Pool Rescue
JNR POOL CHAMPS REMINDER - STARTS SUNDAY 24 MAY 2026 at 8AM!
Kia ora everyone,It’s time to kick start our winter Pool Champs training programme, which is open to all Under 11s to Under 14s for the coming 2026/27 surf lifesaving season.
The first session will be on Sunday the 24th of May at the Kiwa Pools at 8am! A little earlier this season due to a water polo booking but all the same great stuff.
What is Pool Rescue Champs?
Pool Rescue Champs is a pool-based surf lifesaving competition for U/11s, U/12s, U/13s & U/14s that runs in the winter. Midways junior programme will teach all the skills required to compete in the winter Pool Rescue Champs events.The events are fun and involve everything from swimming with fins and tube rescues, to picking up and swimming with bricks and swimming under obstacles. You don’t have to be a champion swimmer to participate – but you will need to be able to swim 50 metres comfortably. Pool champs are great for building swimming fitness and tube rescue skills while maintaining friendships and fitness during the off-season.Check out the link for some real life examples of pool rescue racing.
2026 Pool Rescue Champs Programme
Juniors will train under the guidance of head coach Jack Gavin, and Wainui coach Dion Williams with the help of some keen Snr athletes. Once again we will be joining forces with Wainui & Waikanae Surf Club to keep cost at low as possible.
Not sure if Pool Rescue Champs is for you?
Come along to the first ‘give it a go’ training session, which will be free of charge (you just have to pay entry into the pool). This will be a chance to give the pool champs events a go and see what it's all about.
Training dates and times
Training sessions will be held on Sunday mornings between 8.00am - 9.00am at the Kiwa pools.
Competitions
July 26th (Sunday) = Gizzy Pool Champs “Have a go” Compeition ($25)
August 22nd & 23rd = Eastern Region Pool Champs in Gizzy! ($60)
October 2nd & 3rd = National Pool Rescue Championships at NAC (Auckland) ($100)
Please note competition entry cost is additional to the pool champs program cost.
Cost
You must pay for your entry into the pool at every training session. This is roughly $2 if you use a concession card and a little more if you pay as you go.The ‘give it a go’ session on the first Sunday is free of charge, but the cost for the rest of the Pool Rescue Championships programme will be a small cost of $40. We need to cover the cost of lane hire and the maintenance of our competition gear (tubes,obs, bricks etc).Once your child has committed, you will be invoiced by the club after the June 7th training session for the first block of sessions leading up to Eastern Region Pool Champs.
Gear
All you need to participate is a Midway club pool swimming cap, goggles and a pair of rubber fins. So, if your child is interested in competing in the Pool Rescue Champs this season, or just finding out more about it, come along to the first session.
For further updates, please keep an eye on the Midway JNR Surf Sports FB page for updates.
If you have any mates that are not Midway members yet but keen to give it a go, bring them along and introduce them!
All welcome (especially fast swimmers!) We look forward to seeing you at the pools on the 24th of May!
Jack Gavin
Midway SLSC Head Coach
