Little nippers!

Along with getting ready for Christmas we are also starting our summer sports routine. One activity that runs from December to February is called "little nippers."  Little nippers is a youth program preparing kids for surf/life saving.  Every week you train for 2 hours doing sand and water competitions. Near the end of the year all the suburbs get their teams together and compete in a carnival. 

This year is our first year participating (it starts at 7 years old).  I am in love with the kids swim caps (different colours for different age groups) and "rashies" or rash guards (those shirts they wear over their bathers (swim suits).

Since Thomas is too young to participate he and I sit on the beach and watch the competitions.

Here the girls are playing dodge ball-

Olivia is the one with green goggles!

This is Olivia's favourite competition, basically you start lying down (ready) on set (you lift your head up) and on go you run 50 meters to grab a stick. This game is similar to musical chairs. Each race, someone is eliminated. Olivia has made it to top 3 the last two weeks in a row.  This is impressive because our suburb (Hampton) usually wins the carnival competitions :-)

Olivia down to final 3 again!

Another activity is on the nipper boards (smaller surf boards) the kids race on a buoy, go around it and paddle back. 

They learn the best way to paddle and how to use rip currents to give them an advantage when riding in and out.

Here is Mary (in a red cap) getting ready for her competitions

Tug of war is another competition...Stan is helping the kids with technique :-)

Anyway, I LOVE nippers- it is every Saturday evening for 2 hours (3-5pm). When it is finished the kids are tired and we all go out and get food (fish and chips) and then have an early night in. I love just sitting on the sand with Stan and getting to talk. I can't say it enough... This is the life!