Junior club champs wrap up MHVLS summer season

10 Apr, 2023

The recent settled spell of fine weather was a blessing for the Mangawhai Heads Volunteer Lifeguard Service (MHVLS) junior surf team who wrapped up a busy surf club season on Saturday March 26 with their annual Junior Club Champs. An early start was needed to beat the incoming tide, with over 100 children gathering at Mangawhai Heads beach just as the sun was rising.

Excitement and nervous apprehension were on the faces of the Mangawhai nippers, aged from 5 to 13 years, who were competing to take out the title of junior surf champ. Completing many of the same events that senior athletes compete in, such as beach sprints, beach flags, a surf swim and a board race, the nippers were put through their paces, calling on the different ocean skills they had learned over the season.

Junior surf coordinator Vanessa Fulton was delighted with the turnout for Club Champs.

“It has been an unusual season for us. Extreme weather events, along with the closure of our beloved clubhouse has meant extra challenges to what is already a long season. We are lucky to have an amazing group of coaches who worked hard to enable our season to continue and have kids out in the water doing the things they love.”

The Mangawhai Heads Junior Surf Programme aims to provide children with a strong foundation of surf knowledge, water safety, and lifeguarding skills in a fun, supportive environment.

n Although the season has come to a close, if you would like more information go to mangawhaisurfclub.org.nz. Junior surf registrations open July 1, 2023.

- PHOTOS/SUPPLIED