Youngsters trying out their new boogie boards have been urged to take care at the beach.
Surf Life-Saving New Zealand Otago-Southland operations co-ordinator Max Corboy said youngsters with boogie boards should enjoy themselves, but follow a few key safety rules, including never boarding alone, and trying to have a fellow rider with them.
They should also use the beach only when life guards were on duty and to remain within the flags, to avoid any rips beyond them.
Inexperienced board riders could find themselves moving along the beach through successive rides, and he urged ''awareness of that'', and the need to remain between the flags.
Boogie boards enabled youngsters to go to places they may not have been able to reach before and to move more quickly than before, but this could bring hazards, as well as benefits, he said.
Boards could be affected by winds and currents,and riders needed to be aware of their limits, including lack of experience, he said.
Boogie board riders should remain within the surf, and not move beyond that area, and should also use flippers to give them more control in the water.
Surf lifeguards were also available to offer safety advice and any board riding tips, he said.
St Kilda Surf Life Saving Club chairman Peter Gibbons said behaviour had been good at the beach yesterday and no ''major problems'' had been reported in recent days.
Lifeguards wanted boogie board riders to enjoy themselves at the beach and there had been no reported problems with new riders.
He urged any inexperienced riders to ''treat the conditions with respect'' , and to keep within their limitations and the flags.
