Surfers blame climate change for wiping out the region’s winter surf

Alex de Vos
Surfers are turning to land-based sports and household chores to fend off boredom amid the region’s worst surf conditions on record, according to spokesmen.
They have blamed climate change as the region struggles through an unusually waveless winter.
Torquay Boardriders vice-president Ross Slaven said he struggled to remember a “flat spell that had latest this long”.
“It’s definitely the worst winter on record,” Mr Slaven said.
“Everyone is saying the same thing and it’s so frustrating.”
Mr Slaven blamed climate change for the lack of swell.
“The weather pattern seems to be changing and we’re getting strong easterly airflows, which is usually our summer weather pattern,” he said.
“It’s absolutely due to climate change and we need to ensure we remain environmentally conscious.”
Mr Slaven said he was spending lay days catching up on work and household duties.
Barwon Heads’ 13th Beach Boardriders president Simon Collier backed Mr Slaven in blaming climate change.
Mr Collier said his club had to cancel three weekly events due to consistently poor surf.
“It’s unheard of,” he said.
“It’s definitely the worst run we’ve seen and we really hope it picks up.”
Over the past month, online surf forecaster Swellnet has reported “tiny swell and flat conditions” along the Surf Coast and Bellarine Peninsula.