Posted on: Tuesday, August 17, 2004

Board of Education will examine surfing guidelines

By Derrick DePledge
Advertiser Education Writer

Guidelines for high school surfing could go to the state Board of Education by December, after educators and ocean experts examine liability and safety questions.

Educators will talk to surf club leaders, ocean safety experts and school districts in California that allow competitive surfing between schools before recommending guidelines for Hawai'i high schools. The state school board approved surfing as a high school sport in May but left the decision up to schools, which in turn are awaiting state guidelines before proceeding.

Dwight Toyama, athletics administrator for the state Department of Education and executive secretary of the O'ahu Interscholastic Association, told a school board committee yesterday that he is more concerned about liability at surfing practices than at organized contests, which could likely obtain adequate insurance coverage.

Some surf clubs have suggested that students would surf on their own for practice, much like they do already, but the fact that they would be preparing for a school-backed competition could raise supervision and liability issues.

Toyama also gave board members copies of newspaper articles on a fatal shark attack on a surfer off Maui this year and an apparent drowning of a surfer off the Big Island as examples of the sport's danger. Some board members said they appreciated the information, but others complained it was an attempt to undermine the board's decision to approve surfing.

Reach Derrick DePledge at ddepledge@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8084.