Junior Surf SPORT & Competitions

What is a Surf Carnival?

Surf Carnivals are another name for the surf lifesaving competitions that take place at various beaches over the summer.
Surf Carnivals are a great opportunity for our Junior athletes to test out and develop their surf sport and lifesaving skills in various land and water based events.  They are also a great way to get to know others, and build team spirit and confidence.
Local, regional and national Surf Carnivals are held each year, including some with a focus on fun participation, such as the ‘Auckland All In’ in November or the ‘Ruakaka Juniors Head to Head’ in January. There are also competitive Surf Carnivals. We’ll let you know about upcoming Surf Carnivals, but you can also check out our list here.

Who can particpate at Surf Carnivals?

All of our Junior Sunday Club Day members in our 7 year old group (under 8s) up to Rookies (under 14s) can participate at Surf Carnivals. Some events are only open to selected age groups.

Children must have a Surf Life Saving New Zealand (SLSNZ) number before they can register for any Surf Carnivals.
Check out the link on our Membership Page if you have forgotten your child’s SLSNZ number.
If you don’t have one please Apply NOW as they can take 3 days to get into the club system.
*Your 200m badge – if you are A group you need this to enter in ‘badged’ water events. If you are B or C group you need this to do any water events.
For more info or assistance with this, please send an email to admin@mairangibayslsc.org.nz 

What events do Surf Carnivals have?

Surf Carnivals include a range of different individual and team events. The line-up of events at each Surf Carnival differs slightly, but common Surf Carnival events include:

  • Beach Flags. Athletes start lying face down in the sand before racing up the beach to dive for a ‘flag’ (usually a short piece of hose) before another competitor gets it. Like a game of musical chairs, there are fewer flags than athletes, who are slowly eliminated until a winner is found. 
  • Running events including Beach Relay (team of 4) and Beach Sprints. These events are just like at a school sports day, except rather than a running track, the event is held on a straight running ‘track’ marked out on the beach.  
  • Swimming events include the Run-Wade-Run and Run-Wade-Run Relay (team of 2) for 7-9 year olds/under 8-u10 without a 200m Safety Badge and the Surf Race for 9-13 year olds/u10-u14 with a 200m badge. Athletes run into the water and wade or swim depending on their age around buoys or ‘cans’ in the water before heading back to shore and sprinting to the finish line.  
  • Board racing events include the Bodyboard Race and Bodyboard Race Relay (team of 2) for 7-9 year olds/u8-u10 without a 200m badge and the Board Race and Board Relay (team of 3) for 9-13 year olds/u10-u14 with a 200m badge. These races start near the water’s edge and athletes paddle out and around the buoys or ‘cans’ before heading back to shore.  Younger athletes use bodyboards, while the older athletes use foamies or fiberglass boards 
  • Multidisciplinary races include the Diamond Race and Cameron Relay. The Diamond Race is a wade/boardboard/wade event for 7-9 year olds/u8-u10 without a 200m badge or a swim/run/swim event for 9-13 year olds/u10-14 with a 200m badge. The Cameron Relay (team of 4) is for 11-13 year olds/u12-u14 with a 200m badge and is a swim/run/board/run event. 
  • Board Rescue (team of 2) is another board racing event for 13 year olds/u14/Rookies. In this event, a swimmer swims out to the buoy or ‘can’ and waits for the board paddler to paddle out and pick them up. The pair then return to the beach on the same board. 
    • Tube Rescue (team of 2) is for 13 year olds/u14/Rookies. One team member is the patient who swims out and waits to be rescued. The rescuer swims out with fins and a tube, heading around the buoy or can before securing the patient in the tube and returning to the beach for a sprint finish.

    How do I register my child and what will it cost?

    We use GameDay for Surf Carnival registrations. A link will be sent out when registrations open. You must register before our MBSLSC event registration deadline, which is usually one week before the deadline set by the Surf Carnival because it takes that long to process the registrations.
    We’ll let you know about the registration fee for each event as this information is made available. Families also need to arrange their own transport and accommodation if required.

    What events should I register my child in at a Surf Carnival?

    If your child is new to Surf Carnivals and isn’t sure what to enter, we recommend they give all the events a go. Don’t worry if your child doesn’t have a team, coaches help organise the teams for each event.

     

    What do athletes need to bring to a Surf Carnival?

    • MBSLSC togs
    • MBSLSC hi-vis-vest
    • MBSLSC club beanie
    • Googles
    • Fins (if required for older athletes)
    • Sunblock
    • Towels
    • Plenty of food and drink
    • Plenty of warm clothes, including a warm jacket even when it’s hot 
    • Some families also pack a camping chair or small sunshade tent

    The club takes bodyboards, foamies and fiberglass boards for the athletes to share.

