Kings Beach hosting Nipper champs
KING'S Beach Surf Lifesaving Club will again host the Lifesaving SA Nipper Surf Championships and the annual interprovincial, starting on Saturday.
The events will take place at King's Beach from Saturday to Monday.
The interprovincial will be held on Saturday, starting at 9am, with the presentation of regional colours. The first event begins at 10.30.
The SA Nipper Championships will begin with the presentation of club colours at 12.30 in the beach arena. The first event will begin at 2pm.
More than 700 excited Nippers, members of 22 surf lifesaving clubs from around South Africa, will descend on King's Beach to compete for the coveted titles.
Events will include bodyboard, bodyboard relay, surf swim, board race, taplin relay, board relay, iron nipper, beach relay flags, beach sprint and beach run.
The Nipper movement began in Australia in the 1950s and it involves a programme where children up to 14 years are instructed in surf safety and general first aid.
Nippers are taught how to recognise rips, how to catch a wave when swimming or on a bodyboard and teamwork. Among other life skills they learn skills such as leadership and developing self-confidence.
Nippers gain surf confidence by passing tests at different levels.
The Nipper movement is one of South Africa's successful youth development movements. The friends made and skills learnt will be carried throughout their lives.
