Anglesea hosts Junior Life Saving Carnival

January 30, 2025 BY Abby Pardew

The competition is an opportunity for the nippers to participate in events similar to their older life saving colleagues. Photos: PETER MARSHALL

HUNDREDS of junior nippers descended on Anglesea beach over the weekend for a junior life saving carnival.

More than 700 athletes representing 21 clubs from around the state took part in the January 25 event, hosted by the Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) for the first time in more than five years.

Competitors completed a series of events including a board paddle, beach sprint, surf race, iron nipper and more.

Competitors were required to complete a number of events.

Anglesea SLSC president David Marsh said it was fabulous to have the event back in Anglesea again.

“Anglesea is traditionally a very popular beach to hold competitions at,” he said. “There’s often a wave which makes it good fun for the kids and tests skills of people that have to rescue other people in conditions just like this.”

Junior carnivals provide nipper-aged children an opportunity to participate in events similar to older life saving colleagues.

Reggie Rudd from Torquay took on a wave on his board as part of the event.

Marsh said one of the highlights was watching some of the older age groups.

“The Under 12s and Under 13s on the board rescue event, [it was] quite challenging conditions for the kids,” he said.

“Seeing them come back in, two up on a nipper board, the rescuer and the swimmer, coming in, getting down successfully through the big surf on the way out then coming back in through the surf with two people on there was pretty spectacular to watch.”

State titles will be held at the Point Leo SLSC from February 21 to 23.