Kiryat Yam is establishing a state-of-the-art surfing center in memory of the late Ido Aviv – watch the broadcast

(Live here) – Surfing culture: The Kiryat Yam Municipality is promoting the establishment of a modern surfing center, replacing the temporary center consisting of precast, after years of investment in the city's marine activities. Mayor David Even Tzur recognized years ago the importance of surfing as an educational tool for youth and as a cultural anchor for adults, and worked to strengthen the club founded and managed by Gil Hurwitz for 17 years. The late Ido Aviv, who was deputy director of the marine center and educated many youth for 5 years, fell in battle in Gaza.

A city that connects residents with the sea

The strength of a city is not measured by the size of the buildings, stadiums, malls or monuments it erects, but mainly by its ability to provide its residents with educational, cultural and sports services as part of everyday life. For a city located along the coast, this is a significant resource that can be harnessed for the benefit of the community. Over the years, Kiryat Yam has chosen to see the beach and water sports as part of the urban space and to develop activities that allow youth and adults to establish a permanent connection with the sea.

David Even Tzur recognized the potential years ago

The Mayor of Kiryat Yam, David Even Tzur, recognized many years ago the importance of surfing and its potential for the city's residents. For him, surfing is not only a sporting activity, but also an educational tool for youth and a cultural and community anchor for the adult population. Based on this concept, Even Tzur has contributed over the years to strengthening the activity in the place, supported the development of the club and is now promoting the establishment of a modern surfing center, which should allow for a significant expansion of the activity taking place on the city's beaches.

Gil Horvitz founded the club 17 years ago.

The person who founded the surfing club in Kiryat Yam 17 years ago and has been running it ever since is Gil Horvitz. The activity that began almost two decades ago has grown gradually, and at the same time the surfing and water sports industries have developed greatly. Horvitz sees the move led by the municipality as a significant step in the club's development. According to him, the municipality of Kiryat Yam and the mayor have identified the potential inherent in the activity and are currently helping to realize it through significant investment in the new center and in infrastructure that will allow the activity to be expanded.

School and center for a variety of surfing disciplines

As part of the development, a surfing school is expected to be built on site, alongside a surfing center that will provide a wide range of surfing and water sports. The site will host activities in the areas of surfing, boogie boarding, kitesurfing, sailing, windsurfing and other areas. The new center is designed to provide the activities already taking place on site with an appropriate infrastructure to expand, and to allow youth and adults to participate in the various water sports as part of regular activities on the Kiryat Yam beach.

The largest surfing center in the north

According to Gil Horvitz, the planned center is expected to be the largest surfing center in the north. The plan includes a surfing shop, classrooms and offices for the club's management, alongside a large hangar that will house the surfing equipment and sailing vessels of the activists. The building will also include showers and toilets, and attention will be paid to accessibility. The investment in infrastructure is intended to enable broader and more professional activity and to create a center capable of catering to a large number of youth and adults and a wide variety of surfing and sailing disciplines.

Surfing as an educational and social tool

One of the key elements of the club's activities is the use of surfing as an educational and social tool. The center already hosts activities for people with disabilities, at-risk youth, and children on the continuum. According to Horvitz, the establishment of the new center will allow these activities to be held in a more correct, better, and more convenient manner. The new accessibility and infrastructure will allow for expanding the response to the various groups and strengthening the club's role as a framework in which water sports connect with educational and social activities.

The new center will be dedicated to the memory of the late Ido Aviv.

Alongside its educational and sporting significance, the new center will carry a deep meaning for the club's members and will be dedicated to the memory of the late Ido Aviv, who fell on April 28, 2024 in Gaza during an operational activity. Ido worked there for about five years, was Gil Hurwitz's deputy and assisted him in managing the club. Hurwitz describes him as an educational, professional and ethical figure of the highest order, who guided youth, led groups and was a significant part of the activity and the community built around the club.

"There is no more fitting way to continue Ido's path"

Gil Horwitz says that if Ido could have seen the planned center and the scope of the investment in the place, he probably wouldn't have believed it. According to him, continuing to work with the youth whom Ido guided and led is the most appropriate way to continue his path. Horwitz expressed appreciation to Mayor David Even Tzur for the decision to memorialize Ido in the place and for the large investment in establishing the center, which will continue to serve surfing, education, and community activities in Kiryat Yam.