Surf Skis - Get Gylly Paddling!

Aim

Giving young people new opportunities to enjoy ocean sports and learn life guarding skills through surf ski kayaks. Your support matters!

About Us:

Gyllyngvase Surf Life Saving club is a vibrant volunteer-powered charity in Falmouth. We are dedicated to training the lifeguards of the future and changing lives through sport.

"Gylly SLSC is the most amazing community. The dedication of our clubbies to excel in order to help others is truly inspirational!"  - Lois, Club Chair.

Our mission is to provide top-notch training and qualifications in rescue, first aid and ocean sports. We proudly support the local community by providing patrols and working as lifeguards, and we compete in lifesaving sport to the highest level.

Why is surf ski important?

Surf skis are a type of kayak designed for paddling on open water, especially in surf conditions. They are built for speed and agility in waves and rough seas. These qualities make surf skis ideal for water patrol and responding to emergencies.

"I really enjoy ski. It's a great way to become a lifeguard and I wish I could do it more" - Cara, 15. 

Lifeguards train with surf skis to hone their open water paddling skills, strength and fitness. Races and competitions test their skills and endurance, provide motivation to keep training and ensure lifeguards are "rescue ready".

"Surf ski is the F1 of sport surf lifesaving and a great way to train to be a lifeguard" - Rafi, 18

Our Mission:

We believe in the transformative power of ocean sports. Our goal is to make surf ski accessible to everyone, especially children and those with limited financial means. By fundraising for entry-level surf skis and equipment we aim to break down barriers, grow the paddling community in Cornwall and train more lifeguards.

"There's a big group of women who really want to learn to surf ski. But we really need these new stable skis so we can get confident" - Ella, 48 

Building on excellence:

We have a well-established surf ski paddling programme and can boast of many world-class paddlers including Rosie Edwards, Maisy Hawkins and Anya Hocking.

"It's so fun to surfski and I really want to get better" - Alana, 12 

As part of our mission to build the paddle community we started the “Rock Up and Race” in 2024, a fortnightly event which brings the paddle community together to enjoy racing in the beautiful Gyllyngvase bay. This has been a huge success, with paddlers aged 13+ from across Cornwall (and beyond) coming together and enjoying friendship and support in this challenging sport.

"It's just so much fun to be out there on the water on these amazing boats" - Anders, 17.

What we need:

To continue our mission, we need your help. We aim to raise £7600 to buy:

• 3 ‘novice’ surf skis 
• 3 adjustable paddles
• Additional safety equipment

This equipment will allow more people to learn to paddle surf ski, integrate it into their lifeguard training, and  take part in competition including the Rock Up and Race, and Cornish and National Championships.

"I've been surf life saving for 10 years and I now coach the Masters. I would love to learn the surf ski so I can coach others. I've always aspired to learn, but need these entry-level styles of ski as it's such a tricky skill" Cags, 50.

How you can help:

1. Make a donation. Any amount is valuable and all the funds will be put to good use. Don’t delay if you’re going to support us because momentum is key to our success!

2. Spread the word. We need to reach as many people as possible and tell them about this fantastic community project so share the page on your social media pages.

3. Help with rewards. If you are a local business, or know someone with one, get in touch and play a part in what we're doing with rewards. This is a community effort.

Help us Get Gylly Paddling!

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made