Clifton 4th Beach was packed with nippers from far and wide as they charged into the ocean or ran circles kicking up sand in the Western Cape Champs held over the weekend.
Nippers is a junior programme that introduces children aged 8 to 14 to surf lifesaving.
Clubs from around Cape Town and the Eden District took part.
Spokesperson for Lifesaving Cape Town, Ed Schroeder said the SA Champs were scheduled for Gqeberha for all members – including seniors, juniors, nippers and masters – from Sunday March 20 to Saturday March 26.
He said the senior, junior and masters groups will compete in surf ski. Nippers use body boards and progress to surf ski at 14 years of age.
Mr Schroeder said they are the only sporting code that requires their lifeguards, aged 14-plus, to perform a minimum number of lifesaving duty hours to be eligible to compete at SA Champs. Their motto is: In our service and sport, duty comes first.
