Registration is OPEN online for the 2024/25 Season of Junior Surf Sunday Sessions

Whakatane's Junior Surf Sunday Sessions are designed for 5-13yr olds .

Kids of any age and skill can join.

The aim of the program is to teach your kids ocean safety and confidence. 

• Kids are cohorted based on age and skill and have their own dedicated coaches who will oversee the activities and fun. Older kids starting for their first year will NOT be placed with much younger kids- they will be placed with other kids closer to their age that are also starting out. 
• Kids need to be at least 5 yrs old by September 30th of this year to join us this season. We know their are some super confident and capable four year olds out there but this is purely based on our Health and Safety policy and indemity insurance sorry! 
• All of our coaches are volunteers with their own kids in the program. If you are keen to get involved with coaching please let us know!
• Parents/Guardians are required to stay at the beach with their kids and provide support on the beach AND IN THE WATER during sessions.
• Our supervision plan requires we have 1 supervising adult  for every 5 kids in the water so we need parent's help to make this happen (you need no experience to help out- we will coach you too!)

• Junior Surf Sunday sessions run over the summer months from November to mid-March. Sessions run for one hour from 9.45-10.45am.
• On occasion we run our sessions on a Friday evening or Saturday (please see this years session dates below).
• You are not required to attend all sessions, we get it, we like to sleep in on weekends too, but your kids confidence in the ocean will only improve with consistency and our sessions build upon skills taught in previous weeks so try your best to be there. There is coffee nearby!
• Sessions incorporate both beach and water based activities dependent on time of year and surf conditions.

• Participants are required to wear a high vis swim safety vest and dickie cap during our sessions, these are available to buy when you register online. This safety clothing makes it much easier to spot your kids in the water. We also encourage familes to dress their kids warmly on colder days in tight fitting wetsuits. The club has change rooms and warm showers available. Bring sunscreen, a water bottle and warm clothes to change into every session. 

• Over the season there are various Junior Surf Sport carnivals that children in the U8+ year groups are encouraged to attend, these are not compulsory but are fun and a great way to teach kids the joys of teamwork and sportsmanship. 
• During the season we may need to cancel a Junior Surf Sunday sessions due to adverse weather conditions.
• Unfortunately there is no time in the season to run make-up sessions due to cancellations for bad weather
• At the end of the season there is a Club Championships Day followed by a Club Fun Day to finish off the season with a bang!

Junior Surf Session Dates for 2024/25 (14 sessions from Nov- March)

NOVEMBER
Session 1  Sunday Nov 10th   (first beach session)
Session 2  Sunday Nov 17th
Session 3  Sunday Nov 24th (also the Tois challenge)
Session 4  Friday Nov 29th **Friday evening session 4.30-5.30**

DECEMBER

Session 5  Sunday Dec 8th
Session 6  Sunday Dec 15th *Santa is coming*

Christmas/NY break- no Junior surf from Dec 15th until Jan 12th

JANUARY

Session 7  Sunday Jan 12th (first session of 2025)
Session 8  Sunday Jan 19th (also Papamoa Junior Surf Comp U8-14yrs)

No Junior Surf Jan 26th Auckland Anniversary Long Weekend
Session 9  Friday January 31 st **Friday evening session 4.30-5.30**

FEBRUARY

The Eastern Regional Junior Carnival is running Feb 1st and 2nd and is being hosted by our club this year. This is one of the largest carnivals of the season for our U11-14yrs participants and there will be many opportunities for volunteers who would like to get involved! We would love to see as many of our junior surf families as possible on the beach cheering on our local kids as they race on home turf! This is also a great chance to introduce younger kids to the excitement and buzz of a big surf carnival!

Session 10  Saturday Feb 8th The Harris Cup in Pukehina ***8:45 to 14:00pm*** This is a whole club event for all our age groups. It has been running for years and is a wonderful, family friendly, low-key event that is perfect for introducing your kids to competitive events. 
No Sunday session this weekend 

Session 11  Sunday Feb 16th (also Omanu Junior Surf Comp U8-10yrs) 
Session 12  Sunday Feb 23rd (also Oceans Comp @ Mount Feb 20-23rd U11-U14yrs) 

Session 13  Sunday Mar 2nd ** Club Champs ** This session runs for one extra hour to accommodate events 10:00-11.45am 
Session 14  Sunday Mar 9 th ** Club Fun Day** (last session of the season)