“It was a really great day, good conditions in the morning then it turned into challenging conditions later on for older athletes,” Comp said.
SLS patron and life member Val Bristol said the event gave junior club members the thrill of competition without the stress of a national-level event.
“It’s easing them into competitiveness, which is good for any athlete when someone can try their skills out against another club,” Bristol said.
The clubs included Fitzroy, East End, New Plymouth Old Boys, Ōpunake, Foxton and, for the first time, Lower Bay Paekākāriki and Titahi Bay.
Comp said the under-8s and under-9s shone on the day, particularly in the boogie board races, run-wade-run and diamond run events.
The entire junior club excelled in the beach flags and beach sprints, with the older age groups going well in the surf and board races.
Comp was proud the club could showcase its facilities and introduce other clubs to the region’s beaches.
“Feedback was that it is a really good set-up in Whanganui; we are known for our hospitality now, thanks to last year’s first carnival,” Comp said.
“It’s good to see the surf club host carnivals like this but we are also bringing visitors in which is good for our community and our city too.
“We are putting Castlecliff Beach on the map - a lot of these clubs didn’t know we patrolled two beaches in Kai Iwi and Castlecliff.”
He hoped clubs would be encouraged to participate in Whanganui events.
“I’d like to think they have gone away going ‘we are definitely coming back next year’,” he said.
The carnival went ahead thanks to the sponsorship-gathering work of Comp’s wife, Nicole, the junior surf co-ordinator.
The club has just under 70 juniors and 34 qualified lifeguards - with 20 of the 34 coming through the junior surf programme.
During his 30 years with SLS, Comp has witnessed many athletes start, grow and finish at the club.
“We’re getting to the point where the club is really strong and really good,” he said.
“It teaches them really important water skills and builds their confidence.
“I see a kid catch a wave for the first time and see their face light up - that pays dividends in itself, it blows me away.
“It’s nothing like any other sport we are our own thing.”
Whanganui’s junior carnival was the third of the season. The next event is the Junior Championship on February 1-2 in Taranaki.
The club season ends in mid-March.
