Nippers numbers skyrocket
CABARITA Beach Surf Club has welcomed a host of little nippers to this year's program with about 300 joining the club last week.
In the first hour of signing up last Sunday, 100 kids came through the doors to learn surf safety.
Under 9's manager Peter Robson said the initiative was all about helping kids to feel safe in the beach environment.
"We want to encourage them to use the beach and have fun and help parents to know that their kids are safe without having to keep an eye on them every second," he said.
"It's important that they know the dangers as well as the fun.
"We see kids come in who are afraid of the water and watch them gain confidence to go out to the back of the surf.
"It's not all about competition.
"There's an element of competition, but it's not our focus.
"That's just the cream that comes with the cake.
"I work with a great bunch of people and it's a really family-friendly environment."
Ten-year-old Danni Geeves has been a Cabarita Nipper for three years.
"I love it," she said.
"I've learned how to be safe and still have lots of fun," she said.
