FINDING A NEW GENERATION OF STARS
Today’s titles are about much more than 2019 results – we will also unearth the sport’s future talents
IF you have been keeping up with surf sport you would be well aware the 2019 Queensland Youth State Surf Life Saving Championships kick off today on the Gold Coast.
In a fitting throwback as Surf Life Saving Queensland celebrates 50 years of Nippers, Burleigh Heads will host the event – the very same beach on which the inaugural State Youth Championships took place in 1969.
More than 1600 of Queensland’s finest Nippers from under-11s through to under-15s will vie to be crowned the top athlete in their age group in a bid to spur their club to the top of the leaderboard.
Competitors, who have emerged as top athletes at branch competitions, will go head to head in 1km and 2km beach runs, beach flags and sprints, surf race and surf board events.
The qualifying teams from the branch championships will also compete in the beach relay, surf teams, board relay and cameron relay events.
Out of the competing clubs from across the state, Currumbin and Northcliffe on the Gold Coast, and Maroochydore and Alexandra Headland on the Sunshine Coast, are tipped to dominate the waves.
Last year, Currumbin took out the club title with a total score of 303 – 79 points ahead of their closest rival, Northcliffe, with 237 points.
On the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore emerged as the strongest contender, placing third with 224 points, followed closely behind by Alexandra Headland on 200 points.
Although these clubs are the ones to watch, juniors from across Queensland will direct their energy towards improving on last year’s results.
The Queensland Youth State Surf Life Saving Championships are a highly anticipated an event for Nippers, the surf lifesaving community and the general public alike.
Burleigh will be a hive of activity this weekend as the finest young athletes from around the state descend on the beach for three days of competition, fun and camaraderie.
It’s truly inspiring to watch these athletes in their element, the determination in every dive, paddle, or stroke.
The event will enable spectators to also witness the future generation of surf sport.
It was 1987 when a young Nipper by the name of Susie O’Neill breezed through the surf race to take out first place.
Among this weekend’s competitors could be future ironmen or ironwomen, Olympians and other sporting champions of the future.
I wish best of luck to all competitors in your events this weekend.