LIFFESAVING - Nippers can't wait to show off their skills in water

THERE could be anywhere between 100 and 500 kids crowding Waipu Cove this weekend for the Surf Lifesaving Northern Region Junior Surf Carnival.
Competition is fierce between the youngsters at junior carnivals, and this weekend's event at Waipu Cove will be no exception, according to Julie McIldowie, junior surf co-ordinator for the Waipu club.
"There's normally heaps of kids, and it's a really neat weekend," McIldowie said.
The first carnival of the season in early December at Mairangi Bay in Auckland had around 800 juniors - or Nippers - expected to attend, but bad weather meant only 500 or so turned up.
But holiday-time means the surf-sports development officer for the Northern Region still has no idea how many children will be turning up this weekend at Waipu.
"It could be 300, it could be 800,' Maree Kelly said, speaking from Auckland.
"Normally the clubs ring me and let me know how many kids they're expecting, but I've only heard from three clubs so far."
The surf-lifesaving clubs in Northland are: Far North (Ahipara), Whangarei Heads, Ruakaka, Waipu Cove and Mangawhai Heads. The Northern Region extends as far south as western Waikato and includes Raglan, North Piha, Bethells Beach, Muriwai, Mairangi Bay, Red Beach, Orewa and Omaha.
Nippers are prospective junior lifeguards aged from 7 to 13 years, who take part in surf-sports and beach safety activities, grooming them to go on to becoming senior lifeguards.
Nippers can sit their lifeguarding certificate at 14, which qualifies them as a junior lifeguard.
This weekend the junior surf carnival, which runs tomorrow and Sunday, includes the rookie championships for Nippers aged 12 and 13.
The weather looks good for the Waipu event, but if it turns for the worse the courses for the littlies are changed, Kelly said.
"If it's choppy and there are possible rips around, we just shorten up the courses.
"Especially for the little kids, the youngest are seven and they're just so tiny.
"We want to challenge the Nippers but, of course, it's all about safety."
" Tomorrow morning sees the championship rookie events, with 12 and 13-year-olds gunning for titles, followed by the individual events in disciplines like sprints and swims. On Sunday it's the teams' turn, with events like board rescues.