Our Senior Surf Sports Programme is for athletes aged 14 and above. It is broken into summer and winter seasons to keep our lifeguards fit year-round.
POOL RESCUE
Whilst our athletes continue to train during the winter, during the colder months (June - September), our senior athletes also take part in pool based swimming activites and events. CLICK HERE for more details on the Pool Rescue Programme.
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The Pāpāmoa SLSC offers professional coaching in all surf sports disciplines including swimming, board and ski paddling, canoe (four person) racing and the beach events of sprints and beach flags.
Surf sports training and competition provides our members with the opportunity to refine and practice their lifesaving skills in the competition arena at local, regional, national and international level. Surf sports forms a significant component of the surf lifesaving movement and helps Pāpāmoa SLSC recruit and retain quality lifeguards.
Refining lifesaving skills is an important part of surf lifesaving sport and competitions such as inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) racing, tube rescues and board rescues are specifically designed to hone a surf lifesaver’s knowledge and skills that they would use in an everyday patrol situation.
Programme cost: Summer Season = $180, Winter Season = $150
Additional costs:
- Uniform
- Gear allocation
- Carnival fees
Requirements:
- Surf Lifeguard Award
- 20 hours minimum patrol through the season
- Current member of Pāpāmoa SLSC (click REGISTER NOW link above to become a member)
Term 2
28th April - 5th June 2026
Monday Ski 4.30pm - 5.30pm
Tuesday Dryland 5pm - 6pm
Wednesday Ski 4.30pm - 5:30pm
Thursday Dryland 5pm - 6pm
Friday No Training
Saturday Ski 9am - 10.30am
Winter School Holidays
6th - 19th July 2026
Monday Ski 9.30am - 11am
Tuesday Dryland 9.30am - 11am
Wednesday Ski 9.30am - 11am
Thursday Dryland 9.30am - 10.30am
Friday Board 9.30am - 10.30am
Saturday Iron 9.30am - 11am
Term 3
20th July - 27th September 2026
Monday Ski 4.30pm - 5.30pm
Tuesday Dryland 5pm - 6pm
Wednesday Ski 4.30pm - 5.30pm
Thursday Beach Specialist 4.15pm - 4.55pm
Dryland 5pm - 6pm
Friday Board 4.30pm - 5.30pm
Saturday Ski 9am - 10.30am
Spring School Holidays
28th September - 11th October 2026
Monday Ski 9.30am - 11am
Tuesday Board 9.30am - 11am
Wednesday Iron 9.30am - 11am
Thursday Board 9.30am - 11am
Friday Ski 9.30am - 11am
Saturday Iron 9.00am - 11am
Term 4
12th October - 22nd December 2026
Monday Beginner Ski 5pm - 6.30pm
Ski 5pm - 6.30pm
Tuesday Board 5pm - 6.30pm
Wednesday Iron 5pm - 6:30pm
Thursday Board 5pm - 6.30pm
Friday Ski 5pm - 6.30pm
Saturday Iron 9am - 10.30am
Summer School Holidays & Term 1 2027
5th January - 21st March 2027
Monday Ski 5pm - 6.30pm
Tuesday Board 5pm - 6.30pm
Wednesday Iron 5pm - 6:30pm
Thursday Board 5pm - 6.30pm
Friday Ski 5pm - 6.30pm
Saturday Iron 9am - 10.30am
There are a number of targeted squad events throughout the season:
Eastern Region Pool Championships | 22-23 August 2026 | Gisborne
Cambridge to Hamilton Paddle | 13 September 2026 | Cambridge/Hamilton
New Zealand Pool Rescue Championships | 2-4 October 2026 | Auckland
BOP Spring Series 1 & 2 | 17 October & 21 November 2026 | Mount Maunganui
Whangamata Classic | 5-6 December 2026 | Whangamata
Mount Monster | 12 December 2026 | Mount Maunganui
Senior BOP Carnival | 9 January 2027 | Omanu
Owen Chapman - | TBC | Red Beach
Senior Eastern Region Championships | 29-31 January 2027 | TBC
Northern Region Championships | TBC | TBC
New Zealand Surf Life Saving National Championships | 18-21 March 2027 | Christchurch
See 'Downloads' above for a printable full calendar of summer carnivals and events.
The allocation process is determined by: age, ability, experience, commitment to training and commitment to racing at carnivals.
If you would like to be considered for a club board or ski please complete the gear allocation form and return it to Jake Cowdrey (coach@papamoalifeguards.co.nz).
A Craft Damage and Etiquette Agreement needs to be signed by every athlete regardless of whether they will be using personal or club gear.
- Water bottle
- High vis vest
- Suitable clothing (active-wear for dry land, wetsuit for ski)
- Running gear (shoes)
- Paddle/bung
- Stopwatch
If you have any questions regarding the programmes, please email coach@papamoalifeguards.co.nz
Participants of the programme - please sign up to the Senior Surf Sports Facebook Group Page for regular updates.
