to reduce crowds
- Do not attend if you are sick or have flu-like symptoms
- Spectators to maintain 1.5m physical distancing
- Avoid touching your eyes mouth and nose
- Do not share equipment drink bottles or food
- Exit the facility promptly once finished
In addition to the above requirements, the below are major additional requirements that are set in place until 11:59 pm on Friday, 30 July.
Masks will be compulsory in all indoor non-residential settings, including workplaces, and at organised outdoor events; this does mean all surfers, spectators and club organisers need to wear face masks on the beach at all times other than when you are surfing.
If you live or work in Greater Sydney you have stay-at-home orders. Unfortunately, this means that any club members that live or work in Greater Sydney will not able to attend or participate in the event in this timeframe.
Programs
Her Wave: Her Wellness Experiences (Surf and Group Mindset Coaching)
All Her Wellness events have been cancelled and postponed until further notice.
- The Her Wellness “Sunday Session” Experience that was scheduled to run at Maroubra on 4th July has been cancelled and postponed to Sunday, August 1st.
- The Her Wellness “Learn to Surf” Experience that was rescheduled from the 19th June to the 17th July is still going ahead until further notice based on Public Health Orders from the 9th July.
- The “Her Wellness“ Southend Boardriders Experience at Maroubra on 17th July is still going ahead until further notice based on public health orders from the 9th July.
Surfing Mental Health 360: #SupportYourMates (South Coast Surfing Community Mental Health Awareness Night)
- This night is organised in conjunction with Ulladulla Boardriders and the broader local surfing community in Milton on August 6th. This is still going ahead until further notice based on Public Health Orders from the 9th of July.
Surfers Rescue 24/7
- Based on the current Public Health Order, no Surfers Rescue 24/7 courses will take place until after Friday, 9 July 2021.
For further information:
- Office of Sport – Community Sports information in Greater Sydney and in Regional NSW https://www.sport.nsw.gov.au/covid-19-information
