Bellarine clubs ready for busy summer on the beach

NIPPER registrations are now open at two major Bellarine surf life saving clubs ahead of a busy summer season on the beach.

Ocean Grove SLSC and Barwon Heads 13th Beach SLSC are both taking expressions of interest for their Nippers programs.

Nippers is a junior program for children aged 7-13 to help develop essential surf skills, boost confidence and train athletes to become future surf life savers.

The programs will include swimming, surf swimming, board paddling, beach flags and surf safety lessons.

Ocean Grove will have three separate programs running: a Surf Sport Program, a Core Sunday Nippers program from November to February, and a Summer Intensive Program.

At Barwon Heads 13th Beach SLSC, the Nippers program will be run for seven days from December 28 to January 5.

January 1 and January 3 will be resting days.

Nippers are invited to compete at the LSV Nipper carnival at Cosy Corner in Torquay on January 3 if they wish.

Ocean Grove SLSC president Lyndie Freestone said the 2024-25 season promised to be a big one, with more than 300 Nippers already signed up.

“We are extremely excited about the upcoming season as a year to consolidate some changes made during 2023-24 to the OGSLSC Nippers program following member feedback.

“This was to cater for the range of needs of our Nippers and to effectively manage the large number of Nippers and families we have each year.

“All programs provide the opportunity for building a healthy lifestyle and developing friendships and a close camaraderie that is synonymous with surf lifesaving – but bottom line is to have heaps of fun while learning to be safe around the water.”

For more information on both club’s programs, head to their respective websites or social media.