IRB Awards Training

1. Training sessions and assessments 2010-11 Season

We need more IRB Drivers and Crew.

To come on board you need to -

• be 15 years old at date of assessment for crewpersons (you can commence training before then);
• be 17 years old at date of assessment for drivers (you can commence driver training when your are sixteen);
• qualify as a crewperson before going on to get your driver's qualification (if your ultimate object is the latter) ;
• collect from IRB Captain Clive Thompson the relevant Workbooks and Guides (see below);
• get a free copy of the PowerCraft Manual 7ed from Clive (or purchase one via the surfshop: www.surfshop.slsa.com.au).You need the Manual to complete the Workbooks and Guides;
• get practical training and then also hours as a trainee on the water, keeping a log of your time and activities. Each trainee’s individual log sheet is held in the relevant lever arch training file in the IRB shed;
• make yourself available for the practical training whenever you are on patrol or by arrangement with Clive or any other available Silver Medallion driver (on your rosterd patrol or attend another patrol)

To get your “learners” to drive (as opposed to crew) you should have your crew award and must either complete your IRB Drivers Workbook 1 (see below) and have it duly signed off by a qualified assessor, or have a NSW Maritime boat licence (see www.maritime.nsw.gov.au/boatingsafety.html). Even then you may only drive with a qualified IRB Silver Medallion holder in the craft with you, and you must have your completed Workbook or licence available for inspection on the beach (in the Club) at the time.

Please contact Clive if you are interested in being trained up: cthompson@cosolve.com.au

2. More on Workbooks

Candidate crew and drivers need to complete the crew and drivers work books respectively. Contact Clive for a free copy.

3  General remarks

To gain your IRB Crewperson’s Certificate or Silver Medallion IRB Driver requires a significant amount of training. Due to the potentially dangerous nature of the IRB and the typical surf environments within which the IRB operates, SLSA has mandated certain procedures and rules with regard to training for these awards. These are covered off in the Workbooks and Guides.

Both the crewperson's and driver's assessment comprises -

• a test of practical crewing and driving skills respectively, with the driver's test taking place in reasonably sized surf;
• a multiple choice theory paper; and
  
• oral questioning and demonstrations of various aspects of IRB operations.

It is essential for both awards that complete documentation of all training is kept, as these must be examined by the Assessor prior to any assessment being conducted. In addition, the training MUST be under the direct supervision of someone who holds a SLSA Silver Medallion IRB Driver award. Furthermore, whenever IRB driver training is taking place the candidate’s workbook must be on the beach.