Not just creating great surf lifesavers, but creating great Australians – that’s the catch cry of Surf Life Saving Australia for its new wave of junior lifesavers who began their official training yesterday.

The start of the Nippers season ends the Sunday morning sleep-in for thousands of parents with about 40,000 new surf lifesaving recruits enrolling for this summer’s beach season.

The Nippers Surf Education program, which starts at 9am each Sunday, teaches children aged between seven and 13 everything there is to know about being a surf lifesaver.

Not just creating great surf lifesavers, but creating great Australians – that’s the catch cry of Surf Life Saving Australia for its new wave of junior lifesavers who began their official training yesterday.

The start of the Nippers season ends the Sunday morning sleep-in for thousands of parents with about 40,000 new surf lifesaving recruits enrolling for this summer’s beach season.

The Nippers Surf Education program, which starts at 9am each Sunday, teaches children aged between seven and 13 everything there is to know about being a surf lifesaver.

SLSA national development officer Ben Bartlett said Nippers provided children with training for life.

“The beach is an Australian way of life and Nippers provides a great opportunity for families to enjoy it together,” he said. “We are not just training lifesavers. What we learn in lifesaving can be implemented in business and in bringing up a family.”

He said Nippers learn valuable beach and surf safety, rescue and resuscitation skills and develop friendships, self confidence and strong leadership attributes along the way.