Nippers out to make waves
ALEX Rogers says North Queensland will send a “hardened team of athletes” to Surf Life Saving Queensland’s Youth State Championships next month.
Rogers, the SLSQ North Queensland Branch Youth State Team manager, said the North Queensland team had been training out of season at the Cairns Wake Park three times a week in preparation for the peak event in the state junior surf sports calendar.
“Petra Dunn generously offers the cable ski park at Smithfield each year so the team can work together to stay fit and train on their boards safely in the water,” Rogers said.
“The result is a hardened team of athletes who have dedicated months of training in adverse conditions, and their strength and endurance is noted by the southern clubs.
“Our team is unique as all our kids have a go at every individual and team event, whereas the larger southern clubs have many nippers who focus all their training on performing well in just one event.
“The North Queensland nippers are also in training to be volunteer surf life savers who give back to their community by patrolling our beaches and encouraging healthy lifestyle choices.”
North Queensland’s fastest nippers will compete at Alexandra Headland from March 2-4 against the best in Queensland.
The local contingent includes 44 of the top junior lifesavers from Port Douglas, Ellis Beach, Cairns, Mission Beach and Etty Bay surf clubs, who will put aside traditional rivalries to compete under the North Queensland banner.