The future of competitive Bodyboarding is looking very grim in Queensland after numbers plummeted to an all time low for the recent INVERTED QUEENSLAND STATE TITLES presented by PRIDE BODYBOARDS.
There were 2 rounds this year , the 1st in February on the Sunshine Coast @ Kings Beach and the 2nd on the Gold Coast this month @ D'bah. Each round ran for 1 day only.
Both rounds attracted approximately 30 - 40 competitors across all divisions . Some divisions had a straight out final as there were not enough entries .
What happened to the attraction of being crowned QUEENSLAND STATE CHAMPION with the instant progression of being a member of TEAM QUEENSLAND for a shot at a NATIONAL TITLE ?
There are 4 grassroots bodyboarding clubs registered in Queensland.
Sunshine Coast Bodyboard Club
North Bodyboard Club ( non operational for the 2017 season )
Gold Coast Bodyboard Club
Headlanders Bodyboard Club ( non operational for the 2017 season )
Membership numbers have also been on a decline this year , for example GCBC in 2015 had 130 members . 2016 there were 100 members & 2017 we have just on 60 members And the majority of members are over the age of 25 .
Is competitive Bodyboarding losing its flavour to the younger generation?
Clubs are being run year after year by the same passionate people who have done an amazing job ( Mick Parkhill , Benny Obourne, Luke Jackson , Myself GCBC , Ben & Carmen Wells SCBC , Frank & Kay McDonald HEADLANDERS , The Watson Family NBC ) being the glue that keeps our clubs together .
Committee positions become available at every annual general meeting a club holds but mostly the exsisting committee members are the only ones in attendance. These meetings are open to all club members for nominations of key committee roles which need to be filled .
existing committee members really have no choice but to go again the following year as no other member steps up to the plate to take on the responsibility to keep the club alive.
The younger generation just don't seem to connect with the running of a club & really show no interest in tasks at contests like judging / tabulating / spotting / BBQ duties / set up & pack up ..
Who will be running the clubs in the next 5 years ?
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