The stage is set for a bumper first weekend of summer with Ocean Grove Surf Life Saving Club (OGSLSC) to host back-to-back Life Saving Victoria state carnivals on 7 and 8 December.
The double header weekend will see the new Ocean Grove SLSC state-of-the-art clubhouse on show to the wider Victorian based life saving public for the first time.
The first state LSV junior carnival for 2019/20 kicks off on Saturday morning 7 December, while the opening state senior youth carnival takes place the next day on Sunday 8 December at OGSLSC.
More than 120 OGSLSC Nippers have registered for the first junior carnival.
No surf boat competition will take place at the senior carnival with the ramp access onto the Ocean Grove main beach in the process of being rebuilt.
“The boat ramp in is in the middle of being rebuilt at the moment and we weren’t sure what stage and what kind of access we had to the beach,” OGSLSC president Chris Paterson said.
“It is a temporary ramp that is in there until after Christmas and it has a 90 degree turn in it.”
Mr Paterson said the club’s new surrounds, its popular main beach, user-friendly conditions and sizeable car parking space made it a desirable spot to host back-to-back state carnivals.
Both the senior and junior carnival back up spot will be at nearby Raffs Beach.
“Ocean Grove is a very popular beach, because for a carnival perspective it is easy there is lots of parking, there is really good easy beach access, especially for kids it is a pretty safe beach in terms of junior carnivals,” he said.
“We have good flexibility if for some reason we needed to shift from the main beach because the conditions were too rough (we can) move up to Raffs which means you get a decrease in swell size.”
Mr Paterson said plenty of volunteer for the carnivals were required for the opening weekend of summer.
“It is a big deal for the club and the community,” he said.
OGSLSC was crowned overall state champions in the senior and juniors last season.
IN other developments, the first OGSLSC volunteer summer surf patrols for the season began on Saturday 30 November and Sunday 1 December.
