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Sunday, 8 July 2012
If you visited an Australian beach during summer you probably would have seen the army of VegemiteSurfGroms hitting the waves. The first national junior participation surfing program available anywhere in the world, Vegemite SurfGroms offers youngsters aged 5-12 years old an opportunity to develop strong ocean awareness and beach safety skills at a very influential period in their lives, that they will enjoy and embrace for a lifetime.
Since its launch in October last year, more than 7000 Australian children have experienced the thrill of surfing for the first time through Vegemite SurfGroms. And they’ll be even stronger with Vegemite backing the program for another three years. Vegemite SurfGroms programs will continue through the Surfing Australia Surf Schools Network with more than 80 delivery centres around the country. Parents can register their children through the website.
“Surfing Australia is extremely proud to extend the partnership with an iconic Australian brand such as Vegemite. It will help us continue to build the program and develop beach safety and ocean awareness for thousands of children,” said Surfing Australia Chief Executive Officer Andrew Stark.
“Vegemite was the perfect partner to launch SurfGroms and we’re very excited that we can build the program together. “It was tremendous to see more than 7000 children enjoy the program in its first year and to learn the skills in the ocean and on the beach they’ll keep for a lifetime.”
VegemiteMarketing Manager Jenny Nolch said the organisation was thrilled at the success of Vegemite SurfGroms in its first year. “It’s fabulous for us to be involved in such an important part of Australian culture through surfing at the grassroots level. “For the children to be taught and develop an awareness of safety in the water and on the beach is so important for Australians and we’re thrilled to be partnering Surfing Australia in the program.”
Vegemite SurfGroms is also backed by major support sponsor Quiksilver and every child signing up will receive a great Quiksilver backpack bursting with surfing merchandise plus two Wahu beach products and a tube of Vegemite Spread. A highlight of the program in its first year was a giant grandstand and self-contained interactive zone called the Vegemite SurfGroms Mightiest Seat on the Beach, which took centre stage at the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast at Snapper Rocks.
The Vegemite Mightiest Seat on the Beach was open all day providing uninterrupted views of the world’s best surfers but also offered: free Vegemite on toast all day at its Vegemite Café; tarp surfing; giveaways throughout the day with loads of Vegemite branded surf wax and Wahu beach toys to be had; and regular appearances from Quiksilver surfers dropping in.
“The Vegemite SurfGroms Mightiest Seat on the Beach was a big project for us, but we saw it as a great chance to promote the program,” said Jenny Nolch. “It was unlike anything we’ve done before or seen elsewhere.”
As part of the program, eight VegemiteSurfGroms attended the Quiksilver Pro as VIP guests over the opening weekend. Every SurfGroms participant had a chance to win a trip to the Quiksilver Pro by providing a ‘Sic Pic’ of themselves or describing their experience in 25 words or less.
The six lucky Sic Pic winners were; Rio Heaney, 7 (Torquay, VIC), Toby Lawrence, 6 (Clifton Beach, TAS), Wade Russell-Yates, 9 (Perth, WA), Delta Woods, 8 (Woolgoolga, NSW), Harrison Tzannes, 9 (Broadbeach Waters, Qld) and Julian Michailidis, 10 (South Coogee, NSW).
The two winning SurfGroms who wrote about their experience said: “I love Vegemite SurfGroms, it has been awesome! I never want my lessons to end and can’t wait to go back for more! SURFING’S SICK!!” - by 12-year-old Zane Nugent-Hedley, from Newcastle, New South Wales
VEGEMITE SurfGroms is proudly supported by VEGEMITE, Quiksilver, Wahu, Telstra, Surfing Australia, the Australian Sports Commission, Surfing World and Coastalwatch.
www.surfgroms.com
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