Junior surf is run twice a month (unless we have any more volunteers), on pre-arranged dates. As many of you know we had a very successful live in weekend last year and as a result of this we propose to run two more live in weekends during the season (possibly one at the Pararaha). We are also planning to place a greater emphasis on surf safety, ultimately producing lifeguards rather than competitors.

For those that are interested in becoming involved in junior competition we would encourage you to set up a group within the Karekare Junior Surf to allow you to participate in the surf carnival events run by Surf Life Saving Northern Region over the summer. You will be required to become actively involved in training and attending these events to support your child's participation. If you have an interest in this area then please contact us on the email link below.

Parental involvement is a vital part of junior surf, this year it will be expected that parents attend junior surf sessions with their children, mainly for risk management reasons. This will make organisation easier and ensure children are safe (we need a ratio or 1-4 in the water and if it is less it enables us to do more exciting things). If any parents are interested in completing a one-day training course for coaches please contact us. I hope that this has given you some idea of what to expect this season, please contact us with any feedback, concerns or questions. Please email us if you are interested in joining in.

Junior surf this year will be held on a fortnightly basis to allow children and adults to attend other sports and make less of an overall time commitment. Hopefully this will allow more members to join. If parents are un-happy with this they have the option of running other junior surf training days, we are currently taking booking for junior Surf Coach Courses if anyone would like to attend.

For more information visit: www.karekaresurfclub.org.nz

by Rebecca Witten-Hannah and Richard Sharp