AusLeisure

Sorrento Beach, located in Perth’s north, yesterday saw over 700 eager young surf lifesavers join Australia’s largest-ever Nipper Clinic as a highlight of the Shaw and Partners WA Race Week 2024.

Coached by surf lifesaving legends from across the country, the event showcased grassroots surf culture - blending fun, inspiration, and community spirit with the excitement of a premier ocean racing festival.

The Nipper Clinic provided junior participants from all over the state with hands-on training alongside Australia's elite surf sports athletes, including:

• Ali Day – 10-time Coolangatta Gold Ironman Champion
• Lana Rogers – Three-time Australian Ironwoman Champion
• Matt Bevilacqua – Ironman Champion and endurance specialist
• Jemma Smith – 2024 Coolangatta Gold winner
• Georgia Miller, Kendrick Louis, Cory Hill, Riley Fitzsimmons, and more.

On the event's significance and the importance of grassroots programs  Lana Rogers noted “seeing hundreds of kids on the beach today, learning from some of the best athletes in the world, is incredible. Nippers is where it all starts—it’s about building confidence, fostering resilience, and inspiring a lifelong love for the ocean. Today’s event was a powerful reminder of how these programs not only shape the future of surf lifesaving but also instil important life skills in young Australians.”

Matt Bevilacqua highlighted the unique scale and passion of WA’s surf lifesaving community adding “the sheer number of kids who came out today shows just how massive and vibrant the surf lifesaving culture is in Western Australia. These young Nippers are the future of our sport and our beaches. Watching their excitement and eagerness to learn makes all the effort worthwhile. It’s a privilege to be part of something this big and to give back to a community that supports surf lifesaving so strongly.”

The Shaw and Partners WA Race Week 2024, running from 23rd to 30th November, features a series of high-profile ocean racing events, including:

• Fenn West Coast Downwinder: A 24km race from Port Beach, Fremantle to Sorrento Beach, kicking off the week on Saturday, 23rd November.
• Dr Benjamin Hewitt Sunset Surfski Series: Two 11km downwind races from Port Beach, Fremantle to City Beach, held on Tuesday, 26th November, and Thursday, 28th November.
• Race One Twilight Paddleboard Dash: A 2km downwind dash from Waterman’s Cove to Sorrento Beach on Wednesday, 27th November.
• Shaw and Partners Dash for Cash: A surf ski sprint race at Sorrento Beach on Friday, 29th November.
• Shaw and Partners Doctor: The grand finale, a 27km race from Rottnest Island to Sorrento Beach, taking place on Saturday, 30th November.

With a total prize pool exceeding $240,000, the Shaw and Partners WA Race Week has solidified its status as Australia’s premier ocean racing event, attracting over 1,000 competitors, including Olympians, world champions, and top surf lifesaving athletes.

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13th September 2024 - Surf Life Saving Australia releases 2024 National Coastal Safety Report

24th March 2024 - Surf Life Saving WA installs new Surf Alert Module at Fremantle’s Leighton Beach

6th December 2023 - Surf Life Saving Australia launches ‘Give an F about the Flags’ new summer safety campaign

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5th September 2020 - Surf Life Saving WA prepares for busy beaches with return of helicopter services

20th April 2020 - New facility in Margaret River to become training hub for Surf Life Saving WA

10th December 2018 - Lotterywest provides $700,000 to Surf Life Saving WA to support nippers program

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