Junior Surf

Confidence. Skills for life. And the best Sunday morning your kids will have all summer.

Junior Surf is for 7–13 year olds who want to build ocean confidence, learn surf skills, make friends, and become the lifeguards of tomorrow.

Every Sunday during the surf season at Tahunanui Beach, our Nippers learn beach safety, surf sports, teamwork and water skills in a fun, supportive environment run by qualified surf lifeguards.

ENQUIRE

What Kids Experience at Junior Surf

They run. They swim. They use boards. They play beach games. They learn real surf skills, make friends, and feel confident in the ocean.

It’s active, social, confidence-building and seriously fun.

9:45 – 10:00
Arrive, sign in, help set up and take part in a quick beach clean.
10:00 – 10:15
Group briefing, warm-ups and a short beach safety session.
10:15 – 11:30
Rotations through beach activities, water skills and board work with their group.
11:30 – 11:45
Sign out, pack down equipment and head home sandy and happy.
Nippers are grouped by age and swim ability.

Safety is everything
we do

All water sessions are run by qualified surf lifeguards.
Children learn how to read the beach and ocean safely.
From age 10, Nippers complete a 200m safety badge before going deeper or using boards.

The Skills They Build and Where It Leads

Throughout the season, Nippers develop surf sports skills, beach awareness and confidence in the water while working through seven Junior Surf award levels from age 7 to 13.

They learn beach sprints, beach flags, wade and swim skills, and board work — all designed to build the knowledge and ability needed to become a surf lifeguard.

At 13, Nippers can join the Rookie Lifeguard Programme, patrolling alongside mentors and taking their first step into real lifeguarding.