It was a big weekend in Perth for the Albany Surf Lifesaving Club, with two major events taking place over the long weekend. On Saturday, the State Beach Championships were held, and despite only having two Nippers who qualified to compete, the entire team showed up to support them and learn from the best of the best in the state.
Kate, Molly, Abbie, Henry, Beau, George Jack (AKA Ethan), Amaya, Billy, Malachi, Will, Jesiah
Then on Sunday, it was an early rise for the team as they made their way to Trigg beach for a full day of competition. The conditions were perfect, with a slight south-west wind and minimal swell, although the wind did pick up towards the end of the day.
The water area kicked off with board rescues, while on the beach it was all about the flags. The Nippers were eager to participate in every event possible, and even had Meaghann convince officials to hold a race for them! From sprints, flags, the 1km run, to surf races, board rescue, board races and ironman events, the team gave it their all.
One of the highlights of the day was the Camron Relay, which allowed all Nippers to participate and even included our special ring in “Jack,” also known as “Ethan.” The relay was for all ages and required a huge effort from everyone, especially the U10s who had to do the string line for the swim and the string line and apex for the board.
After a long day on the beach, the team was thrilled to learn that they finished third overall in the point standings and are still awaiting the results of the handicap shield, which will be determined at next weekend’s boat event. Results can be found here.
After a long and eventful day at Trigg beach, you might have expected the Nippers to be exhausted and ready to head home. However, many of them and their families headed back to Karrinyup Waters, where they were camping for the weekend. Despite spending the entire day in the water, they continued to play in the pool and on the bouncy pillow for hours on end.
It’s clear that the Nippers have a true love and passion for the water, and their dedication and energy are truly inspiring. Everyone involved had an incredible time, and we’re already looking forward to next year’s event, with the hope of getting even more Nippers involved. Well done to everyone who participated, and congratulations on a truly amazing weekend!