ASB MAGAZINE: Surfing Australia are on the hunt for two major talents, a National High Performance Director as well as a Elite Program Manager following an extensive and rigorous review of its high performance program with a view to ensure the organisation is set up to maximise its chances to achieve the first ever surfing Gold medal in the 2020 Olympic Games.The extensive review process undertaken over the month of June engaged a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders, included elite surfing athletes, elite surf coaches, and other Olympic sport athletes, CEO’s and Performance Directors and Head Coaches.
The final review report recommended various major changes to the current program. One of the major changes is the need to decentralise the current Surfing Australia High Performance program to enhance Australia’s chances at obtaining its first ever Surfing Olympic gold medal. Through this change we have made the decision to remove the national elite coach role at the Hurley Surfing Australia High Performance Centre (HPC) and as a result we say farewell to our full time national coach of the past 4 years, Andy King. Andy has played a crucial role in the evolution of the program and was instrumental in much of the recent innovation at the HPC included the recently opened AIS Skate to Create Aerial Surf Training Facility. Andy leaves the organisation hav ing left a true legacy and we have no doubt he will continue his fantastic elite coaching work with elite athletes on a more direct level.
The review recommendation also included the appointment of two major new roles to the new look HP program. These roles have been opened for application today and include an Elite Program Manager to be the face of Surfing Australia’s Olympic journey and work directly with the Olympic Squad elite athletes and their coaches. Surfing Australia has also commenced an international search for a highly qualified and Olympic experienced National High Performance Director to lead the new look program to success which includes continued World Tour Titles and Gold Medal success at the Japan 2020 Games.
Surfing Australia CEO Andrew Stark commented on the review: “This has been an extensive review and one that was certainly necessary given how seriously committed we are towards achieving the first ever Gold Medal at the Japan 2020 Olympics. We needed to understand the success profile of a legitimate Olympic high performance program and how this could work in with the sport of surfing and we are confident that while there are big changes required, the changes will result in us giving our country the best possible chance to achieve our goal of continued world titles and the first ever Gold Medal at the Japan 2020 Olympics.”
For more information visit www.surfingaustralia.com
VIA PRESS RELEASE
