Waikuku Nippers Ana White, sisters Petra and Jade Lamont and Ruby Thoms, saved Jorja Butler (back), and her friend after they got caught in a rip at Waikuku Beach, Canterbury. Nippers are our Surf Lifeguards in the making and we couldn't be more proud - where else can you learn about beach safety and train in a sport with the purpose of being able to save a life?
“It's about developing tomorrow's Surf Lifeguards and opening up a whole new world to children & young people.”
JUNIOR SURF (NIPPERS)
Fun and educational! And a morning at the beach. It doesn’t get any better than Junior Surf. These are our Nippers - as we call them - kids aged from 7 to 14 who are part of Surf Life Saving’s Junior Surf program. They’re our lifeguards in the making!
Junior Surf is a great way for children to make friends, be active and learn how to enjoy the beach safely. As an island nation, teaching our kids how to respect the water and learn water safety and lifesaving skills, is a no-brainer!
Nippers first learn about surf awareness and beach safety with fun as the priority. As they progress through the various age groups, they pick up surf lifesaving skills like the basics of resuscitation, first aid and identifying beach hazards.
At the age of 13, our nippers have the opportunity to take part in the Rookie Lifeguard Programme, which is an introductory step into lifeguarding. Rookie Lifeguards are asked to do patrols alongside a mentor, learning what it takes to become a surf lifeguard in a safe and enjoyable way.
There is also the opportunity to participate in our Surf Lifesaving Sport carnivals which offer numerous beach and water (beach and pool) focused activities. These events are tailored specific to age group, and are a lot of fun for the entire family. This is all done in a safe and supportive club environment.
Amazing volunteers at our surf lifesaving clubs run the Junior Surf (nippers) programme across New Zealand. In most areas, Nippers runs from October to March, and usually on a Sunday morning but this can vary from club to club so please check with your local club for details.
FIND A SURF LIFE SAVING CLUB
LEARN MORE ABOUT JUNIOR SURF
