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Nippers instructor Tracy King said she was pleased with the season’s results and the growing number of participants.

“I was happy to see lots of new members in each age group, we had more activities and they had heaps of fun,” she said.

This year, she said, awards were introduced for each level of Nippers, such as surf awareness and surf play awards, which most children received,

“To teach safety, knowledge of water and to gain confidence and skills and not be afraid in the water is important,” she said.

“Most accidents occur from fear of surf and not knowing what to do.

“Nippers teaches children how to react to waves, such as if in trouble, to not panic and how to catch a wave back into shore.”

The season ended with a mini carnival on March 20 with flag races, sprints, relays, wades, and bucket, board and deep water swimming races.

“Everyone improved. Some wouldn’t go in the water at the beginning but at the end were catching waves. One such improved Nipper was Ethan Parnell.

“He wouldn’t go in at all and at the end of the season he was swimming out willingly on his own.

“They worked together as a team and encouraged each other.”

Nippers training is an ideal grounding for surf life saving, King said.

Moruya Surf Life Saving Club president Richard Hermens said that he was happy with the number of Nippers and support from parents such as Renee and James Jenkins.

“The Nippers give great grounding for skills for life,” he said.

The education program ifrom the Nippers through to cadets teaches water safety and leadership skills.

Hermens was impressed with how two young Moruya lifeguards, Jason Wylie and Josh Freeman, who went through the Nippers program, dealt with a rescue that involved tragedy.

“On January 8 there was a drowning at Moruya, and the way the junior lifeguards conducted themselves, at under 19 years of age, was impressive,” he said.

“They set the alarm and started the search, demonstrating their competence.”

At a life saving leadership conference in August, Hermens said he heard from companies such as Qantas that they highly valued the leadership qualities that surf life saving provided.

“It brings kids into responsibility and gives them skills for life,” he said.

“They come down to the beach, they are frightened to put their toes in and they grow to kids full of confidence.”

He was impressed with the performance of Elka Pike, who swam side by side with an adult crew-rowing member.

“I saw this big guy and a little eight-year-old girl swim in the surf race together, around cans about 100m out from the beach.

“I was so proud of that young girl’s guts and determination” he said. “That exemplifies surf life saving, to do whatever it takes.”