High school surfing
rules too strict,
critics say

Draft rules require
ocean certification for
adults and students

CORRECTION Friday, January 14, 2005 » Student surfers from Campbell High School compete in Hawaii Amateur Surfing Association events as the Ewa Beach Surf Team, not under their school name. A Tuesday article on Page A1 incorrectly reported that they competed under their school's name. The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at corrections@starbulletin.com.

Some surfing advocates think the Department of Education is holding surfing to a higher standard than other sports in developing regulations to make it an official sport at Hawaii's high schools.

Proposed surfing rules Draft regulations for surfing as a school sport: Each surf club shall have: » An adviser who is a Department of Education employee. » At least three coaches, one land-based and two ocean-based. Requirements for all surf coaches: » Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification » First-aid certification » Ocean rescue skill training » Ocean safety risk management training » Ocean-related injury prevention training » Training in relevant legal and cultural issues » Near-shore waters environmental awareness training Requirements for student surfers: » Junior Lifeguard certification or equivalent skills in CPR, swimming, ocean rescue and ocean safety risk management » Parental permission » Meet academic requirements for participation in co-curricular activities » Provide their own, or borrowed, surfboards Minimum adult-student ratios: » One water-based coach for every six students in the water » One land-based coach for every 12 students in the water » At least one coach on shore at all times to observe no more than two in-ocean groups Source: Hawaii Department of Education

Draft regulations presented to a school board committee yesterday require one coach on the beach observing surfers at all times during practices, and at least one coach in the water for every six students surfing. Both adults and students would need ocean safety certification.

"It's hard enough to get one adviser, so that would probably be a problem for most schools," said Iris Kahaulelio, biology teacher and coach of the Kahuku High School Surf Club, reached after the meeting. "They seem to be holding surfing to a much higher standard than other water sports."

She participated in a focus group on the draft regulations and had considered a 1-to-10 coach-to-student ratio. The department scaled it back to a 1-to-6 ratio based on the advice of lifeguards.

The regulations also specify that each high school surf club have at least three coaches, one land-based and two water-based. All coaches would need CPR certification, first-aid certification and training in ocean rescues, risk management, injury prevention and ocean-related legal and cultural issues. Students would need Junior Lifeguard Certification or the equivalent.

"It seems like a lot of hoops to have to jump," Kahaulelio said. "Canoe paddling doesn't need any certification, and they're in the open ocean. I think it's a good idea for the advisers and the students to have ocean safety awareness, but I think everyone should have the same requirements."

Wendell Aoki, president of the Hawaii Amateur Surfing Association, who attended yesterday's meeting and also provided input into the regulations, said the requirement for Junior Lifeguard certification seemed overly stringent.

"But if that's what it takes to get it going, we'll agree," he said.

Jim Howe, operations chief for ocean safety for the City and County of Honolulu, said the Junior Lifeguard program was created to help reduce the high rate of death and injury among teens. The free program takes five days, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., he said.

"Yes, it's a time commitment, but if you're going to be in the ocean, why wouldn't you want to know how to take care of yourself?" he said. "It's a benefit to our community, to our sport, to the families involved and to the kids."

The Board of Education approved surfing as an official high school sport in May and directed the department to come up with regulations. The decision on whether to have a surf team will be up to individual schools. The proposed rules will now be sent to unions for review, which takes 45 days.

Assistant Superintendent Katherine Kawaguchi said she expected a lot of feedback and that final guidelines would not be complete until April or May.

Public school students have competed in surf meets as members of clubs for years, but could not use their schools' names. This year, several surf clubs -- from Kahuku to Campbell High -- have taken part in meets under their school names. Other principals have forbidden it until the department adopts regulations. The Oahu Interscholastic League and its sister groups have been reluctant to embrace surfing.

A high school surf meet held by the Hawaii Amateur Surfing Association at Turtle Bay on Sunday was called off partway through because the waves got too big. It resumes this Sunday.