As Ōpōtiki Surf Life Saving Club prepares for a scorching hot summer, it has been making a pre-season splash with a recruitment drive.

On Saturday, thanks to the team at Ōpōtiki Mitre 10 and Ōpōtiki New World for sponsorship of gas, sausages and bread, club members were out sizzling at “The Sausage Shack”.

The community came out in force to buy a snag or two and support their lifeguards.

The fundraiser helped raise funds for the upcoming National Pool Rescue Championships in North Auckland this October, while spreading the word about junior surf and the opportunities Surf Life Saving New Zealand offers to club members.

Spokesperson Nicola Petersen says it is not necessary to be an elite athlete – “though we do like to bring home bags of medals”.

“Over recent years, there has been a huge shift in how surf life saving operates. We have become a more inclusive and expansive organisation, recognising that not every lifeguard needs to be Hulk Hogan,” she said.

“We offer vital non-swimming roles like patrol support, where you learn your DRS ABCs, communication, signalling, beach safety, and how to read our ever-changing ocean environment,” said Petersen.

In this role, you can help run a patrol without getting a single toe wet – perfect you’re worried about your water confidence or think you ‘sink like a rock’.

She said those wishing to improve could work on their swimming at the club’s community pool sessions where they would be guided towards “swimming like a fish”.

“Over the past five years, a handful of our guards started in the blue patrol support uniforms, overcame their ocean fears through sheer determination, and graduated to the red and yellow life guard status. Some have even secured paid roles as regional guards during the summer.”

Petersen said they went through plenty of sausages over the weekend – plain sausage and red sauce, no onions, no mustard – tailored specifically for their young nippers and sandcrabs.

The club’s junior surf programme runs through summer for children from under 6 up to our rookie/trainees at under 14.

Designed in 30-to-60-minute blocks, the sessions build water confidence, encourage participation, grow character, and help kids gain hands-on experience with our moana while understanding its power and challenges.

The club is grateful to all the support it receives and is looking forward to a safe summer on the beach.

Petersen reminds people to swim between the flags this summer, never swim alone or while intoxicated, and always ensure children are supervised by a capable adult.

If on holiday, patrolled beaches can be located by visiting safeswim.co.nz.

The surf life saving season officially kicks off in November.