SURF RESCUE WORK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22618, 5 January 1937, Page 13

SURF RESCUE WORK

AUSTRALIAN WATER SKI SATISFACTORY TRIALS AT PIHA Brought from Australia by the club captain, Mr. H. C. Sidford, with the idea of having it adopted as a standard piece of life-saving equipment, a surf ski is at present being experimented with by the Piha Surf Club. The surf ski lias only recently been put into use on Australian beaches and Mr. Sidford was impressed with its suitability for New Zealand's west coast beaches, where, because of the heavy sets, even the strongest beltmen find difficulty in swimming to distressed bathers. The surf ski has been specially designed for life-saving work and in appearance it resembles both a canoe and a surfboard. It is about 10ft. long and about 2ft. in beam, tapering fore and aft, and from six to eight inches in depth. There is a distinct uplift in the bow. The ski is driven forward usually by a doublc-bladed paddle and it can also be readily propelled by the arms when the rider is lying at fulllength. A heavy man can lie comfortably supported by the surf ski and in Queensland, where it is used for rescue work. Mr. Sidford has seen one bring in two men. with another being towed behind. In New South Wales on a day when tho surfboat was swamped and when a boltman was unable to get through, a belt was taken out attached to the rider of the surf ski. who brought one man in on the ski after attaching the belt to another man. The surf ski is particularly buoyant and when tested by members of the Piha club it was found capable of riding large waves and even in cases where, through lack of" balance, the riders have been upset it, was found to lie very easily righted and mounted again. As n result of its experiments with tho surf ski the Piha club has come to the conclusion that the ski is definitely an advantage on its beach and after only short practice with it, members feel confident of going out in quite heavy surf and supporting distressed swimmers until such time as the bellman is able to reach them with a line. The Customs Department is being approached with the request that it admit surf skis free of duty. They cost £7 5s in Australia. Some time ago when a surfboat was imported into Auckland difficulty was at first experienced in obtaining a remission of the duty and the club hopes that no such obstacle will be placed in the way of importing surf skis.