There were about 35 rescues at Kai Iwi and Castlecliff beaches last summer, including three after-hours rescues in one day.
Patrols have been on duty from noon to 6pm every day at Castlecliff and Kai Iwi but that will drop to weekends only (same hours) from February 10. Weekend patrols will end on March 30.
Club powercraft officer Nathan Field said “gorgeous days” meant after-hours swimming remained popular, with people finishing work and heading to the beach.
Patrol captain Olivia Bedwell said there was a big focus on preventative actions and that could be credited for fewer rescues in 2024/25.
“Conditions have also been a bit safer and we’re really thankful for that,” she said.
Bedwell, a third-year University of Otago student, said she came home to the beach every summer “because I love this job”.
Stewart said former lifeguards who had moved on to university or left Whanganui still came back to visit the club.
“Surf lifesaving’s motto is ‘in it for life’ and you really are.”
Field said surf lifesaving was “not just a guy’s game” and WSLS had five females and one male learning to drive rescue boats.
“They [females] are taking on leadership roles and training to become patrol captains. It’s really great to see.”
Last December, WSLS club captain Daniel Comp said speeding motorbikes had been putting beachgoers at risk.
Field said the issue had continued throughout the season.
“They literally have kilometres of beach to play on.
“It’s almost like a showboating thing - being where the most people are - but of course that’s the highest risk, especially for little people who might not register how quick that vehicle is moving.”
The club’s junior surf programme had become so popular there was almost a waiting list, he said.
It was “feeding new lifeguards in every season”.
“They arrive with a whole bunch of skills before they even begin their lifeguard training.”
The club hosted a junior surf carnival at Castlecliff Beach last month, with Whanganui taking top honours.
Field said members of the public could visit safeswim.org.nz to get up-to-date beach information.
“It has everything from which beaches are patrolled to what is going on with the water quality,” he said.
“There is also tide and weather information for each beach. It’s definitely worth a look before you head down.”
No rain is forecast in Whanganui today, with cloud developing in the afternoon and a daytime high of 25C.
Mike Tweed is a multimedia journalist at the Whanganui Chronicle. Since starting in March 2020, he has dabbled in everything from sport to music. At present his focus is local government, primarily the Whanganui District Council.
