Rookie Lifeguards Finish the Season Strong
Huge congratulations to our Rookie Lifeguards, who have wrapped up a fantastic season and recently took part in the Eastern Region Rookie Challenge at Ōmanu Surf Life Saving Club.
The Rookie programme is an important step in developing our future patrol lifeguards, and this group has shown great commitment, teamwork and enthusiasm throughout the season. From learning lifesaving skills and first aid, to building confidence on patrol and in the water, they’ve taken on every challenge with a great attitude.
The season ended on a high at the Rookie Challenge — an action‑packed day where teams rotated through stations testing practical skills, problem solving, and teamwork in fun but realistic patrol scenarios. It was a great opportunity to put everything they’d learned into practice.
To give an insight into what the season was like, we asked Rookie Lifeguard Hunter Jones to share his experience...
How did you find the Rookie programme overall?
Overall, I found the Rookies programme pretty interesting, enjoyable and quite fun. I also really liked learning new things from our coaches each week.
What was the best or most fun part of the season?
The best part was being at the beach on patrol. I had a good group of lifeguards around me, which made it really enjoyable.
What new skills did you learn this season?
One big skill I learnt was CPR. When I started, I had very little knowledge, but now I’m much more confident with CPR and DRSABCD. I also learnt a lot about water safety and how to carry out proper rescues in the water.
Was there anything that surprised you about being a Rookie?
I was surprised that we learnt something new every week. We covered lots of different topics, from first aid and rescues to using radios and hand signals.
How important was teamwork this season?
Teamwork was really important, especially during the Rookie Challenge. It was cool seeing lots of my Oceans teammates taking part in the programme as well.
What was the Rookie Challenge like?
I found the Rookie Challenge to be a great day at Ōmanu. We did lots of fun activities that all involved teamwork and using the skills we learnt over the season.
Which station did you enjoy the most?
The giant SUPs were the best part. It was challenging but lots of fun trying to get the board over the waves with everyone on it.
Was there a station that pushed you out of your comfort zone?
The First Aid station was the most challenging because we had to work as a team on a real person pretending to be injured.
What are you most excited about for next season?
Next season I’m looking forward to becoming a qualified lifeguard and spending days at the beach patrolling.
What would you say to others thinking about joining Rookies?
Definitely get into it. It’s a great opportunity to learn new skills, build knowledge about the beach and water, and learn first aid.
We’re incredibly proud of the effort these Rookies have put in over the season and can’t wait to see them taking their lifeguard awards and joining patrols next summer.
A big thank you as well to our Pāpāmoa clubbies who gave their time to support the Rookie Challenge and make it such a success: Robynne Cabusao, Poppy Crouch, Marama Mateparae, Cheryl Jensen, Max Brookbanks, Mackenzie Ward and Emily Mardon.
A massive THANK YOU also goes to EVES Real Estate Bay of Plenty for being out long-time valued supporter of the Rookie Programme - we couldn't do this without them!
If you’ve got a child turning 13 this year, this is their year to become a Rookie Lifeguard. The Rookie programme is a great introduction to lifesaving, helping young people build confidence in the ocean, learn first aid and rescue skills, and take the first step toward becoming a qualified lifeguard.
You can find more information about the Rookie Lifeguarding programme on our website here: Rookie Lifeguarding
