Spring is here which means enthusiastic Nippers have hit the water in preparation for a new season.
More than 100 Ocean Grove Surf Life Saving Club junior participants took part in the club’s second and final river board familiarisation session along the Barwon River on Sunday 15 September.
Held at the Riverview Family Caravan Park southern entrance onto the Barwon River, Nippers turned out in droves for river board sessions across September.
Ocean Grove SLSC junior activities committee member Peter Walsh said the river was an excellent location to introduce new surf life saving entrants and see existing Nippers return for another season.
“You have your new age groups, the Under 8s are your brand new kids, most kids are returning members, you’ve got a percentage of kids who are brand new,” Walsh told the Voice.
“Not many of the kids get in the water over the winter – just getting them back on the board on the river which is comfortable and focusing on the skills that they need.”
Around 84 Nippers turned out for the opening river session on 8 September, while 108 Nippers flocked to the Barwon River on 15 September in warmer conditions.
The biggest age groups were Under 9s and Under 11s at the river sessions, while there were more than 20 new participants at Under 8s level.
Nippers also participated in two swimming assessments at Bellarine Aquatic and Sports Centre in August.
Participants will now break for the Term 3 school holidays before the official Nipper Surf Sport training season begins at Ocean Grove main beach on Sunday 13 October at 10am.
IN other developments, Ocean Grove SLSC will host the first Life Saving Victoria Nipper state junior carnival in 2019/20 which takes place on Saturday 7 December.
For more information on joining Ocean Grove SLSC’s Nipper Surf Sport program in 2019/20 log on to oceangroveslsc.asn.au/.
