SURF SKI-ING

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 26, 23 October 1937, Page 12

SURF SKI-ING

i— Pxe8B Asaoeiation.)

Life-Saving Device AUCKLAND EQU1PMENT

(By Telegrapl

AUCKLAND, Last Night. With the object of keeping fully abreast with the latest methods of lifesaving, and at the same time of ptoviding tiiemselves with an exhilarating aiid entertaining pastime, members of the Noi'fch Shore Life-saving Club firo adding surf skis to their equipment. The flrst of the skis has already boen built to the design of tWO enthusiastie youiig meiiibei's of the club, and it atti'acted considorable .attention when it Avas introduced at Ciieltenham. heach last Sunday afternoofi. The equip-' ment is similur iii design to that used by Anici'iean lifo-guards, and it is likely to beeome popular with patrols on the New Zealand coast. The skis &re capable of beiag ptopelled at a good speed, aiid & batner in difhculties iiiay be reaehed niueh quicker in them than by beltmea swini' ming and towing life-lines. They are not cuinhersome, and may be handled with ease by One man, although they will support two -men. They weigh aboiit 40lb., are 10ft. 6in. in length, taper to a width of 2ft., and are five inches deep at the middle depth. The skis are hollowed out, and V-shaped^at che bottom, Surf club members gefiefally are eilthusiastic, and the new departure by the North Shore Club demonstrates its keenness. The club's example is likely to be followed by other life-saving bodies, but slowly, unless greater support is accorded the patrols by. tlie public, whd reap the beriefit of the club 'g vigiianee and give little in return. The gteat band of life-savefs are deserving of encouragement. No movement in the athletic sense is aeeorded less support by the public, and yet it owes so much to the various clubs who striVe to make the beaches safe for bathing. A timely plea for more support ' for the life-Saving moVemettt Was made at the annual meeting last evening of tho Burf Life-saving Associatidn (Auckland), and members heard with gratifl-1 catiou that the Minister of Internal Afl'airs, the Hon. W. B. Barry, had promised that provision would be made for their work in the supplenient&fy L'stiinates. The work of patrolling the beaches has been doubled by the introductlon of the 40-hour week, and finance is urgently needed by the clubs if they are to> lessen the number of drowning fatalities, which aceordilig to tho president of the aseociation, Dr. T. H. Rettit, exceed by half the number bf people killed by' every means of transport.