Masters Surf Sports
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Pāpāmoa SLSC Masters is about having some serious fun! The aim is to keep our more experienced lifeguards engaged and retained within the club by providing opportunities to get together and socialise, as well as developing their surf lifesaving skills in a relaxed and supportive environment.

Masters train all year round and compete in a variety of regional and national surf lifesaving events across the winter Pool Rescue and summer ocean seasons.

Pāpāmoa Surf Club Masters Foundations – Fun, Encouragement, Respect, Commitment, Excellence

Requirements
  • Current member of Pāpāmoa SLSC (click REGISTER NOW link above to become a member)​
  • Refreshed Lifeguard Award & 20 hours minimum of patrol through the season (not required for Pool Rescue)
Pool Rescue
June - October

In 2023 our Masters team helped the club win the Eastern Regional Pool Rescue Championship for the first time since 2013. With over 30 masters attending the competition in Hamilton, they then went on to lift the National Pool Rescue Masters Trophy at the National Championships.

Our Pool Rescue training will begin after the King's Birthday holiday in June 2024. Training takes place on Saturday afternoons at either Fulton's pool or Baywave, as well as a visit to Rotorua's 50m pool for some practice racing prior to the events. 

You do not need to be a lifeguard to compete in Pool Rescue, but we do recommend that you are swimming regularly as training focusses on race skills and techniques rather than fitness.

Pool Rescue Events 2024

BOP Pool Rescue Day
When: TBC
Where: Baywave
A local comp to practice racing skills early in the season. 

Mock Racing Day
When: TBC
Where: Rotorua Aquatic Centre
Jump in our closest 50m pool to try each individual race in a training environment before race day.

Eastern Region Pool Rescue Championships
When: 17th – 18th August 2024
Where: Kiwa Pools, Gisborne
A small regional event which encourages all abilities to experience racing in the lead up to Nationals.

National Pool Rescue Championships
When: 4th – 6th October 2024
Where: Sir Owen Glenn National Aquatic Centre, Auckland
Race your fellow surf lifesaving peers in an inclusive environment for the title of best in the country. No qualifying times are required, all abilities welcome.

Surf Ski Training During Winter
June - October

Over winter, as well as Pool Rescue, our training includes mastering the Surf Ski. At the beginning of winter the group heads to Pilot Bay where the calmer conditions allow for beginners to find their balance and practice good technique. As conditions and ability allow, we transition to the ocean side and move back to the Pāpāmoa club for developing race and wave catching skills. 

You do need to be a registered and refreshed lifeguard to compete. If you are interested and not a lifeguard we can provide training for you to achieve this closer to summer meaning you can train through the winter.

Summer Surf Season
October - March

We are really keen to build on the small team that attended the BoP Champs, ERC's and National Masters Champs throughout the summer season. We had a number of individual and team successes and would love to take a bigger team to these events next year. Masters competitions include Sprints, Flags, Swim, Board and Ski races as well as Ironman and Relay events.

Once the Pool Rescue season has finished the group will bring in swim and board race training in preparation for the summer events. Training is relaxed and moves to suit conditions and abilities and looks to finish on a social note with coffee or a beverage! We also look to take up opportunities to train with our neighbouring clubs when they arise.

You do need to be a registered and refreshed lifeguard to compete. If you are interested and not a lifeguard we can provide training for you to achieve this closer to summer meaning you can train through the winter.

Summer Events 2024

BOP Championships
When: TBC
Where: TBC

Eastern Region Championships
When: 24th - 26th January 2025
Where: Mount Maunganui

New Zealand Surf Lifesaving Championships 'Nationals'
When: 6th – 9th March 2025
Where: Gisborne

Surf Canoe and Surf Boats

Our Canoe teams smashed the 2024 summer events taking out multiple podiums at BOP, ERC and National Champs. Canoes are a lot of fun and we have a few dedicated teams that train on Friday evenings over the surf season. Competitions generally run at the same time as the ocean events and so participants can not usually do both individual and canoes.

Pāpāmoa SLSC does have a surf boat but does not have an active crew at the moment. The club is keen to hear from those who may want to initiate a crew and training.

You do need to be a registered and refreshed lifeguard to compete.

Inflatable Rescue Boats (IRBs)

Pāpāmoa SLSC has a rich history in IRB racing with the club becoming World Champions in 2014. A small but dedicated team has begun training over the last year with their aim of competing at the 2025 North Island IRB Champs. We have also had teams compete in the last two Eastern Region IRB Long Haul events.

Requirements include being 16+, being a refreshed lifeguard, having your IRB Crew Award and if you want to drive, having your refreshed IRB Drivers Award.

Contact

For more information on any of these programmes or training, please email surfsport@papamoalifeguards.co.nz

Also make sure you sign up to the Masters Facebook Page for regular updates.