OPTOBLUR : SÅBC 2025 Series • Event 9
Event description
Event Info:
Sydney Ådaptive Boardriders Club (SÅBC)
2025 Series - Event 9 : OPTOBLU¨R
Hosted in partnership with Ådaptive Athlete Academy, First Nations Lifeguards, Surfing NSW, Surfers Rescue 24/7, Matt Grainger & Live Well with Vision Loss
Program:
3:30pm - 6:00pm
Surfers Rescue 24/7 + CPR
Award winning programme of life saving skills for members of SÅBC, delivered by industry leading experts
4:00pm - 5:00pm
SÅBC Session 1 (Easier to Mid-range)
Members of the SÅBC train in a more mellow wave setting.
* All adaptive surfers & supports are required to have an active 2025 SÅBC membership
6:00pm - 7:00pm
SÅBC Session 2 (Advanced Turns through to Beast)
Members of the SÅBC train in the most challenging wave settings - suited to competent surfers who are looking to challenge and push themselves.
* All adaptive surfers & supports are required to have an active 2025 SÅBC membership
7:30pm - 10:00pm
Dinner in the Dark + The Art of Human Sight
An eye-opening sensory engagement experience hosted by Joanne Cabot, followed by the exhibition unveiling of 'The Art of Human
SÅBC OPTOBLU¨R Cause: Blindness & Low Vision (BLV)
World Sight Day is observed annually on the second Thursday of October as a global movement raising awareness and attention to blindness and vision impairment.
October 15 celebrates International White Cane Day, when we recognise the incredible impact that this revolutionary device has in building self-resilience and achievement for the blindness and low vision community.
CAPACITY BUILDING • Skills & Certifications
Surfers Rescue 24/7 + CPR
3:30pm - 6:00pm
This award-winning course teaches essential board rescue techniques that can assist in emergency situations and potentially save lives. Developed and endorsed by NSW Professional Lifeguards, the Australian Lifeguards Service (ALS), Surf Life Saving NSW (SLSNSW), and some of the world’s elite surfers, these proven techniques utilise the tools already at hand - your surfboard!
Surfers are in the water every day, often being the first to respond in emergencies. With only 4% of beaches patrolled by professional and volunteer lifeguards, surfers are a vital resource in saving lives.
We encourage recreational surfers of all skill levels to participate in the Surfers Rescue 24/7 course to learn these techniques and receive CPR training. With less than 10% of Australians trained in CPR, these skills can be invaluable in any situation.
The Surfers Rescue 24/7 course includes two components:
1. Surfers Rescue 24/7 Course: Learn four rescue techniques for conscious and unconscious patients using your surfcraft. (Approx. 1.5 hours)
2. Accredited CPR Course (Approx. 2 hours)
Important Participation Requirements:
- Must be competent in handling, paddling, and surfing on a surfboard, bodyboard, or SUP.
- Must be a competent swimmer, able to swim 100m in open water (unassisted).
Please Bring:
- Your surfboard, wetsuit (or similar), and a change of clothes.
- Photo ID, pen, and notepad.
CAPACITY BUILDING • In-Water Coaching
Matt Grainger assisting Surfers Rescue 24/7 then joining the expert session for in-water support & expert Talent Development
Resident surf-coach-god and big-wave-tamer, Matt Grainger lives and breathes surfing 24/7 via Surfers Compass, Surfers Gym, Manly Surf School, and more. Matt teamed up with SÅBC member Matt Formston (star of the award winning film - The Blind Sea) and took Joanne Cabot for her first surf recently at Manly alongside international VI advocate & athlete Molly Burke.
Summa Longbottom
OG SÅBC Ångel, resident URBNSURF barrel school coach and big-wave-tamer. Enter Summa’s arena - watch, listen & learn.
Matt Davies
It’s a rare occasion to get this guy in a wave pool. They don’t make them big enough for Hazmat. Enjoy sharing waves with Matt between recovery & training before he heads to the giant waves of Nazare to conquer them on a foil.
RD Waveskis Talent Development Programme
Two top waveski riders & visiting members of SÅBC join us in the waves to share skills and demonstrations.Burke.
Dr Stephen Blatchford • aka The Cronulla Toothfairy
Trades time between dentistry, big wave free-surfing, solid competition results, and keeping the smiles high quality in & out of the water. Burke.
Darren Bason
Not sure there’s a watercraft or liquid environment this guy doesn’t excel & teach in. Pretty damn friendly too!
CAPACITY BUILDING
Dinner in the Dark + The Art of Human Sight
An eye-opening sensory engagement experience hosted by Joanne Cabot, followed by the exhibition unveiling of 'The Art of Human Sight'.
