About Surfcoasters Basketball Club

Located in Torquay on the Surfcoast ,Surfcoasters Basketball Club, has a rich history that began in 2002 with theassistance of Basketball Geelong and Basketball Country Victoria.

The club in the early days was drivenby the efforts of Gary Hindle, who played a pivotal role through his involvement with the local council-run basketball competition. Hindle's passion and dedication were instrumental in organizing initial public meetings to gather support for the formation of a basketball club on the Surfcoast.​

Originally, the concept for the club was to provide a representative opportunity for local players tocompete at a higher level in the basketball Geelong competition. The plan was to have four teams representing the Surfcoast with the best players from each age group participating in the Surfcoast Shire competition.However, the response from the community exceeded all expectations, and it became evident during the tryouts that there was far greater interest and talent than initially anticipated. To accommodate this growing enthusiasm, the club swiftly transformed its approach, embracing a more inclusive model. From that point on, the Surfcoaster Basketball Club has been committed tooffering opportunities to all interested players, which has contributed significantly to its rapid growth and success.​

In its inaugural season, the club fielded seven teams. However, as word spread about the club's inclusive and competitive environment, the number of teams expanded exponentially. By the fourth season, the club had grown to encompass more than thirty teams, a testament to the hard work anddedication of the committee and coaching staff.​

The early years were undoubtedly a learning curve for the committee and coaching team.Nevertheless, they embraced the challenges that came with managing such a fast-growing club.

Under the leadership of inaugural president Craig Smith and Vice President Nicole Cramond, along with the assistance of the Forde brothers, Nick and Adam, the Surfcoasters Basketball Club quickly established itself in the Geelong basketball competition.

Sundays have become a traditional training day for the club. During the early days, the Surfcoasters Basketball Club faced a shortage of court space, which necessitated training sessions starting early and finishing late to accommodate all thirty-plus teams and provide them with sufficient court time for practice and development.

​

However, recognizing the pressing need for better facilities, the clubcommittee took charge and played a pivotal role in lobbying the government for funding.Their relentless efforts bore fruit, leading to the construction of the state-of-the-art four-court Wurdi Baierr Stadium.

This new facility has not only alleviated the court space challenge but also provided the basketball community in Torquay with a modern and dedicated space for training, competitions,and fostering the growth of the sport.

​

The Wurdi Baierr Stadium stands as a proud testament to the club's commitment to its players development and the overall advancement of basketball in the region.​

Throughout its history, the Surfcoasters Basketball Club has maintained its commitment to inclusivity,growth, and excellence, creating a vibrant basketball community in Torquay,Victoria. With a strong foundation and dedicated leadership, the club continues to thrive and provide opportunities for young athletes to develop their basketball skills and passion for the game.​

Although the Club and the Surfcoast Basketball Association (SBA) are separate entities, both parties acknowledge the pivotal role the Surfcoasters Basketball Club has played in the establishment of the SBA. The club's remarkable growth and success have contributed significantly to the advancement ofbasketball in the region, elevating it to the next level.

Many of our dedicated club committee members and passionate members have been instrumental in laying the foundation and shaping theSBA into what it is today.​

The strong partnership between the Surfcoasters Basketball Club and the SBA continues to foster the development of basketball in Torquay and the surrounding areas, creating athriving basketball community that inspires and nurtures young talents on their journey in the sport.​