GLSRP's Third Coast Ocean Force: GLSRP to present at international symposium

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project

Dave Benjamin, Executive Director and Public Relations

708-903-0166

Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project to present at international symposium –

World leading rip current expert invited symposium application

Summer 2012 - Confirmed "Water Safety Surf Rescue" classes

Great Lakes, USA – The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project (GLSRP) is proud to announce that it has been selected to present its work at the 2^nd International Rip Current Symposium in Sydney, Australia, October 30^th to November 1^st, 2012.

“We are totally stoked and honored to represent Great Lakes water safety on an international level,” said Dave Benjamin, GLSRP executive director of public relations. “For me the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project was just a ‘really good idea’ after I had a nonfatal drowning accident the day after Christmas two years ago. In less than a year we’ve had such success and growth beyond my imagination.”

The symposium is hosted by Surf Life Saving Australia and will bring together leading international researchers and experts to share knowledge of rip currents to enhance worldwide understanding of this natural hazard and to further the development of related science and public education strategies to reduce the incidence of drowning.

“We’re thrilled to be selected and share our work with the global water safety community and collaborate with the world’s rip current experts,” said Bob Pratt, GLSRP executive director of education.

“The Great Lakes are unique inland seas with unique needs with respect to water safety. This is a huge opportunity to learn what strategies are successfully saving lives in other parts of the world and bring them back to the Great Lakes.”

DR. ROB BRANDER aka “DR. RIP SCIENE OF THE SURF”

In January 2012 the GLSRP was contacted via email by one of the world’s leading rip current experts.

“I’m really impressed with the work that you guys are doing… you guys are ramping it up. You might want to know about this: www.ripcurrentsymposium.com. It would be great if you guys could cobble the money together to come over and give a talk in Oz. I think it would be really valuable… Keep up the great work... and love the winter surfing shots! Cheers. Rob.”

According to members of the GLSRP, Dr. Brander is the Michael Jordan of rip current research and they immediately submitted an abstract through the symposium website. Now six months later, the GLSRP has been selected to present its work at the international symposium.

“'I am particularly excited by the inclusion of the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project at the upcoming Sydney rip current symposium,” said Dr. Rob Brander Senior Lecturer in the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia.

“Their water safety education efforts are more challenging given the different nature of rip currents and a beach-going population that is very unfamiliar with the rip hazard,” Brander added. “We can all learn from how they have been approaching the problem of rip current drownings.”

“'Great Lakes rip currents are a sort of an unknown killer and are almost overlooked when we think of rip current hazards in the United States. It's a big problem. The numbers of drownings in the Great Lakes are unacceptably high and show an alarming increasing trend. More work and funding needs to be devoted for this problem.”

2012 CONFIRMED CLASSES

“Water Safety Surf Rescue” classes dates and cities:

1. Sun., June 03, St. Joseph, MI

2. Sat., June 23, Frankfort, MI

3. Sun., June 24, Ogden Dunes, IN

4. Wed., July 11, Coloma, MI – Berrien County Fire Fighters Association

5. Sat., July 21 Duluth, MN

6. Sun. July 29, Washburn, WI – Tom Blake Board Across the Bay Festival

7. Sun. Aug. 5, Grand Haven, MI

8. August 19, New Buffalo, MI

9. Sun. Sept. 3, Sheboygan, WI

More dates to be announced soon…

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ABOUT GLSRP

The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, Inc. (GLSRP) is about saving lives. It tracks drowning statistics, teaches “Water Safety Surf Rescue” classes, and leads the “Third Coast Ocean Force” rip current awareness campaign on the Great Lakes. It is a nonprofit corporation that is a Chapter of the National Drowning Prevention Alliance (NDPA), the 2011 “Lifesaver of the Year” award winner, presenter at the NDPA’s 11^th Annual Symposium, and the 2012 winner of the “Outstanding Service to the Great Lakes Community” award presented by the Dairyland Surf Classic, Sheboygan, WI. The GLSRP has also been selected to present its work at the 2nd International Rip Current Symposium in Sydney, Australia, October 2012.

ABOUT DR. ROB BRANDER

Dr. Rob Brander, aka “Dr. Rip – Science of the Surf”, is a coastal geomorphologist and Senior Lecturer in the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, NSW, Australia (FaceBook Page).

He has been studying beaches and surf zones for 20 years having completed a BSc and MSc at the University of Toronto where Canadian water temperatures convinced him to live in Australia. His PhD on the morphodynamics of rip currents was completed at the University of Sydney in 1997. He has published over 20 articles based on his research on rip currents, coral reef-islands, and the 2004 tsunami and has taught at UNSW since 2000.

Dr. Brander’s book, “The Essential Beach Book” is a simple, entertaining and useful guide to beach safety, with a solid scientific basis. He explains how beaches form, what drives waves and how rips develop, and offers practical advice to show you how to get the most out of your day at the beach - without risking your life.

2012 CONFIRMED CLASSES