Rodney Stevens

Clarence Valley beaches now feature a splash of pink after the Far North Coast Surf Lifesaving Nippers season began and children don their pink rash shirts.

Nippers at Yamba is open to children between the ages of six and fourteen, and the surf skills program teaches lifesaving techniques, surf safety, CPR, and rescue experience, while completing fun activities in the surf.

Nippers run across all 10 Far North Coast Surf Life Saving Clubs from Yamba in the south to Fingal Rovers in the north.

Far North Coast Director of Surf Life Saving, David Rope, said Nippers of all ages are sure to learn valuable skills from the program.

“Our programs are open to children from five years of age, giving little ones plenty of fun activities as well as helping them become comfortable around the water,” he said.

“For our 13 and 14-year-olds, the program teaches important surf life rescue skills to keep themselves and their community safe.

“Nippers is a brilliant way for children to get active, and a great way to build confidence through learning new skills.”

Yamba Surf Life Saving Club’s nippers program kicked off on Sunday, September 24, at Main Beach.

Children who turned 6, by October 1, are the youngest age group able to join Yamba Nippers for this season.

The Nippers group meets on Sunday mornings from 9am and Nippers aged under 7 participate in sand and shallow water activities only, they do not engage in board activities, competitions or carnivals, while the older nippers are trained in lifesaving activities to prepare them for patrol work by completing their surf rescue certificate.

The club’s juniors are preparing for the Far North Coast Jac Carnival to be held at Yamba’s Main Beach on Sunday November 5.

Nippers from up and down the far north coast from the under 8’s and older will compete in a variety of events from the Buchanan Relay and Wade Relay for the younger competitors, to the traditional flags, beach sprints, beach relays, board relays, Cameron relays, Iron Man and Iron Woman.

This is the second carnival on the Far North Coast branch 2023-24 program, with a under 12/Open carnival being held at Cudgen Headland Surf Club on October 22.

The carnival program concludes on Saturday, February 17, when Yamba Surf Life Saving Club hosts the Masters Carnival.