Surf Instructors Course
Surf Instructor Beach Safety Awards. Minister Finneran presents new Surf Instructor Beach Safety Awards
Mr. Michael Finneran, T.D., Minister for Housing and Local Services, 12th August 2009, at Enniscrone Beach, Co. Sligo presented the first Surf Instructor Beach Safety Awards to successful participants at the inaugural course held in Ballyshannon. The course is a joint effort by Irish Water Safety and the Irish Surfing Association.
The aim of this award is to bring a very high standard of safety to the teaching of surfing as an activity and a sport.
The course consists of classroom based instruction on all aspects of Surf Instructing including Water Safety, First Aid, Child Protection and dealing with the general public.
Participants for the award, are also assessed on practical abilities in both the swimming pool and the sea, to ensure that they have the required level of fitness and skills in surf rescue techniques.
Minister Finneran commended Irish Water Safety and the Irish Surfing Association for coming together to develop the award structure and said that the Surfing Instructor Beach Safety Award will help to reassure members of the public that the highest standards of training are available to those who are interested in getting involved in surfing. The Minister went on to say that Irish waters, particularly on the Atlantic coast, provide some of the best surfing waters in the world and it is particularly important that a course such as this one is being made available when interest in surfing, as an activity and sport, is growing.
Objectives of the Course
To train and assess for competencies in: -
• Fitness, knowledge, judgment and self-discipline.
• Ability to teach, control and keep a class safe while in the water.
• Abilities to render first aid and work as a team member.
• To deal with customers in a courteous and professional manner.
