Townsville nippers gear up for the Surf Life Saving Queensland Youth State Championships at North Kirra

Little nippers will brave the Gold Coast surf to compete in a national competition testing their fitness and surf skills this weekend.

Junior lifesavers from North Barrier Club, Macy Stone 11 and Clancy Stone 13 will be joining their team at the Queensland Youth State Championships in North Kirra Beach. Picture: Alix Sweeney

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LITTLE nippers will brave the Gold Coast surf to compete in a national competition testing their fitness and surf skills this weekend.

Macy Stone, 11, and Clancy Stone, 13, will travel to North Kirra on Wednesday to slip on the wetsuits for the Surf Life Saving Queensland Youth State Championships.

Running from March 12 to 14, the championships will feature five age groups that will compete in various events, including 1km and 2km beach runs, beach flags and sprint, surf race and surfboard events.

Sixty-two nippers from the North Barrier Branch team, spanning from Sarina to Forrest Beach, will compete with hundreds of other nippers from around the state including 26 from Picnic Bay and Arcadia clubs.

Clancy has been learning to be a lifesaver since he was six-years-old and said competing in the championship was a highlight of 2021.

“I love having fun training with all my friends during the year,” he said.

The championships were cancelled last year due to COVID-19 lockdowns.

North Barrier Branch team manager Matt Stone said the children had been preparing for the last two years.

“The kids are all fit and they are going to give it their best shot,” he said.

Originally published as Townsville nippers gear up for the Surf Life Saving Queensland Youth State Championships at North Kirra