Swell causes end for juniors

SAFETY concerns have kept the Coast’s rising surf lifesaving stars from heading into the water at a Young Guns carnival at Nobby Beach.

The Nobby Beach carnival was set down for athletes from under-11 to 15 but the younger age groups were kept from the water due to a sizeable swell breaking on to a shallow bank.

Even the older athletes’ program was restricted, with the under-14 and 15 surf races the only events held yesterday after officials decided it was a risk to put craft in the water.

Surf Life Saving Queensland sports manager Stuart Hogben said the safety of athletes was paramount and officials had taken the advice of coaches on the beach to restrict the carnival.

“No one felt comfortable with putting the younger kids out in the water,” Hogben said.

“Safety’s the biggest thing we look at and liaising with coaches, none of them were happy, and we’re always aiming to take that advice on board.”

While the youngsters were kept out of the water completely, older athletes headed in for surf races, with Kurrawa’s Siobhan Wyse winning the under-14 girls’ division and Currumbin’s Zach King taking out the under-14 boys.

Isabella Shipp, from Maroochydore, won the under-15 girls’ race, with Northcliffe’s Kai Watson first home in the under-15 boys. The surf race was the only event completed, though, with the size of the swell causing concerns craft could become projectiles and prevent the board race and iron races from being held.

“It was unfortunate but taking on the advice of the respected coaches we’ve got involved, they said the risk was too high to put boards in the water,” Hogben said of a coaching collective that included six former Australian champions.

SAFETY’S THE BIGGEST THING WE LOOK AT AND LIAISING WITH COACHES, NONE OF THEM WERE HAPPY SLSQ’S STUART HOGBEN

The news was not all bad for the youngsters though, who took part in wading races on the beach to get a taste of competition early in the season.

The young guns carnival followed on from the Queensland interbranch championships on Friday and Saturday, where Sunshine Coast clinched a 10th successive title after a successful day in the ocean at Bilinga.

Sunshine Coast had to come from behind after South Coast led into the final day, taking a 12-point buffer following the pool-based comp.

In the end, it was a comfortable 150-point win for Sunshine Coast over South Coast.