FAQ

01 What is Alba’s Surf Club?

We love nature, sports and adventure! The group is made up of people of all ages, levels of ability, and nationalities! We are crazy about surf and like to have fun!!! In this ‘Club’ you will get the opportunity to practice the sport you love and at the same time you meet mates with your interests. See a short Video of us!

02 What do we do?

We are a group of friends looking for more buddies interested in going surfing. Anybody is welcome to join us!!! There are currently more than 100 active members… WE GO SURFING EVERY WEEKEND!!!

We head to the beach as often as possible, sharing cars between us. It’s a great experience to get to know new friends in an active environment. We all love surfing, sports and a healthy lifestyle. We prefer to hit the breaks in a group; it’s safer when confronting the locals, LOL!. It is also safer to surf in a group where we all look after each other, Soul Surf Concept.

This is not a surf school; it is a Surf Club where you surf your own way! We make it what we want… It is a super relaxed and exciting environment. There are no rules; each day develops depending on what the members that join the trip that day make it, so no one day is ever the same . You never know what might happen!!!!

03 How does Alba’s Surf Club support charity?

The Club formed an association with the Foundation for Developing Cambodian Communities FDCC on April 2009. FDCC is a group of Melbourne based volunteers who have set up and run an orphanage for girls in Cambodia. Alba’s Surf Club organizes a yearly fund-raising party to support the charity and in 2009 raised over $2000 which was enough to support the Orphanage for a full year. We also donate clothing once a year.

This year Alba Surf Club also contributes with Surf Aid International, last February ASC donated $430 to the cause. This contribution was raised at the ASC raffle over the Easter Surf Camp 2011. First price of the raffle was a professional 6’1″ surfboard donated by Pro Surfer Nathan Hedge.

04 What are the benefits of being a member?

If you would like to know more about all the benefits of being a Member please click here

05 How does the surf club work?

We all play a small role in the club; some team members that own cars drive and the rest pay for a spot in the car, so that petrol expenses are shared between us all. It’s cheaper and way easier than public transport to the coast, not to mention that with PT you can only get to a few breaks. With the club, you get the chance to go to lots of different breaks all around Victoria! We decide where to go depending on the forecast conditions, so we ensure we surf the best conditions each day.

06 What’s the usual meeting time?

We meet early in the mornings to surf offshore conditions. Departure time is usually 8:30am, please check the exact time at the HOMEPAGE. New members that need to hire gear and sign the surf club liability waiver are required to arrive 15 min earlier.

07 Where is the meeting place?

The Surf Club garage is at 567 Punt Road, South Yarra, VIC 3141. The meeting point has easy access to public transport. You can get the tram to either the corner of Toorak and Punt Rd (Tram # or to the corner of Commercial Rd and Punt Rd (Tram # 72); or get the train to South Yarra and walk up Toorak Rd to Punt Rd. Be aware the trams on Sunday morning don’t leave that early, so you might want to catch the train instead. Click HERE to see a map.

08 Where do we go surfing?

Most often we go to: Phillip Island (Woolamai, Smiths Beach, YCW, Surfer Point, Forest Cave, Cat Bay and Right Point); Great Ocean Road (Torquay, South Side, Fairhaven, Jan Juc, Winki, Bells, 13th Beach, Point Addis, Spot Creek, Lorne, Kennet River, Port Campbell, Apollo Bay & Johanna Beach), Mornington Peninsula (Portsea, 2nd Reef and Gunnamatta Beach), and Wilson’s Promontory National Park (Whisky Bay, Picnic Bay and Squeaky Beach). We also organise Surf Camps on Australian long weekends to Wilson’s Promontory, Apollo Bay, Phillip Island, Port Campbell, Sorrento and Torquay. Click HERE to see a map of Victoria locations.

09 How often are the surf trips?

We go every weekend, every Saturday & every Sunday all year round, we even go midweek sometimes when conditions are pumping We do one day surf trips and if that coincides with a long weekend we also organize long weekend trips!

10 Whats the Group size on a Surf Day trip?

The surf trips usually contain between 5 and 20 people, depending on the weather, season and other stuff like available drivers. Of course in winter only the hard core crew dare to surf Maximum number is 20 surfers.

11 What level surfers are in the Club?

No matter what your level is you will always find mates of your surf ability. You can decide between going to the green waves & discuss the best maneuver with the most advanced surfers or stay in the white water and learn the surf basis with the other amateur. The average levels are: 20% Advanced, 50% Intermediate and 30% Beginner. In winter the Advanced and Intermediate level raise dramatically!

Remember to respect the surf level recommended at each event. If you sing in and don’t have the surf level recommended for that day, Alba Surf Club staff might keep you out of the surf for safety reasons, Terms & Conditions. Advanced levels can attend all events; beginners can only attend events they can master. Some more definitions below:

· Beginner Level: you might have surf just few times and are still learning how to surf & paddle.

· Intermediate Level: you must be able to duck dive or do the turtle roll to pass the waves, you must be confident with your paddling, and have ridden some unbroken waves.

· Advanced level: you must able to master right and left waves, surf big conditions (up to 5-6ft), surf in reef break and all the mention above.

Alba Surf Club will always offer one beginner and one advance/intermediate event each weekend. The days will swap each week. Free beginner surf introduction by Alba Surf Club staff occurs only at the beginner Surf Trips, Soul Surf Concept.

12 Can I rent surf gear from the club?

The majority of us have our own surf gear; however if you need to rent, the club has surf gear for rent. Club members can rent a board for $15 and a wetsuit for $10; non-members get the surf board for $20 and the wetsuit for $15. We have all board sizes (fiberglass and epoxy) and brain new wetsuits (3:2 and 4:3).

13 How do I sign up for a surf trip?

(1) Register at the Webpage, HERE!

(2) Once passed the registration you are now an Applicant. Being an Applicant you don’t have access to the “Members Area” at the Web page and have to join our events by emailing Alba or Ingo.

(3) We go surfing every weekend and the events dates are shown on the sidebar at our home page. You only need to let us know which day you wish to join and ensure you meet the requested surf level. Don’t forget to mention if you need rentals! If after enrolling the surf trip you cannot make it please let us know, Sign out Rule.

(4) Once you have become Alba Surf Club member, by paying the $95 yearly club membership. You will get access to the member’s area at the Web page and so you will be able to sign for Surf Trips, Surf Camps and Social events by using your user-name and password.

(5) As a member you have access to the Admin area were you can change or update all your late contact information.

14 What do I bring on a surf trip?

You will need to bring: lunch, towel, hat, sun cream, water … We usually stop for breakfast in the morning but not always!!!!

The first time you also need to bring all documents required to fill in ASC Liability Waiver: driving license or passport #, personal insurance #, car insurance # , etc. Please bring the club contribution $$ in exact cash, the trip will be paid at the Surf Club Garage 567 Punt Rd, before departure. Not change or ATMs are available.

15 What is the price of a Surf Trip?

For prices of season 2010-2011 please click here

16 What do my fees pay for?

Fees contribute towards:investment in materials such as surf boards, wetsuits, leashes, board-bags, roof racks, garage fittings, computer/printer, membership cards and other admin fees; and ongoing expenses such as: insurance, beach permits, office costs, garage rental, surf club designer, web-maker, marketing, web-page host fees, picture host fees, etc). Surf lessons and social events are free of charge as many other services in this Surf Club! Check benefits for more information.