Walkin' On Water, in association with the Surfing Association of PNG Inc and the Academy of Surf, is very privileged to be involved in the development of surfing in PNG from the grass roots level and from the very first initation of this development. Please also check out Surfing Wantoks for ways that you can make a difference to the development of surfing and helping surfers in other countries that are not as fortunate as us.

The major aims of our Programs are to
· Train and coach the local PNG Surfers to increase their skill levels and abilities and improve their performances
· Develop, train and mentor PNG Local Coaches so they can continue to coach and train their surfers
· Develop and train fully qualified ILS Beach Lifeguards
· Introduce, coach and train personnel in surf life saving sports to be able to compete in the short to medium term in our SLSA Aussie Titles in boardriding, board paddling, ski paddling, beach events and other surf sports

Surf Instruction, Training and Coaching
Individual surfers from the local SAPNG surf clubs will be trained and coached to improve and progress their technical skills and surfing performance. This will be done using a variety of methods and training techniques in the water and on land. The evolving program will work on their technical ability, physical fitness, sport specific fitness and technical understanding of the required movements and manoeuvres in surfing.
This is to be done under the direction of a fully qualified Surfing Australia Instructor

Develop Local Coaches
The development of local surf coaches within the surf clubs and villages is paramount to enable continued progress, growth and improvement in technical abilities and performances of local PNG surfers.
The areas covered include
· The art of coaching
· The coaches approach to athletes when coaching
· Coaching and training aids and tools for coaches to use in sessions
· Developing and building the local knowledge of the movements, manoeuvres and requirements of the sport to increase the knowledge and expertise in competition surfing.

This is done under the direction of a professional coach, involved in coaching for many years over a large varied number of sports as well as having been a high level athlete training under some of the world’s best and most elite coaches

Training Lifeguards
Training personnel in surf lifeguard techniques and upskilling them to fully qualified ILS Surf Lifeguards will be done using the SLSA training resources – the world leader in surf and aquatic safety and rescue. They will receive training to gain their Certificate II in Public Safety (Aquatic Rescue) and Bronze Medallion. This is recognised and equivalent to the International Lifesaving Federation ILS Surf Lifeguard.

Introduction of Surf Sports
The surf lifesaving sports of board paddling, ski paddling, swimming and beach events in particular will be introduced to increase the number of sports and options available to the PNG villages, to increase participation and at the same time increase each participants proficiency in the ocean, which will greatly raise the overall competency in the surf and ocean. It can also be the beginning of being able to implement and introduce a more formal surf life saving system and surf club style system in PNG.

THE past three weeks has seen an exciting new step in the evolution of PNG’s surfing history and surf tourism industry. Although only in its infancy, PNG surfing is sitting in a perfect position, and a position many countries will be envious of, to take advantage of and move into the lucrative and booming international surfing industry.

The Surfing Association of PNG Inc (SAPNG) in its carefully orchestrated parallel growth of this new sporting industry over the last 22 years, organised Jamo Borthwick from Australia’s Gold Coast, to travel to the major PNG surfing locations to begin to develop and enhance the local surfers and their surfing skills.

This first trip, lasting almost three weeks, enabled Mr Borthwick to experience and understand the set up and position of each location and their individual needs. This will allow a more detailed and comprehensive long term plan to be designed and put into place including numerous more trips to continue to build, grow and develop the industry in an effective and efficient way.

The areas visited were Kavieng, Vanimo, Tupira outside Madang and Port Moresby.

The aim of the PNG Surf Coaching Program is multi pronged. Firstly it is to train and coach local surfers to improve their individual and the overall technical proficiency, skills and ability of the surfers. Much time was also dedicated to the training and development of the older surfers in the Clubs in the art of surf coaching to develop local coaches who will be able to continue this surfer improvement and progress in between Borthwick’s visits.

The other vital component of these surf clinics is the introduction of surf rescue, aquatic safety and basic emergency care techniques and training for surfers and locals. This will aid in the safety and knowledge of the surfers for times when someone may experience difficulties or require help or rescuing in the surf or ocean. It is the beginning of developing fully qualified, internationally recognised PNG Surf Life Guards. The Program will help develop and build local surfing and safety but also help PNG to become a renowned destination for international surfing tourism and for PNG to capitalise and benefit from the hugely lucrative market of travelling surfers.

The foresight and forward thinking of SAPNG president AndrewAbel, ML and fellow SAPNG Board Member and long time resident, Mr Jason Pini, speaks volumes for the commitment of the National Sporting Organisation to develop and grow the industry being mindful of the mistakes and trappings other nations have suffered in the development of their country’s surfing industry development. This will ensure PNG does not suffer these same mistakes and set backs and that industry development and growth is achieved in a manner that benefits all involved - the travelling surfers, the local surfers and land owners and the PNG tourism industry and economy.

In Australia, Borthwick owns and manages a licensed Surfing Australia Surf School on the Gold Coast teaching and coaching surfers of all ages and abilities; trains and educates Australian surf life savers, surf life guards and the general community in surf life saving techniques being licensed by the Australian Lifesaving Academy to provide Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) training; is and has been a head coach of Australian Surf Clubs for a number of years and is one of the most qualified and experienced surf coaches and instructors in surfing and surf life saving.

Surfing Australia and SLSA are renowned as the world leading bodies and organisations in their respective fields, so the PNG surfers and surfing locations have been, and with Borthwick’s future trips and long term Program in place, will continue to be exposed to and trained under the international best practices in surf and surf life saving training, coaching, methods and techniques.

Having visited and worked with 8 of PNG’s Surf Clubs that are, or are soon to be, affiliated SAPNG Surf Clubs, Borthwick sees huge potential for PNG Surfing. He visited Kavieng with Kavieng Surf Club, Vanimo with Vanimo, Sunset, Waromo and Yako Surf Clubs, Tupira Surf Club north of Madang and Port Moresby’s two Surf Clubs - Sero and Taurama. The Board Sailing Association of PNG also attended the Moresby Clinics to learn surf and aquatic rescue and emergency care techniques as well as learn about effective sports coaching techniques for use in their Association to help build and grow their sport here in PNG.

“This first trip has given me an excellent opportunity to see each of the regions and their individual attributes, requirements and needs and to now effectively plan out, together with SAPNG, our future pathway to continue surfing’s growth and development.

“I am extremely excited to not only be involved and be a part of the growth and development of surfing here in PNG and feel very privileged for the opportunity but I see so much untapped potential for PNG in terms of surfing talent and tourism options for PNG to take advantage of and benefit from,” he said.