Schoolkids hit the waves in droves

Hezekiah Young from Abundant Life School gets it on in the Wave Warriors learn to surf programme at Ahipara last week.

Hundreds of local students made the most of an opportunity to catch the surfing bug during schooltime when the Wave Warriors learn to surf programme was held in the Far North over the past three weeks.

The Surfing NZ programme was run in conjunction with Foundations North at Ahipara from Monday, October 17, to Friday, November 4.

Programme facilitator Lee Ryan from Surfing NZ said the aim of Wave Warriors is to introduce surfing and water safety to students from decile 1-5 schools.

The programme was delivered by NZ Surf Bros head coach Rangi Harawira and his team of professional surfing instructors, Gary, Mike, Hine and Dallas.

Rangi estimated the Surf Bros crew put something like 600 kids through the hoops during three weeks the programme was in the Far North.

He noted the five instructors took each class of 25 - thus making for a maximum ratio of one instructor to five novices - for a 2 hour session in front of the Surf Bros house beside the Kaka Street Ramp at the southern end of 90 Mile Beach.

Rangi noted schools taking part came from Taipa, Kaitaia, Peria, Pamapuria, Oturu, Ahipara and "all over!"

It is the third year the programme has come to the Far North. Wave Warriors is being delivered to low-decile schools in the Auckland region over the next two weeks.