SUP Victoria – Standup Paddleboard Club has been awarded a ‘Change Our Game’ grant, a Victorian state government initiative aimed at encouraging and supporting a higher number of women and girls in sport and recreation.
SUPVIC are a volunteer-run club helping stand up paddleboarders of all disciplines (social, surf, race and tech) and abilities onto the water and enjoying the sport.
This grant will help SUPVIC run clinics, dedicated progression sessions and intro sessions for women that want to build their SUP skills and confidence! Whether that’s for fitness, fun or competition.
This includes progression and intro sessions:
- 8 September – SUP Confidence Program – Beginner Clinic (Mornington)
- 15 September – SUP Confidence Program – Progression Session (Mornington)
- 5 / 6 October – SUP Confidence Program – Surf Beginner Clinic (Surf Coast) – TBC but Save the Date!
- 5 / 6 October – SUP Confidence Program – Surf Progression Clinic (Surf Coast) – TBC but Save the Date!
- Nov 3- On the water – Beginner session
- Nov 10 – On the water – Progression session
All on water sessions are $55 for non-members and $20 for members.
“We’re excited to provide this opportunity for members to build skills, confidence and connection” says SUP Vic Vice President Sorelle Nolan. “SUPVIC are actively working towards gender equality in all aspects of our club. With 56% of our members being female, they’re getting out there and having fun on the water and with the help of this grant, we hope they will see the opportunity to build their skills and confidence”.
“I am honoured to be able to encourage more women onto the water and to participate in SUP, my absolute passion which I love to share.” says Cec Pezet Head Instructor and Founder from Wellbeing SUP Yoga who is partnering with SUPVic to deliver the sessions. Cec is a Parks Vic permit holder and an accredited and registered Surfing Australia SUP School.
Activities under the grant are open to the whole community, but will have a focus on women and girls, as per the Change the Game 2023-2024 grant guidelines.
In between the clinics and training sessions there will be social paddles run by club volunteers at a range of locations so there are additional ways to get on the water in a supportive and social environment. These include the better weather day on the following weekends:
- July 6th/7th
- August 3rd/4th
- September 7th/8th
- October 5th/6th
- November 2nd/3rd
- December 7th/8th
Women’s Sup Confidence On-Water Session outline
- warming up for paddling
- properly sizing your paddle
- fins (fitting and selection)
- how to stand and balance
- basic paddle strokes – kneeling, standing
- prone paddling
- turning – kneeling, standing, cross bow, pivot
- falling & re-mounting (recovery)
- correct paddling posture
- how to handle different paddling conditions
- efficient paddling to increase fitness & stamina & distance
Provided in a supportive, encouraging and inclusive environment
What is Change Our Game?
In December 2015, the Victorian Government released a report from the independent Inquiry into Women and Girls in Sport and Active Recreation.
The report shed light on gender inequality in Victorian sports and recreation; it also outlined a way forward, helping change and improve sport and recreation for all involved.
The overwhelming finding is that women are under-represented in leadership roles in a sports sector that is still predominantly male-centric and dominated.
The report also highlights a growing movement of women and girls keen to showcase their talent and desire to contribute to the sport and active recreation sector, but the opportunities to participate and lead are either elusive or not readily evident.
The Change Our Game initiative was launched, designed to encourage the sport and recreation sector to challenge gender stereotypes and help women and girls become leaders.
Sporting clubs in Victoria are recommended to align with the Fair Access Principles and Roadmap.
For more information on why this is needed, check out the findings from the State of Play Survey 2023