    What to expect at a Surf Carnival?

    Before heading off to a Surf Carnival parents and older athletes meet at the club to load the club boards and tents onto the trailer ready to be transported to the event. Surf Carnivals begin early in the morning, with everyone meeting at the beach to help unload the trailer and set up the MBSLSC tents. It’s best to arrive early to find a car park. 
    The beach is usually divided into three areas known as Arenas, including one for each of the following Groups:

    • Group A (7-9 year olds/u8-u10)
    • Group B (10-11 year olds/u11-u12)
    • Group C (12-13 year olds/u13-u14) 

    Arenas have roped off areas where the athletes compete, a Marshaling Area, an area for spectators and an area up against the sand dunes where clubs set up their tents. Each Arena has Life Guards in the water during the water-based events.
    Each group of athletes will be assigned an Arena Manager.  The Arena Manager will have a schedule for the day and a list of all the athletes and the events they are entered in. Schedules are often subject to change depending on the weather and tide conditions. The Arena Manager will take the athletes to the Marshaling Area where they gather just before their event and the Surf Officials run through how the event works and what the rules are.
    The athletes compete in events throughout the day, with breaks in between for food and drink. After an action-packed, fun day it’s time to take down the tents, load the trailers and head home again! 

    Trailer unloading at the club takes place after the event. 

    FIRST POOL EVENT: NR Junior Pool Royale on 6th July 2023
    For more info regarding Winter Pool training and competitions please head to the Pool Champs Page

    FIRST BEACH EVENT: “NR Junior Auckland All In” on 25th November 2023

    EventDateLocationLink to Enter
    NR Pool Rescue Royale
    Entries are closed
    Sun 2nd July 2023NAC
    Rangitoto Mini Classic
    Entries are closed
    Sun 9th July 2023Takapuna Beach
    NR Pool Rescue Run Through (Short Course)
    Entries are closed
    Sun 30th July 2023NACLINK
    NR Pool Rescue Run Through (Long Course)
    Entries are closed
    Sun 13th August 2023NACLINK
    MBSLSC AGMSun 27th August 2023MBSLSC
    New Season Registrations OpenMon 28th August 2023OnlineLINK
    NR Pool Champs
    Entries are now closed
    Sat 2nd & Sun 3rd September 2023NACLINK
    School Holiday Training
    TBC
    TBCMBSLSC
    NZ Pool ChampsFri 29th, Sat 30th September & Sun 1st October 2023NACLINK
    Info Evening for new & existing members Weds 11th October 2023
    6-7pm
    MBSLSC Clubhouse upstairs
    Coaches & Managers Evening Thurs 12th October 2023
    6:30pm -8:00pm
    MBSLSC Clubhouse upstairs
    Info Evening for new & existing membersThurs 19th October 2023
    6-7pm
    MBSLSC Clubhouse upstairs
    Weekday Trainings TBCMBSLSCLINK
    Boot Camp - Labour Weekend
    9:00am-4:00pm both days
    Sat 21st and Sun 22nd October 2023
    MBSLSC ClubhouseLINK
    First Junior Beach Club Day 2023Sun 29th October 2023MBSLSC
    Rookie Camp #1TBC
    Auckland All In – A, B & C Groups

    All members to have SLSNZ numbers in order to enter.
    Sat 25th November 2023

    (entries close off on 8th November 2023)
    TBCLINK
    Last Junior Club Day for 2023Sunday 17th December 2023MBSLSC
    Mairangi Bay Christmas Festival TBCTBC
    EventDateLocationLink to Enter
    Training Camp Wed 3rd – Fri 5th January 2024Waipu Cove
    NR Northland Head to Head –  A, B & C GroupsSat 6th January 2024Waipu/ RuakakaLINK
    Ist Junior club day 2024 after the Christmas and New Years breakSun 14th January 2024Mairangi Bay
    SLSNR Patrol Champs - Rookies & LifeguardsTBCTBC
    NR U10 RoyaleSat 3rd February 2024TBCLINK
    NR Champs B & C GroupsSat 3rd & Sun 4th February 2024TBCLINK
    Oceans 2024 – B & C GroupsThurs 22nd, Fri 23rd, Sat 24th and Sun 25th February 2024Mount MaunganuiLINK
    Club Champs 3rd March 2024MBSLSC ClubLINK
    Club Champs
    (Back up day)
    10th March 2024MBSLSC ClubLINK
    Last Junior Beach Club Day
    Beach Dig and Fun day
    24th March 2024MBSLSC Club
    End of beach season celebration for Coaches & ManagersTBCMBSLSC Club
    Easter WeekendFriday 29th -Sunday 31st March 2024
    Pool Champ trainings during winter monthsTBCNAC