Serena sprints ahead of pack

At home in the sand and surf, Binningup Surf Life Saving Club member Serena Nandapi was among the top young surf lifesavers in Australia while competing in Manly, NSW, last month.

As part of the Western Suns State Youth Development Team, Serena competed against lifesavers from across Australia in two events – the Youth Pathway Cup on January 26 and the Manly Open Carnival on January 27.

In the cup, WA competed against the other States finishing third.

Serena won the under 15 beach sprint in the cup, racing 90m over the sand, fourth in the flags race and second in the WA girls relay.

Serena won the sprints at both selection competitions which landed her a spot on the team.

Serena trains at Binningup Beach most days in a range of disciplines.

“Board sessions, swim training, iron man, sprinting, flags, it’s all whenever we can fit it in pretty much,” she said.

In addition to competing, Serena regularly patrols the beach, going for her bronze medallion this year and holds a Surf Life Saving certificate.

“I go on patrols as well and help out at the nippers, which is all the juniors on the Sunday,” she said.

“It’s 16 patrol hours to be able to compete up in Perth.”

Among those selected, Serena was one of the few from regional WA with most coming from metropolitan clubs, having been selected after competing in the series in Perth.

“I was pretty much one of the only ones from a country club,” she said.

“There was me and some Secret Harbour people, and the rest were all city clubs.”

“It’s big for the club as well, for the last three years we’ve had someone selected in the team.”