Surfers for Climate’s Silver Surfers initiative has been making waves since October 2024, bringing former world champion bodyboarders Damian King and Ben Player to beaches along Sydney’s northern coast and regional New South Wales. It’s designed exclusively for over-60s, offering a unique ocean adventure that blends expert coaching with the thrill of catching every new swell.
Participants gather through local surf schools to learn technique, safety, and style, transforming initial nerves into beaming confidence with each surf session. The program is already staged in Warrnambool, Port Macquarie, and Albany’s all-women Granny Grommets group, proving that age is just a number when it comes to saltwater fun. At every stop, coaches and volunteers foster a lively mix of laughter, encouragement, and those priceless first-wave high-fives.
What truly sets Silver Surfers apart is its focus on low-impact fitness that nurtures both body and mind. As chief coach Ben Player—a three-time world champion—explains, the clinics provide a safe, supportive environment where seniors can boost strength, flexibility, and cognitive agility without stressing fragile joints. It feels more like play than exercise: participants lie on bodyboards, feel the ocean’s rush, and bond with peers over shared stoke. This blend of gentle movement and social engagement is a powerful antidote to isolation, with new friendships forged on every wave.
For many attendees, bodyboarding goes beyond sport—it’s a therapeutic dose of what one participant calls “vitamin sea”. Sixty-six-year-old Ruth Goodwin, who manages her health as a dialysis patient, shared that the experience has been transformative for both her physical strength and mental wellbeing. “I encourage people to come and have a dose of ‘vitamin sea’ … it’s helped me enormously,” she said, capturing the program’s life-affirming spirit. Meanwhile, first-timer Bill Oliver confessed he felt like a natural by the end of his session and is already planning his next surf days.
Beyond health benefits, Silver Surfers doubles as an ocean stewardship platform. Surfers for Climate chief executive Josh Kirkman describes how catching waves can spark vital conversations about protecting coastlines and tackling climate change. The initiative not only welcomes ocean veterans but encourages them to become ambassadors for marine conservation. By turning senior surfers into passionate advocates, the program is cultivating a diverse coalition ready to ride waves and champion sustainable seas.
In an era when ageing populations seek meaningful, health-boosting activities, Silver Surfers shines as a blueprint for inclusive, intergenerational fun. It highlights the ocean’s power to unite, heal, and inspire, proving there’s truly something for everyone—an empowering message that ripples far beyond the shoreline.
Ready to catch your own “vitamin sea” and join the silver wave? Dive into the full ABC story for all the heartwarming moments, coaching tips, and ocean insights.
