WPBA celebrates Youth Day.
Source: www.sixty40.co.za/wpba
posted by Gareth White on 17th June 2007
The Western Province Bodyboarding Association, (WPBA), hosted a bodyboarding development clinic for underprivileged children this past Saturday, 16th of June, at Melkbosstrand.
The clinic was held to commemorate Youth Day and aimed to enable children from underprivileged backgrounds to experience the joys of bodyboarding.
Children from Highway Home in Wynberg were taught bodyboarding basics and safety by WPBA team members Johnny Maritz, Jamie Higgins and Ian Kruger.
Once everyone had arrived, the children were each given a wetsuit and bodyboard, kindly provided by Reef wetsuits and Science Bodyboards. After everyone was kitted up they went down to the beach, where Maritz demonstrated basic riding skills. They then went on a brief warm-up jog, followed by a stretching routine to get their muscles warmed for the icy Atlantic waters that awaited them.
“It is very important to stretch properly before getting into the water, it allows the muscles to warm and helps avoid cramp and injury,” commented Higgins on this pre-surf routine.
Eager to try bodyboarding for the first time the children raced towards the water, under the watchful eye of their instructors and a couple of life-guards who had offered their support. Waters were calm, waves came through consistently and the children found it easy to splash around and have fun.
After spending almost an hour in the water, the cold set in and the children left the waves behind to dry off and warm in the winter sun. They were then treated to a delicious ice-cream, kindly donated by the Tube Wave kiosk on Melkbosstrand beachfront.
WPBA provided the children with a hearty meal and a refreshing cool drink to fill their tummies after an eventful experience. Sport Unlimited gladly donated gift parcels that were distributed amongst the children-much to their delight.
The children cherished the experience, as they rarely get the opportunity to participate in such joyous activities. One of the children, John (name changed), was incredibly enthusiastic and couldn’t wait to be able to bodyboard again. He commented that next weekend would be perfect for him.
These innocent words touched me and further illustrate the struggle these children courageously face. “When so little brings so much joy to lives of so many, it is only a pleasure to participate these events,” commented Kruger on the gift of giving.
“It is very important for these children to be able to get out and do this kind of thing on a regular basis. It helps them heal mentally from the struggles they have been through-it is great therapy,” commented Amanda, a social worker from Highway Home.
WPBA look forward to being able to host another development clinic, but are looking for support in order to be able to do this more regularly.
For further information or to offer assistance please contact, Johnny Maritz on 072 413 1626.
*Due to legal issues we are unable to publish photographs containing children under the age of 16, without their consent. Therefore we have opted to publish only one photograph from the clinic.
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