About:

We are so excited to be back on the beach together after a long year. Both the fun and safety of our athletes, staff, and volunteers remains paramount so for the 2023 Surf Therapy season, AWOW will be implementing the following safety protocols.

Event guide:

This is a private event for ‘The Redlands Optimist Club’ Athletes only. All volunteers are welcome.

Pre-registration for this event will open 4 to 6 weeks before the event date.
The safety and health of our Athletes, Staff and Volunteers remains of paramount importance to AWOW. We recommend that everyone in attendance follow current COVID-19 guidelines as advised by the CDC. If you have any symptoms or are not feeling well within 36 hours of an AWOW event we ask that you please stay home and we will do our best to fit you in the next event.

Please RSVP for each person in your party. Please be aware only Parents/Guardians and siblings may attend with their Athletes at this time.

Athlete: Please choose ONE preferred surf session time and RSVP for the number of surfing Athletes in your party.

Volunteer: Each volunteer (18 and older) must register an account on the website and RSVP individually. Minors should be listed as guests of Parent/Guardian. Please RSVP in ONE category that matches the area in which you most prefer to volunteer throughout the day. If your category is filled and you do not wish to help in any of the open categories, please fill out the Wait List form (at bottom of page), indicating the category in which you’d like to help. As space permits, we will fill any cancellations from the Wait List. NOTE: First-time volunteers should select the “Volunteer: Beach Operations” category.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR WATER-BASED VOLUNTEER POSITIONS:

Beach Safety is an in-water position responsible for helping the Surf Therapists and the Athletes get safely in and out of the water. You will get wet. Applicants should be comfortable carrying athletes and surfboards in and out of the water. Wetsuits and booties recommended. Applicants should be at least 16 years or older. Exceptions can be made for especially strong applicants and those who have done the position before.

Water Safety is an in-water position, where you can expect to be out in the surf, treading water for the entire length of the event (approximately 4-5 hours). This position requires you to be an excellent swimmer with high endurance. Your responsibility is to assist Surf Therapists and Athletes after exiting the wave, and provide a safe environment in the water. You are expected to be capable of treading water for a sustained period of time, swimming quickly, lifting and carrying a person, and capable of lifting an adult athlete back up onto a surfboard while in the water. Applicants must have attended a safety training, be at least 18 years old, with ocean lifeguard, junior lifeguard, or surf camp experience, (Exceptions can be made for qualified applicants). Wetsuits, booties, and fins are required. AWOW has fins available if you do not have your own.

Surf Therapists must be excellent surfers and have previous experience surfing with athletes who have special needs or disabilities. All Surf Therapists need to be pre-approved by our Surf Therapy Team Lead. If you have not been a Surf Therapist for A Walk On Water before, our Surf Therapy Team Lead will be in touch prior to the event to go over further details.