Surf Sports & Competition

Competition on the Sand

Beach events are held on the sand and include events such as:

Beach sprint – competitors race on a straight sand course of approximately 70 – 90 metres to the finishing line.

Beach relay – teams of 4 competitors race on a straight sand course of approximately 70 – 90 metres with a baton, running one lap each. The final runner of a team over the finish line wins.

Beach flags – competitors start lying on their stomach facing away from a baton/s buried in the sand approximately 15 – 20 metres away. There is always less batons than competitors. On the starting gun, competitors rise, turn and race to secure a baton. The competitor(s) who fail to obtain a baton are eliminated. The process repeats until there is a single winner.

2 km beach run – U15 to Opens & Masters competitors race on a sand course in four laps of 500 metres to total approximately 2 km.

1 km beach run –  Masters competitors 64+ race on a sand course in two laps of 500 metres to total approximately 1 km.

First Aid

First aid and Lifesaving competitions are set to challenge a person’s lifesaving skills, putting them in scenarios and scoring them on how they handle it.

Events include:

• First Aid Competition
• Champion Lifesaver
• Patrol Competition

Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) Racing

Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) competition aims to:

• Improve the skills and technique of IRB drivers and crew
• Allow crews to demonstrate their techniques and abilities to perform rescues
• Bring crews together to discuss and improve IRB techniques and operations
• Promote safety awareness techniques for the crew and patients in simulated rescue scenarios

Competition Dates

IRB Racing takes place every winter season.

March Past & Colour Party

March Past is one of Surf Life Saving’s original events and represents the traditional discipline of a surf lifesaver. Teams, often dressed in full length club swimming costumes, march in time to music around a set course carrying a surf reel, line and belt and following their standard (flag) bearer.

Teams march in formation following commands and they are judged on factors such timing, arm and leg swing, space and dressing, body carriage and presentation.

The Colour Party follows the March Past and has a history stemming from the military tradition where service people and volunteers marched carrying flags.

Rescue and Resuscitation

The Rescue and Resuscitation (R&R) competition provides the opportunity for SLSA members to demonstrate in a competitive manner some traditional rescue and resuscitation techniques used in Surf Life Saving.

The term “R&R” comes from the core business of surf lifesaving which is “Rescue and Resuscitation”. Today the rescue is done more than likely by a member using a rescue tube, rescue board, IRB or Jet Ski. In the past rescues were carried out by a group of members using the reel, line and belt, the rescuer donning the safety belt with the line attached and swimming out to sea to collect the patient. The reel, line and belt still form the rescue equipment in R&R competition today.

Surf Boat Rowing

A boat crew shall consist of five competitors, four of whom shall be “rowers” and a “sweep” who controls the boat by use of a sweep oar and commands to the rowers. Boat crews start at the water’s edge holding their boats ready. On the starting signal, crews row around their assigned turning buoy situated approximately 400 metres off shore and return to the beach. The winner is the first crew to pass their boat between the finish flags on the beach.

More information: If you require any more information please contact our surf boat captain.

Water Events – Swimming

Swimming ability is a prime factor in surf lifesaving. SLS Swimming events have been designed to encourage members to keep fit for lifesaving duties. Events include:

Surf Race – the Surf Race involves swimmers starting on the beach and then running, wading and swimming about 170 metres to sea to round as set of buoys and then return to the beach. The event concludes with a run finish to the flags placed on the beach.

Belt Race – the Surf Belt race involves the use of the surf reel, line and belt and is one of the most prestigious and traditional races in surf lifesaving competition. The event begins on the beach with the swimmer placing the belt around their waist and towing a surf line out to their allocated buoy and signalling their finish. The Belt swimmer is assisted by three linesmen and a reel handler.

Water Events – Board & Ski

Single surf ski race – from a floating start, competitors paddle their surf ski around three buoys and return to the finish line. The finish is judged when any part of the surf ski crosses the finish line with the competitor and their paddle all in contact.

Double surf ski race – from a floating start, competitors (two per ski) paddle their ski around three buoys and return to the finish line. The finish is judged when any part of the ski crosses the finish line with both team members and at least one paddle in contact with the ski.

Surf board race – from the beach (standing start) each competitor enters the water with their surf board, paddles around all buoys and returns to the beach. The winner is judged by the first competitor to cross the finish line on their feet and in contact with their board.

Multi Discipline Events

Ironman/Ironwoman – The Ironman and Ironwoman events are conducted over a course consisting of three legs, including a swim, surf ski and surf board. The race concludes with a beach sprint to the finish line. The order of the legs may vary and is decided by draw prior to the event.

Taplin Relay – Teams of swimmers, board paddlers and ski paddlers, compete together as a team relay over an Ironman course. The order of the legs may vary and is decided by draw prior to the event.

The Taplin Relay event may be conducted in three person (one swimmer, one surf board and one surf ski paddler), six person (two competitors for each water leg), or four person (one competitor per water leg plus a beach sprinter to complete the race) variations.

Surf Board Rescue Race – This two-person event comprises of a surf swimmer and a surf board paddler. The race commences with the swimmer swimming to their allocated buoy and then signalling back to the beach for their board paddler to come out and collect them. Once the paddler reaches the swimmer, the two paddle their board back to beach and cross the finish line.