It's hard to imagine today when it is wet and 14C that on Sunday it was 30C and I got sun burnt at the beach. Our children go to Nippers at Dee Why beach on Sunday mornings from October until March. Emma has been going since she was 7 and Angus since he was 5. Dee Why SLSC is a friendly club where the children learn skills to keep them safe while they are enjoying the beach. There is also a competitive aspect to Nippers where children compete in flags, running, boards and ocean swimming races as well as the Junior Iron Person event as well as the opportunity to compete ate various carnivals on the northern beaches throughout the season.
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| Angus and some of the u8s |
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| Emma and U12 girls |
The first event for the U 12s was the 70 metre beach sprint followed by the flags where the competitors line up on their tummies facing away from the line where the flags are then run to get the "flag" rubber tube in the sand about 20 m away. It's a bit like musical chairs - each time a "flag" is removed so that someone misses out until you are down to the final 2. The U8s also did the sprint and flags.
The U8s don't do the same water activities as the older children but did a wading race which counted in the competition points. They have to wade around parents standing in the water who are holding the coloured bunting to delineate the area where the children have to go.
Then there was the 290m ocean swim and the 400m board paddle for the u12s. Well done Emma for coming 6th and 4th respectively.
Although not thrilled about it Emma then competed in the Junior Iron person with 12 and 13 year old girls ... 290m swim, 70 m run , 400m paddle and 70 m run. A gallant 7th out of 8 but well done for having a go and finishing!
During the waiting times Craig tried out his new paddle board.
