What is Junior Surf?

The Waihi Beach Junior Surf programme aims to provide children with engaging activities, encouraging active participation, leading to the development of personal, lifesaving and competition skills, in a safe aquatic environment. We strive to provide the best possible life saving experience for all juniors with the view to encouraging long- term active participation in Surf Life Saving, teaching surf beach specific water safety skills and building confidence, as well as developing fitness, while having lots of fun in the process.

Junior Surf sessions take place at 10am on Sunday mornings at the Club, Waihi Beach, from Labour Day (registration) until the Junior Club Championships at the end of February. These sessions involve both land and water-based activities. We sometimes utilise a local pool for pool-based activities.

 

WHAT DO CHILDREN LEARN?

Waihi Beach Lifeguard Services has a proven Junior Surf programme where children aged 5 - 13 years learn how to stay safe at the beach, surf skills and surf sports in a positive and exciting environment.

Teaching surf beach specific water safety skills

Developing self-confidence

Building knowledge and skills

Developing fitness

An introduction to surf sport

Providing a positive and fun learning environment

Providing a pathway to lifeguarding.

Junior Surf Coaching

Our coaches are parent or lifeguard volunteers for our 5-9 year olds, our 10+ group are coached by our paid Head Coach.

The club policy is that each child must have a parent/guardian on the beach while their child is involved in Junior Surf.

Please come prepared to support and encourage your own and other children in a positive way.

Junior Surf is run every Sunday (rain or shine) from Labour Weekend through till late February/early March.

The Junior Surf programme starts at 10am where participants are coached between 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on age, about beach safety, surf skills, surf sports, first aid, lifeguarding and leadership.
From the age of 5 to 13 years, children can join the Club to participate in Junior Surf. Children are placed into age categories for competition and training based upon their age as at midnight on 30th September.
Most of the information you will need is in our Junior Surf Handbook, which you can download here. Hard copies are available from the Club.
The first day of Junior Surf is the Sunday of Labour weekend, with a fun open day and registrations from 9.30am - 11.30am, but you can also register at any time during the season on Sunday mornings from 9.30am at the club or by downloading the Registration Form and emailing it to: [email protected]
For safety reasons, all children are required to wear a hi-vis safety vest and a Waihi Beach Club skull cap. These are especially important when participating in water activities. These and other items of club uniform, togs etc can be ordered when you register or on Sunday mornings.
An adult must remain on the beach with your children until they are 10 years old during Junior Surf sessions until they are 10 years old. One parent/caregiver per family is required to become an Associate Member of the Club. Social membership is also encouraged for other family members and friends.
It is a requirement that all Junior Surf members must also become a member of Surf Life Saving New Zealand (SLSNZ). This will give your child/ren a SLSNZ member number which will be with them throughout their surf life. There are no costs to registration.

Please follow this link to visit the SLSNZ website and complete a SLSNZ new membership application. If you are already a member of SLSNZ and wish to transfer from an existing club to Waihi Beach Lifeguard Services or for any further help or enquires on registration please email: [email protected]

Junior Surf Sport Programme

This programme is available for both our Development Squad and Oceans Training Squad members in the 10+ age groups. You can find out more about our Junior Surf Sport Programme here.

Rookie Lifeguard 12/13 yr olds

The Rookie Lifeguard programme is for 12 and 13 year olds, to develop and transition from Junior Surf members into active lifeguards. You can find out more information about Rookie Lifeguard Programme here.