Vegemite Press Releases
Surfing Australia Launches New Junior Participation Program - VEGEMITE SurfGroms
World’s First National Junior Program for Surfing Anywhere in the World
Partnership marks the first sport sponsorship venture for VEGEMITE
Global Surf Brand QUIKSILVER Onboard as Key Support Sponsor
7 September 2011
SURFING AUSTRALIA today announced VEGEMITE SurfGroms - the first national junior participation program of its type available anywhere in the world.
VEGEMITE SurfGroms will offer youngsters aged 5-12 years old an opportunity to develop strong ocean awareness and beach safety skills at a very influential period in their lives, whilst also developing a proficiency in surfing that they will enjoy and embrace for a lifetime.
In a first for the VEGEMITE brand, they will take naming rights to SurfGroms, a new national junior participation program hitting the beaches for the first time this summer.
“Surfing is an authentic Australian sport and lifestyle that is part of the Australian ethos and culture, so for this reason it was important we partnered with the right fit sponsors to ensure the success of the SurfGroms program,” said Surfing Australia Chief Executive Officer Andrew Stark.
“We are extremely excited to announce VEGEMITE as the naming rights partner to this SurfGroms program. VEGEMITE offer an absolute perfect fit for this Australian junior sport program to be known as VEGEMITE Surfgroms. We could not have partnered with a more appropriate brand that conveys the true Australian spirit and essence of youthful fun.”
As an iconic symbol of Australia, VEGEMITE is a perfect fit for the equally iconic Australian past time - surfing! The partnership also marks the first sports sponsorship venture for the VEGEMITE brand after almost 90 years.
Kraft Foods Australia Spreads & Grocery Category Head, Jenny Nolch, said: “We are thrilled to be the naming rights sponsor of SurfGroms. This new program provides a strong opportunity for us to participate at the grassroots level of the sport. Being involved from the outset allows us to help grow and develop the program with SURFING AUSTRALIA and play an active role in taking surfing to the mainstream in this country.”
Surfing underpins an important part of the Australian way of life. It forms part of a lifestyle in which millions participate and millions more have a documented interest. Similarly, VEGEMITE is an integral part of Australia’s culture, identity and personality, and is seen as a symbol of contemporary pride.
Along with VEGEMITE, SURFING AUSTRALIA is excited to announce that leading surf company QUIKSILVER has come onboard as a major support sponsor to the program.
“We’re pleased to announce Australian founded and global surf brand QUIKSILVER as the key support sponsor to the program,” said Stark. “The partnership with the world’s biggest surf brand will provide fantastic benefits directly to the participants that will significantly enhance their experience in the program.”
QUIKSILVER Australia CEO Greg Healy is equally pleased with the partnership.
“QUIKSILVER is delighted to be partnering with SURFING AUSTRALIA in this program,” he said.
“In being able to participate in developing our ‘grommets’ understanding of our beaches and oceans, we hope to assist them in enjoying all the benefits that the lifestyle of surfing will hopefully offer them for a lifetime.”
QUIKSILVER will be joined by iconic beach toy brand WAHU and leading communications company TELSTRA as support sponsors.
“We are also very pleased to confirm the announcement of Australian household brands WAHU and TELSTRA as support sponsors who will play an important role in the program,” said Stark. “WAHU will be providing delivery kits with multiple toys for beach activities along with two toys to every participant that joins the program.”
“The theme of our partners was to ensure they were authentically Australian and could provide credibility and importantly direct benefits to the participants and the program. The partner mix is perfect and we look forward to working with them to introduce tens of thousands of kids to the thrill and excitement of surfing.”
Australia’s most comprehensive coastal reference site COASTALWATCH and associated magazine SURFING WORLD complete the program’s support sponsors, signing on as media partners.
Every kid signing up to VEGEMITE SurfGroms will receive an awesome QUIKSILVER backpack bursting with surfing merchandise including a QUIKSILVER t-shirt, hat, rash vest, towel and wrist band, plus two WAHU beach products and a tube of VEGEMITE Spread.
The Australian surfing landscape benefited from the much-anticipated release of the Crawford Report into sports funding and reform, and the subsequent new sport participation funding allocated to Surfing Australia in November, 2010.
The VEGEMITE SurfGroms program is the flagship participation program to come out of this new funding and presents an amazing opportunity for Surfing Australia to engage thousands of primary aged children by introducing them to the fun and healthy lifestyle that surfing offers.
Surfing Australia has worked hard to reach this point and with the support of the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) are proud to be launching a robust, innovative and cutting edge junior development program for kids all over Australia.
This exciting new program will be available through the Surfing Australia Surf Schools Network to anyone aged between 5 and 12 years old, regardless of experience or ability.
It will form the base of Surfing Australia’s Sport Development Pathway, ensuring that more participants continue surfing throughout their lifetime and ingraining into them a healthy lifestyle that is proudly Australian.
Parents will be able to register their children in the program and source information from the VEGEMITE SurfGroms website at www.surfgroms.com
A VEGEMITE SurfGroms Community Service Announcement (CSA) will go to air today to coincide with the launch. So, keep an eye out this summer for the most exciting new beach based activity for 5-12 year olds. It’s here, and it’s called VEGEMITE SurfGroms!
About VEGEMITE SurfGroms
VEGEMITE SurfGroms offers an 8 week program or a total of 12 hours of activities delivered by Surfing Australia Surf Schools and their highly qualified instructors. There will be a significant focus on ocean awareness and beach safety skills, with understanding surf conditions, surf etiquette, first aid, and rescue skills all built into 5 achievement levels of VEGEMITE SurfGroms. But above all, kids will have fun learning the skills that will give them the confidence to become a surfer for life.
Every participant will receive a free QUIKSILVER backpack containing a QUIKSILVER t-shirt,
rashie, towel, sun-hat, wristband, 2 great Wahu beach toys and a TELSTRA (TBC) . Also included in the pack is a tube of VEGEMITE spread!
Parents can find their closest centre and register their child at the VEGEMITE SurfGroms website, whilst kids will be able to upload their coolest surfing pics, chat with their mates, shop online and learn more about surfing and how to improve their skills in the water.
For all information and registrations go to www.surfgroms.com
For further information, please contact:
Jake White
Surfing Australia
0422 987 069
jake@surfingaustralia.com
Angela Wilkinson
Royce
0429 554 431
angela@royce.com.au
