‘Deano’!!
After many seasons at the helm, Head Board Coach Dean Symmans has decided to call it a day, and … focus properly on his surfing! The sight of big Deano at waters edge – scanning the horizon with board and bucket at the ready – has greeted the board training crew for many a long season at early o’clock and in every type of weather imaginable. Deano has guided the club’s competition group from as far back as 2005/06, overseeing the development of talented youth paddlers and dedicated masters alike, and thanks in no small part to the technical, moral and paddling support of wife Lisa. What a huge effort! This dynamic duo has devoted many hours and many years to the club over a range of volunteer areas including to the board paddling and training arena, with the golden success of the women’s masters team at the 2023 Aussies a culmination of this work.
Deano, heralding from state champion surf boat rowing pedigree, only recently stepped back from his own successful Masters board paddling career, achieving numerous successes at State level over solo and team events … who could forget the giant-killing board rescue combo of Deano and Gav taking on the best in the state and the country!
Deano will still be around the club, but the board paddling crew are surely going to miss the twice weekly catchups and training, leadership both on and off the water, unflagging drive and motivation, superior board handling skills and strength in the surf, willingness to listen and share his vast experience, and his underlying passion for all things ‘ocean’.
So, its bye-bye for now (or maybe not!) to the annual ‘Toblerone Cup’, baked treats in the boat shed, Christmas annual photo and paddle antics, zen-yogi warmups and stretching routines, the never-ending search for a wave at Midds, and a certain red water bucket overflowing with stuck on, hard-earned handicap times. Thanks Deano and see you around, from ‘the Crew’ and the Club!