Catering for children aged 5 – 14 years, the Nippers program is a great opportunity for children to be introduced to an active, friendly, and welcoming local community – as well as building valuable life skills that will accompany them into adulthood. 

Not only will your child have fun and meet new friends, over the years they will develop the ability to become a knowledgeable participant in lifesaving beach patrols as well as a wide range of surf sports and, should they wish, continue on to train as a qualified surf lifeguard.  

Our program focuses on three main learning areas (and fun!): 

Surf Awareness- A knowledge of where the dangers are and how to read the surf are essential ingredients in keeping safe at the beach. 

Lifesaving skills- This learning area starts to introduce our nippers to the role we hope they undertake as they grow and develop into future lifesavers. 

Surf Sport Skills- Nippers learn a variety of skills to help them develop confidence and introduce them to surf life saving's various surf sport events. 

Delivered at the beautiful Ohope Beach in front of the Whakatane Surf Life Saving Club our program generally runs from early November through to mid March of each year. The program has a break over the Christmas/New Year period.  

Registrations open in early September via the website and participants must be a minimum age of 5 by September 30th of that year.  

Participants will be required to wear a high visibility swim vest and dickie cap that can be purchased from the club (or hand me downs work great!). Participants are also encouraged to have full length wetsuits and warm gear during the early part of our season.