Club captain Julian Pitman reckons a standup paddle board will be an asset to helping swimmers at Ocean Beach this summer. Photo / John Stone
Club captain Julian Pitman reckons a standup paddle board will be an asset to helping swimmers at Ocean Beach this summer. Photo / John Stone
Surf lifeguards patrolling at a popular Whangarei beach have added a weapon to their rescue arsenal and will be keeping an eye on swimmers from a standup paddle board this summer.
This weekend marks the return of volunteer lifeguards to Northland beaches and with fine weather forecast for the three-daybreak, they could be kept busy.
Ocean Beach at Whangarei Heads was named best-patrolled beach last summer by surf lifeguard officials, and with the accolades they also won a standup paddle board. They were also named best club of the year and get to use an all-terrain vehicle for a year.
Club captain Julian Pitman said the paddle board would give lifeguards a different perspective, from being higher up.
"Its use will depend on the surf but it will be a great resource. There are plenty of handles for people to grab and it's really buoyant. It's another rescue tool for us in the water," Mr Pitman said.
Erosion had exposed rocks at either end of the beach and as usual there were rips at each end. The beach would be patrolled by 30 volunteer guards who had taken refresher courses.
At Ruakaka, club captain Tania Ahrens expected "a pretty busy day" with good weather forecast.
"Everyone heads North for the first long weekend of summer and goes to the beach so there could be a few people," she said.
