Why these Burleigh nippers don’t need state titles to thrive

The North Burleigh Surf Life Saving Club has nearly 600 reasons to smile.

THE North Burleigh Surf Life Saving Club has nearly 600 reasons to smile.

Hovering around the 589 registered Nippers mark, North Burleigh boasts the biggest youth surf lifesaving program in Queensland.

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But it was a very different story seven years ago.

Pictured at North Burleigh Beach two of the North Burleigh Surf Club’s 600 nippers. L-R Indigo Wise 6 and Axel Hogbin 7. Pic Mike Batterham

With only 280 Nippers to their name, club president Gerard Sangston recalls the moment North Burleigh decided to re-set their course for the future.

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“Seven years ago, a collective group of parents and members got together and developed a plan to invest in our Nippers,” he said.

“At the time, we were one of the smaller clubs and our senior club was non-competitive which made it harder for us a club to patrol our beaches.

Pictured at North Burleigh Beach some of the North Burleigh Surf Clubs 600 nippers. Pic Mike Batterham

“We wanted to grow to in excess of 450 nippers and try and become Queensland state champions within 10 years.”

Last year, North Burleigh fielded the largest competitive squad at both the Queensland and Branch surf lifesaving titles, the former which has been cancelled this year over coronavirus concerns.

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All seven Nippers coaches have enrolled their own children in the club’s surf lifesaving program.

Pictured at North Burleigh Beach some of the North Burleigh Surf Clubs 600 nippers. Pic Mike Batterham

North Burleigh have also just gone back to back in both age groups at the Branch titles and were preparing for another State title tilt until the event was cancelled due to the coronavirus crisis sweeping the globe.

“It’s a good indication for us that we’re on the right track,” Sangston said.

In the past three years, North Burleigh finished 28th, fifth and last year, third at the Queensland titles.