City of Perth SLSC recommends purchasing a board for your nipper.  This will allow them to partake in all nipper board activities.  If you’re new to nippers and not sure about making the investment in a board, the club supplies a limited quantity for use for year groups up to and including Under 10’s, however; this may limit your nippers ability to participate in activities.  From U11’s a limited number of fibreglass boards are available for hire.

U6 – U7

Do not participate in board activities.

U8 – U9

Maximum allowed length is 2.0m.  Boards need to be constructed of foam.  Smaller “trainer boards” offer nippers stability and manouverability but are generally slower.  Longer, thinner boards offer increased speed at the cost of stability.  Longer boards are more suited to nippers who wish to compete in Little Nipper competitions.  Little Nipper competitions only state boards need to be less than 2.0m in length and of foam construction (ie. they do not need to be Surf Life Saving Association approved).

U10

Boards used in U8 and U9 can still be used during City of Perth Sunday nipper sessions.  Should your nipper wish to compete, they will require a SLSA approved board, constructed of foam and no longer than 2.0m.

U11 – U13

From U11’s, nippers transition into fibreglass boards, however, nippers can continue to use foam boards.  Should your child wish to compete, they will require a SLSA approved board.  Maximum length 2.0m.

COSTS

Whilst purchasing a board may seem a large cost, Money can be saved obtaining a good quality secondhand board.  Also consider that when you sell the nipper board, you will get most of the cost back.

Boards are a great investment.  We encourage parents to allow their nipper to use their board outside of nippers, for example, on holidays, trips to the beach/river, mucking around with their friends, even in the backyard swimming pool!  They will become more comfortable on the board and you’ll enjoy seeing them get good use from your investment.