Dinner in the Dark with Joanne Cabot ~ Live Well with Vision Loss
Enter a world where vision takes a backseat and your other senses come to life. Join us for an immersive dining experience where blindfolds unveil a whole new perspective on living with vision loss. Embark on a journey of exploration, uncovering hidden depths of sound, touch, smell, and taste. The night promises to be a tantalizing blend of discovery, learning, and connection.
The Blind Flyer (aka Tom K)
Witness the translation of human senses & emotion to technology and back again blending synasthesia, interoception & visualization via artificial intelligence.
My Harbour Art (aka Michael Lake)
Vision realised from the Art of Human Flight live exhibition during Stage 6 of the Handifly Race World Series in August 2025 at iFly Sydney by Michael Lake.
Salt Water Dreamtime (aka Zac Bennett-Brook)
Salt-Water-People • Maps of the elemental, the environmental, the emotional, awe inspiring ocean-all & connectional by Zach Bennett-BrookLake.
Saxon McCorquodale
No description. Pure Art.
Brenden Newton (The Grey Space Projects)
Brenden Newton is a lifelong water person, riding & photographing the thickest lumps of water on the planet. Art, painting, editing is therapy & deeply important in his daily practice, having wrestled for 25 years with severe OCD. Brenden now lives a fulfilled & rich life in the Illawarra with his beautiful wife & two kids. Brenden is also 110 episodes deep as host of The Grey Space Podcast - his mental health & ocean chat show. Please enjoy Brenden’s art & what peace it may hope to provide you.
Private Screening ~ The Blind Sea
To that end, when in Nazare, Matt Formston took advice from the living surf legends of the area. The build-up to “the” day” is evident in everyone’s faces as they wish him good luck. His mom philosophically says, “If he dies, he dies doing what he wants to do.”
It is here that the cinematography comes alive. The size and power of these waves is unfathomable. You can understand Formston’s description of a “bomb” as the waves break “like an avalanche behind you.”
These capacity building activities support SÅBC’s mission of creating and celebrating connections while providing pathways for the adaptive surfing community. All proceeds will directly fund the club’s adaptive surfing initiatives and help us expand our impact in 2025 & beyond.
Why Support SÅBC?
SÅBC is dedicated to fostering a close-knit community and offering performance pathways for adaptive surfers—from first-timers to world champions. Our events attract top talent from around the globe, with surfers submitting waves remotely from iconic wave pools worldwide. Each year, we work to subsidise pool costs so that all adaptive surfers can access URBNSURF’s top-tier facilities at equitable rates, while also building a team of in-water assistants to support those who may face barriers to participation.
By joining us or making a donation, you’re directly helping us fund our 2025 and future competition seasons.
Can’t attend? You can still show your support! Select a donation option on the ticket page to directly fund our initiatives for adaptive surfing.
FAQ:
Q: Are there spots for supporters to surf?
A: If you are a supporter of an adaptive SÅBC member you can book a session where you are directly providing support to that competing member for the purpose of providing support, or book into available sessions or lessons in the public schedule before the SÅBC sessions start.
Q: What if the weather is bad on the day of the event?
A: URBNSURF provides perfect waves in most weather conditions. However, in the event of extreme weather (such as lightning within 10 km of the venue), events may be paused, rescheduled, or canceled for safety reasons. Participants will be notified as soon as is practical and will receive fair credits reflecting the value of the missed experience.
Q: What's the water temp at URBNSURF like?
A: It's cooling down in the pool. Most people are in a 3/2 steamer at least. We will provide more information closer to the event date. Warm pool is there on site for after your surf!
Q: Can I rent surf gear on-site?
A: Yes, URBNSURF has a rental store offering a range of surfboards (including adaptive boards) and wetsuits to suit different needs.
Q: Can I bring people to come and watch?
A: Yes, spectators are welcome! If they are accompanying an surfer as a chaperone (eg: companion card) or if you are a Foundation Member, one guest can enter for free. Otherwise, guests usually purchase a $10 spectator pass at the welcome desk, granting them access to amenities like the heated leisure pool. But if your guests have a reservation at Sandy’s Surfside casual eatery or if they are attending RAFI’s fine dining restaurant they can enter for free.
Q: Can I take photos and video?
A: Yes, personal photography with phones or GoPro cameras is encouraged. For professional photography or videography (i.e. anything other than the above), a Media Pass from the URBNSURF Marketing team is required. The standard fee for a Media Pass is $200, which may be waived if significant promotional benefits are demonstrated. All content produced with a Media Pass must be approved by the URBNSURF Marketing team before being posted online
Q: How do I claim my 2-hours free parking?
A: Ensure you register your car on arrival at the parking meters
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