CLAYTON Pickworth is about to embark on his second season as president of the Port Macquarie Bodyboarding Association.
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He is excited about what the future can hold at a location that is best known as the bodyboarding capital of Australia.
Well-known bodyboarding identities such as Damien King and Michael Eppulsten came from Port Macquarie.
Modern-day surfers such as Charlie Holt, Shayden Schrader and Chase O’Leary are leading the new-age into the future.
Pickworth’s first year in charge would best be described as a “fact-finding mission” as the club attempted to rediscover its identity.
“We had to find out what was missing,” he said.
“And what was missing was a bit of direction and being positive about where we’re going.”
As a result, the club now has a new trailer they can store all their gear in and the president is positive about the future.
“The club had funds in the bank, but using them probably wasn’t a priority,” he said.
“We really want to reconnect with the grommets and reload the gun because all the older guys that were keeping the club running were not enjoying the club days as much as what I wanted them to.”
A change in direction and an emphasis on the new-age chipping in has revitalised the older members.
As a result, the younger brigade were likely to start reaping the rewards.
“Now the older guys want to help because we’ve given them back their freedom,” Pickworth said.
“Now they’re taking the grommets out for a surf and teaching them.”
Pickworth said the club “had a tick over 50 members last year” and they expected another dozen or so to join the club this season.
“We’d missed having any women for the past decade and this year we have three or four already which is great for us,” he said.
The club will hold competition days on the first Sunday of each month, starting on March 3.
For further information email carissadwyer8@gmail.com or cjpickworth@yahoo.com.au or search Facebook “PMBA - The Club”.
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