Situated at Pollok Beach in Summerstrand, Port Elizabeth, The Summerstrand Surf Lifesaving Club was founded in 1956. Inspired by the SA Lifesaving Motto, ‘Vigilance and Service’, the club has been performing voluntary Lifeguard duties on Pollok Beach every Sunday and Public Holiday during the months of November to April ever since.
We are a family-orientated club bound by a common love for the ocean and the sport of Lifesaving, whilst promoting a healthy, active lifestyle. Due to this bond, our members, old and new, are proud of their association to the club and the lifelong friendships forged at the club are second to none.
Our voluntary instructors and coaching team train the lifeguards of the future through our various Nipper, Junior, and Senior lifesaving programmes. Our coaches and instructors are all highly competent in the skills and sport of lifesaving.
Our Nipper and Junior parents’ participation and contribution plays an essential part in the future of our lifesaving club. Many of our Masters members, have been with our club since they were Juniors, and this wealth of experience strengthens and solidifies our club’s proud history and passion for lifesaving.
Our clubs Nipper program (kids aged 6 – 14) provides fun-filled training. These are our ‘future lifeguards’ who learn basic first aid, water safety, and ocean skills such as surf swimming, body boarding and malibu board training. This is all done in a competitive and fun environment with the emphasis being on safety and competing as part of a team.
Our Juniors and Seniors train and work towards towards passing these two lifesaving examinations, Junior Lifeguard Award, 14 – 16 years old (JLA) and Lifeguard Award, 16+ years old (LA). Once qualified our members perform voluntary lifeguard duties on Pollok Beach and in so doing provide a massive role in keeping the bathing public safe every Sunday and public holiday.
Lifesaving is a fantastic way to maintain fitness and learn new skills. The importance of teamwork is learnt in a friendly environment, promoting a healthy, active and fun outdoor lifestyle. Lifesaving is a sport with a greater purpose, a ‘one of a kind’ where community work is an integral part of the competitive side of the sport of lifesaving. Juniors progress on from Nippers in learning additional skills such as surf ski paddling. We have a proud history in this regard with many of our members being selected to represent South Africa.
The club also has an active Masters contingent (aged 30 and up), who often get together to enjoy the social side of lifesaving as well as displaying the competitive spirit in the water. That spirit never dies!