If there is one message Surf Life Saving New Zealand chief executive Paul Dalton wants to get through to Kiwi blokes it is that they tend to overestimate their ability and underestimate the risk.
Dalton was in Brighton yesterday for a Surf Life Saving New Zealand board meeting and told the Otago Daily Times men were considerably over-represented in beach drownings.
"Men are by far the leaders in overestimating their ability and underestimating the risk," Dalton said.
"Some of that is peer pressure, some of that is alcohol and some of that is age.
"I’m the prime candidate in terms of age," the 55-year-old added.
"I have a mental picture in my mind of what I used to be able to do and that does not necessarily reflect what I’m able to do."
Last season, 19 people died in beach drownings in New Zealand. That was up five from the previous period despite a dismal summer across the country.
All 19 drownings occurred outside of patrolled areas, so another key message Dalton wanted to stress was one we should all be familiar with — to swim between the flags.
There are 74 surf life-saving clubs in New Zealand and they patrol 80 beaches nationwide. The Dunedin clubs have a good reputation.
"They have some big beaches here. Big surf and rocky conditions. ‘‘When you get the magical combination of study leave and fine weather, rescues go up."
Surf Life Saving New Zealand is a non-profit organisation and funding was an ongoing issue for the board. Its annual operating budget is about $9 million.
"We could always use more. Our challenge is three or four years ago that was around $10.5million. We’ve been in an environment where you have to do more with less."
While keeping people safe is a major focus for the organisation, surf life-saving is also a sport and there is plenty to look forward to this season.
The New Zealand Surf Boat series gets under way at Mount Maunganui on November 12. The Mount will also host the International Surf Rescue Challenge from November 30 to December 3.
Warrington Beach will host the Surf Rescue South Island Championships on March 10.
The New Zealand Surf Life Saving Championships get under way in Gisborne on March 15, and the Surf Rescue New Zealand Championships are at Waihi Beach on April 7-8.
