What age can my child start at Vikings Surf Sports?

Surf Kids is for 3 to 4 year olds with a parent in the water. Nippers starts at age 5 (children must be 5 at the start) and runs to under 12. Rookie Lifesavers is for ages 12 to 18.

Does my child need to be able to swim?

Yes, except for Surf Kids. The club says it is not a learn-to-swim programme: Under 6 and Under 8 need to swim 25m unaided, Under 10 and above 50m or more, and Rookies 100m. Everyone's swimming is checked at the first session.

When are the sessions?

On the Term 1 2026-27 timetable, Nippers & Rookies run Saturday and Sunday 7.30-8.30am and Friday 5-6pm. Surf Kids run Saturday and Sunday 7.45-8.30am. Surf Skills for Nippers and Rookies run Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 5-6pm. Term 1 runs from 8 September to 13 December 2026.

How much does it cost?

Term 1 2026-27 (14 weeks, one session a week) is AED 1,540 + VAT for Nippers & Rookies or Surf Skills, and AED 1,750 + VAT for Bronze Medallion & Surf Rescue. New members also pay an annual AED 350 + VAT registration fee, which is redeemable on club kit. The Surf Kids fee is not listed, so ask the provider.

Where does training happen?

At Nessnass Beach, behind Sunset Mall in Jumeirah. The club says all sessions take place at beaches patrolled by Dubai Municipality lifeguards.

Is there a free trial?

The website does not mention a trial session, so ask the provider on WhatsApp (+971 55 941 0464).

Vikings Surf Sports: Nippers and junior lifesaving on Nessnass Beach

Water SportsLifesaving

Checked Oct 2026Details checked October 2026

Jumeirah

Ages3+years and up
PriceAED 1,540a term, lowest price
OpenAskNot published yet
WhereJumeirahOpen in Maps

Book online

Vikings Surf Sports is a family-run surf lifesaving club that trains on Nessnass Beach, behind Sunset Mall in Jumeirah. It follows the Australian Nippers model and says it is affiliated with Surf Life Saving Australia, International Life Saving, Dubai Sports Council, UAE Swimming and Youth Sports UAE. The club is fronted by founder Stephen 'Munners' Munnery, a former world champion lifesaver. Sessions mix water and beach safety with surf sports: board paddling, swimming, wading, beach sprints and flags, bodyboards, kayaks and stand-up paddle boards. Rescue skills, CPR and first aid come in step by step as children move up the age groups. There is a parent-and-child Surf Kids group for 3 to 4 year olds, Nippers for ages 5 to 12, and Rookie Lifesavers for 12 to 18, who can work towards Bronze Medallion and Surf Rescue Certificate awards. It is not a learn-to-swim class: children need to swim a set distance before they join.

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The activity

Lifesaving, explained

Surf lifesaving grew out of Australia's beach clubs, and its junior version is called Nippers. Children learn to read the sea and stay safe in it, then turn that into sport: board paddling, open-water swimming, wading, beach sprints and beach flags, where kids race to grab a baton from the sand. Along the way they pick up rescue skills, basic first aid and CPR as they get older. It builds swimming stamina, confidence in open water, speed and teamwork. Clubs usually take children from about five who can already swim a short distance; teenagers can work towards real lifesaving qualifications.

Who it's for

Surf Kids: ages 3 to 4 with a parent in the water (no swimming requirement). Nippers: from age 5 (must be 5 at the start) up to under 12, grouped Under 6, Under 8, Under 10 and Under 12. Rookie Lifesavers: ages 12 to 18. Swim entry levels: 25m unaided for Under 6 and Under 8, 50m or more for Under 10 and above, 100m for Rookies. Bronze Medallion is for ages 13+ (200m swim in under 5 minutes) and Surf Rescue Certificate for 15+ (400m in under 9 minutes). The club also runs adult and teen sessions and a Beach Academy on Friday mornings that it says suits homeschool students.

What to expect

Every new Viking is assessed in the first session to check their swimming. Nippers sessions are an hour on the beach and in the sea: games, board paddling, wading, swimming, beach sprints and flags, with surf safety lessons matched to the age group. Sessions run at beaches patrolled by Dubai Municipality lifeguards, and the club has its own water safety team. You register and pay for the whole term on the club's booking portal, and new members pay an annual fee that covers the club kit (rash vest, swim shorts, cap, bag and bottle). A free trial session is not mentioned on the site, so ask the provider.

Highlights

Parent-and-child Surf Kids for 3-4 year olds, no swimming needed (vikingsurfsports.ae)
Nippers for ages 5 to 12, in Under 6, 8, 10 and 12 groups (vikingsurfsports.ae)
Rookie Lifesavers 12-18 can take Bronze Medallion and Surf Rescue Certificate (vikingsurfsports.ae)
Weekend Nippers & Rookies 7.30-8.30am, plus Friday 5-6pm (Term 1 2026-27 timetable)
Own water safety team at lifeguard-patrolled beaches (vikingsurfsports.ae)
Term fee includes free club championship entries and professional photos (Term 1 2026-27 fees)

Why parents rate it

What parents say on Google

Vikings Surf Sports has a 5.0 rating on Google from 21 reviews, and all 21 are five stars. Testimonials on the club's own site mention founder Steve Munnery's energy and experience, and one parent writes of wanting their children to learn water safety and surf sports.

The facts

Ages: Surf Kids: 3-4 (with a parent)
Nippers: 5 to under 12
Rookie Lifesavers: 12-18
Bronze Medallion: 13+
Surf Rescue Certificate: 15+
Prices: Term 1 2026-27 (14 weeks, one session a week)
Nippers & Rookies: AED 1,540 + VAT
Surf Skills: AED 1,540 + VAT
Bronze Medallion & Surf Rescue: AED 1,750 + VAT
New members
Annual: AED 350 + VAT registration fee, redeemable on club kit
Surf Kids fee: ask the provider
Late joiners pay pro rata
Schedule: Term 1 2026-27, 8 September to 13 December 2026. Nippers & Rookies: Sat and Sun 7.30-8.30am, Fri 5-6pm. Surf Kids (3-4): Sat and Sun 7.45-8.30am (from 12 September). Surf Skills (Nippers and Rookies): Tue, Wed, Thu 5-6pm. Teen Surf Sports: Sat and Sun 9-10am. Bronze Medallion & Surf Rescue: Sat and Sun 9-10am. Beach Academy: Fri 7.30-9am.
Trial: Ask the provider
Where: Nessnass Beach, behind Sunset Mall, Jumeirah 3, Dubai
How to book: bookings.vikingsurfsports.ae/login · wa.me/971559410464 · [email protected]

Guide · 8 min readRead: One sport or several? What the evidence says about kids playing more than one sport

Questions parents ask

Good to know

Not a learn-to-swim class: children need a 25m unaided swim (Under 6 and Under 8) or 50m (Under 10 and above) before joining (vikingsurfsports.ae)
Training is at Nessnass Beach behind Sunset Mall; the Al Barsha address on the site is the office, not the beach (vikingsurfsports.ae)
Joining after the term has started means paying pro rata for the sessions left (vikingsurfsports.ae)
Bookings not paid within 48 hours are cancelled automatically (Term 1 2026-27 registration pack)
Sessions can be moved or cancelled for bad weather; the club says it will offer an alternative (vikingsurfsports.ae)
Wheelchair-accessible car park (Google listing)