Board

The  Board has been an integral part of Surf Life Saving. Through the years  design has changed, training methods modified and with it, the fortune  of Glenelg's paddlers. During the 1950's Glenelg tasted some success in  the board area in the now deleted 'Longboard' division, more similar in  design to a ski than today's board. However it was not until the  beginning of the 1990's that Glenelg started to make some inroads into  State Finals, and later Australian representation.

The  influence of Trevor Holmstrom and Allan Mitchell on the board section  cannot be underestimated. Progressing through the Nipper Movement, Trev  and Big Al brought a competitive and professional approach to training.  Led by the paddling efforts of Daniel Holmstrom and Steven Mitchell a  new breed of paddler developed within Glenelg. As Dan and Steve became  the backbone of the Board area a new group of young challenging  paddlers in Craig and David May, Jo Black, Andrew & Kate Simpson  took to the water. As Trev & Big Al retired Ironman Coach Simon  Phin worked with the largest contingent of paddlers in Glenelg history  including the young Matt Bowbridge, Edward Pearce, Steve Grix and  Daniel Lang who took up the challenge. The result was a succession of  State Individual and Team Championships through the late 1990's and  early 2000's.

By 2000 Glenelg's Board Section acquired a custom made trailer to fit 18 racing boards (and still didn't have enough space).

However,  the most dominant paddler of recent years representing Glenelg was  Amanda Elson in the Open Female Board. Un-beaten for a number of years,  her wins at the 2000 and 2001 State Titles were by significant margins.  Teamed by Sarah Goodwin, Kate Simpson and Nicki Wehrmann, the girls  were the 2002 State Team Champions. In 2002 the May brothers David and  Craig were back on song with Steve Mitchell taking up the Board Captain  reigns after a sabbatical away from Glenelg SLSC.