Boardriders help foster Scarborough flair

Ian Pepper grew up near the ocean in a surf-crazy community – but it took moving to the Illawarra to join a club which lives and breathes friendship through sharing the salt-water passion. 

Scarborough Boardriders Club offers up to 200 members a healthier, more connected lifestyle, both in and out of the water, says Ian, the contest director, and a club member for about 15 years.

"You suddenly create a group of friends across all those different zones from here down to Austinmer that you can meet very quickly, and you've all got something in common because you all surf," Ian says.

Ian was raised in the Shire and began surfing as a child with his dad, often spending school holidays surfing in Coledale. With a busy schedule working in real estate, he moved south as an adult to escape the rat race and now, through the club, he and his sons have formed lasting friendships with other surfers in the area. 

“We all end up coming down here surfing, and then eventually when we buy a house, we often come down here to buy one. I've been here 25 years now - my kids have grown up here, they're lucky,” Ian says.

Aside from the physical health benefits of regular exercise, members of the club become part of an inter-suburb web of connection.

"I've got really, really good mates now that are all down there at Coledale and Austinmer, and I wouldn't have met them otherwise, only through Boardriders,” Ian says.

The club fosters intergenerational friendships and learning through their extensive junior divisions (including micros, 10 & under, 12 & under, 14 & under, and junior girls) and their senior divisions (over 35, 45 and 55). Junior programs ensure young members have opportunities to learn and develop skills.

“The over 35s, over 45s, over 55s are some of our biggest divisions. You get to meet people across the different beaches as well and enjoy surfing,” Ian says.

"If they've got kids, same thing, it's great for them to start early, and then come all the way through the micros and the young kids, because we really spend a lot of time with them. We take them away to events, which is a really great bonding thing as well."

Scarborough Boardriders participate in 10 pointscore events a year, often splitting competitions by age group depending on conditions, and organising trips away, including an annual trip to Seal Rocks/Treachery area and team tag events. For Ian, remaining active in club events is a motivating factor to maintain overall fitness as a surfer in the over 55 division.

"It keeps you motivated to surf during the week and keep fit and healthy during the week, because you know, coming up, the next event you're going to be surfing again," Ian says.

“Even though it's not really that competitive in our divisions, we still like to get out there and have the banter.”

The club’s sense of friendly competition helps members to improve performance in a supportive atmosphere in which no one is judged, regardless of skill or fitness level.

"You like to be as fit as you can, I suppose, to not make a fool of yourself, but it doesn't matter how fit or unfit you are, everyone goes out there and has a go."

This sportsmanship and sense of belonging also supports members' mental health and overall clarity.

"I think just going in the water is really good for that, but being in the club, there's a whole lot of us that are probably over 40 in there now... and we just love hanging out,” Ian says.

"The friendships and the mateships and the discussions that we have… because you're down there at a venue all day, cooking barbecues and running the event, and you talk a lot."

The club limits membership to around 200 people, to ensure events are manageable with a limited volunteer base. Often hitting this cap early in the year, the club is sought after due the great beaches they surf and a great group of people involved. These connections can lead to adventures such as overseas surf trips, which Ian has experienced with fellow club members.

Membership registration typically opens in mid-January after the annual general meeting. Follow club news via monthly reports in the Illawarra Flame magazine or on Facebook.