Showing off top talents
Why the nationals have gone to another standard yet again
WHAT a sensational week it has been on the Gold Coast for the Australian Surf Lifesaving Championships.
With 6500 competitors from more than 200 clubs all around Australia, and over 400 events, it really is a magnificent sight.
In fact it’s comparable in numbers to the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.
There is such a rich history in surf lifesaving and some of the absolute legends of the sport were in action on Monday and Tuesday.
Guy Andrews won the 45-49 ironman and Grant Kenny won the 55-59, almost 40 years after winning the youth and open titles at the Aussies.
The future of the sport is also tremendously bright.
There were more than 1000 under-14 and 15 competitors in youth events last weekend at North Burleigh and their skills and sportsmanship were inspiring to watch.
Open competition began on Wednesday at Broadbeach and we have a huge weekend of finals ahead.
These athletes are the best surf competitors in the world and it is the perfect opportunity for locals to get down and cheer them on.
Shannon Eckstein, one of the greatest surf lifesavers of all time, will have his last crack at Aussies as a professional and the eight-time Australian ironman champion from Northcliffe is looking for a fairytale finish.
He won his quarter-final yesterday and is building towards Sunday’s final.
Ali Day (Surfers Paradise) and Matt Bevilacqua (Kurrawa) also won their quarters and Matt Poole (Kurrawa) is racing well.
The Gold Coast ironwomen are looking to bring the title home ahead of Lana Rogers (Noosa Heads).
The poor surf conditions and weather meant a delay in some of the open and under-19 women’s racing which will continue today and tomorrow at North Kirra. The under-17 men’s and women’s events and all surfboat competitions will also be relocated.
The form athletes of the summer have been Georgia Miller and Maddy Dunn, with fellow Northcliffe teammate Courtney Hancock getting back to her best.
There will be nothing in it and anyone in that final could win on the day.
The event that every club wants to win is the Taplin relay which confirms the club with the best depth.
Currumbin are the defending champions for the men and Noosa Heads for the women.
Gold Coasters should head down to Broadbeach and Kirra to watch all the action and enjoy the Broadbeach Festival Zone. The live stream on the SLSA Facebook page is fantastic viewing, but with plenty of seating right on the edge of the competition arenas it is best to see it live. It won’t disappoint.