Our epic annual Junior Surf Halloween DISCO is back for 2025 and you don't want to miss it! 

1 November 5pm at the club

Put on your spookiest costume and join the fun!

Junior Surf is about shaping the lifeguards of tomorrow while giving kids the chance to learn vital surf lifesaving skills and knowledge. Along the way, they’ll enjoy loads of fun, stay active with healthy exercise, and learn how to stay safe on the beach and in the water. 

• Pāpāmoa’s Junior Surf Programme is designed for 5-14 year olds (as determined by the age the child is on 30th September). 
• Age groups have their own dedicated coaches who will oversee the activities and teach those all-important beach skills.
• Junior Surf is on Sunday mornings over the summer months from November to mid-March. There is no obligation to attend every week.
• Sessions incorporate both beach and water based activities dependent on time of year and surf conditions.
• Over the season there are various carnivals that children in the under 8 and above groups are encouraged to attend.
• During the season we may need to cancel Junior Surf sessions due to adverse weather conditions. Unfortunately there is no time in the season to run make-up sessions. 
• At the end of the season there is a Club Championships for all Pāpāmoa Surf Club members aged 5+. Please note that your child must have attended at least 5 sessions throughout the season to be eligible for awards at Club Champs.

To participate in the Junior Surf Programme your child needs to be a member of the Pāpāmoa Surf Club. All Junior Surf members must be accompanied by an Associate Member (parent/guardian/caregiver).

PSLSC Membership Fee = $25 per child

Junior Surf Programme Fee = $40 per child

Associate Member Fee = $15 per family (if you have more than one child taking part in JS, you only need one Associate Member for the family)

AGE GROUPS

• Kids are split into age groups from under 6s to under 14s
• Their group is determinded by their age as at 30 September, e.g. if your child turns 7 before 30 Sept, they will be in the under 8 age group, if they turn 7 after 30 September, they will be in the under 7 age group

DAYS & TIMES

• Sessions run on Sunday mornings, starting at 9.30am.
• Sessions run for approx 1 hour for younger kids and up to 2 hours for the older age groups dependant on weather and beach conditions. All sessions finish by 11.30am.

200M BADGE TESTING 

All kids in the U10 and above age groups who want to paddle a kneeboard must complete an annual 200m badge test. CLICK HERE for more information.

SEASON LAUNCH

• Sunday 9 November| Intro session for U6 & U7 age groups and new families | 9:30am start
• Sunday 16 November| First full session for all age groups | 9:30am start 

CHRISTMAS BREAK

• 14 December 2025 | last Sunday session for 2025
• 11 January 2026 | first Sunday session for 2026 

TWILIGHT CHRISTMAS SESSION For all age groups (with a special guest!)

• 19 December | 4:30pm – 6.30pm 

LONG WEEKENDS There will be no Junior Surf sessions on the following long weekend dates

• 25 January | Auckland Anniversary
• 8 February | Waitangi

 CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS Last Sunday session of the season for all age groups

• 15 March | 9:30am start 

TWILIGHT SESSION AND PRIZE GIVING End of season get together for all age groups and families

• Friday 20 March | 4:30pm – 6:30pm

See 'Downloads' above for printable season calendars. 

All JS participants are required to wear a long-sleeved rash shirt (or high vis singlet if the child has their 200m badge) and a coloured beanie (see below). Wetsuits may be worn on colder days.

Please visit our Uniform Shop to order the Junior Surf rash top or vest online.

Uniform Collection Days

WHEN: Thursday 6 November & Tuesday 11 November between 4pm - 6pm

WHERE: At the Club, downstairs in the Junior Surf area

If you can't make one of the above dates, uniform can be collected from the office on Monday - Fridays between 8.30am-2.30pm. 

Please note: all uniforms must be paid for online. 

COLOURED BEANIES: for our Sunday Junior Surf sessions, each age group has a different colour beanie. These are provided by the club so do not need to be purchased. 

CLUB BEANIES: a blue and yellow club beanie is required for carnivals and competitions and needs to be purchased for $10 from our Uniform Shop.

Under 6s = PINK          Under 7s = BLUE          Under 8s = YELLOW   

Under 9s = GREEN      Under 10s plus (without 200m badge) = RED

Under 10s plus (with 200m badge) = PURPLE

Stay behind at the end of each Sunday session and enjoy the sausage sizzle with your fellow surf club families. The BBQ will be held outside the Junior Surf training room where families can relax on our terraced area. 

All proceeds from the sausage sales go back into the running of the club - thank you for your support. 

Please ensure you join our Junior Surf Facebook group page for regular updates and cancellation notifications. 

You can also join the SLSNZ Junior Surf Facebook Group to see information and highlights of Junior Surf Carnivals and Junior Surf Programmes from around the country. 

The Board Fundamentals Programme runs before the start of the Junior Surf season to give our under 10 and above athletes the fundamental skills to enjoyably engage in board-related activities later in the season. It is also a great opportunity for beginners in the under 11 - under 14 age groups to learn some fundamental knee boarding skills before the start of the Junior Surf season. Children in the under 9 age group will be considered on a case by case basis.

By the end of this programme, participants should have increased their confidence around boards and gained the foundation to further develop their board skills.

This programme is an ideal pathway for those under 10 athletes who wish to transition into the Ocean Development Programme.

CLICK HERE for more information.

Club Nights run every Friday evening during the summer months. The bar opens at 5pm and food will be available to purchase. So grab your surf club mates, make the most of the wonderful facilities we have, and soak up the beautiful view from The Mount to Maketu.

All coaches are volunteers – if you are keen to take the journey and learn along with your kids then we would love to hear from you. 

Contact juniorsurf@papamoalifeguards.co.nz for more information.

Please be aware that we don't have sunblock on the beach at JS, so please sunblock your kids before you arrive and bring sunblock with you.

Friday Night RACE NIGHTS run from 4.30pm - 6.30pm:

21 November 2025

5 December 2025

19 December 2025

16 January 2026

13 February 2026

WHO IS RACE NIGHT FOR

Race Nights are for our under 8 and above Junior Surf age groups. It’s a great opportunity for our kids to practice beach and water races and get an understanding of what happens in preparation for carnivals and events. 

We encourage everyone in these age groups to take part. Whilst we are running actual races, it’s super supportive and fun, with a bit of friendly competition thrown in! 

WHICH RACES WILL TAKE PLACE

There will be two beach events – flags and sprints, and three water events – run-swim-run, board race and a Diamond (run-swim-board). Your child does not have to take part in every race. This can be decided on the night.

WHAT TO BRING

Kids who are going in the water will need to wear either their Junior Surf rashie or hi-vis vest and they are welcome to wear a wetsuit if required. 

200m BADGE

All children in the under 10 and above age groups MUST have their 200m badge to be able to take part in the water races. 

PARENT HELP

To run these Race Nights successfully we need parent help. This includes parent lifeguards as well as starters, finishers and results recorders. So please be ready to jump in on the night if asked. Please remember that everyone running these evenings is there on a volunteer basis.