KEY POINTS:
Budding young lifeguards rubbed shoulders with their heroes and learned crucial survival skills yesterday at the launch of a programme intended to keep Kiwi kids safe at the beach.
Surf Life Saving New Zealand believes young people lack essential beach skills so has started Surf Club 174, an initiative that includes a TV show, school programmes, a website and merchandising that supports the organisation.
Surf Club 174 was launched at Mairangi Bay yesterday by former world ironman champion Cory Hutchings and surf star Julia Toomey, who had kids running all over the sand in the hunt for spot prizes and giveaways.
About 200 kids lined up to get rides in inflatable rescue boats, compete in beach flag contests and burrow through the sand to find treasure.
But despite the freebies on offer, most said getting close to real lifeguards was the highlight of their day.
The Kayikci brothers, Metin, 9, Okan, 9, and Taskin, 11, took the chance for a ride on a boat and the experience left them wanting more.
"I want to be a surf lifesaver, being able to save people appeals," Taskin said.
The boys managed to stay on the boat during their five-minute trip but confessed to a few nerves while out on the water. "It was really cool, but fast and bumpy. You come up to the corners fast but we didn't fall out," Metin said.
Unsurprisingly, Piha Rescue - which depicts real lifeguards at work - was their favourite TV show and they were planning some swimming lessons over the summer.
Surf Life Saving New Zealand chief executive Geoff Barry said beach-bound Kiwis often failed to have the skills for a safe trip.
"The beach is still New Zealanders' favourite playground, with 95 per cent living within 30 minutes of a beach. But many people are still unaware of the hidden dangers and don't have a basic knowledge or respect for water."
John O'Connell, from Surf Life Saving New Zealand, said: "We hope the TV show and the website will engage the kids and the programmes in schools will see 40,000 kids spend a day with lifeguards."
Lifeguards would also visit schools to explain how waves were formed and how to make the most of the beach.
"Public education is just as important as beach patrols ... That way hopefully we don't end up pulling them out of the water," Mr O'Connell said.
Surf Club 174 begins on TV2 on December 28 and screens until February 1. Kids can register online at www.surfclub174.co.nz for competitions and prizes as well as surf information and advice.
