GEARING UP for a red hot summer the Newcastle Surf Life Saving Club has been put through its paces in proficiency testing .
Club Captain Joe Clayton told the Newcastle Herald that to remain on active patrol life savers have to pass practical and theoretical tests before the 31st of December each year.
"You have to be able to do the swim, do the board rescue and do the run," he said.
"Everyone there on the weekend passed."
As well as the proficiency tests, the club started a relay event on the weekend which includes legs in "swimming, boarding and running".
"It's called the Captains Trophy and we had about 25 people turns up on the weekend," Mr Clayton said.
"Everyone who turned up was really enthusiastic and that will start to rub off so we anticipate to have all eighty-odd members turn up in the coming weeks."
Mr Clayton, who took on the role of Club Captain this year, said the plan is to run the competition through until March next year.
"We will run it for three weeks then have a two week break and continue doing it that way."
With NSW emerging from lockdown Mr Clayton said the club is bracing for a busy season.
"On good days we already have over a thousand people down at the beach."
