Surf sports action under way on Surf Coast

THERE’S action in and out of the water on the Surf Coast this summer, with the event season raring to go.

One of the next events will be the Tim Gates Classic Fun Run, which is expected to draw a field of more than 600 participants to Fairhaven SLSC this Sunday.

The five-kilometre walk/run and 10-kilometre run along the beach from 11am will be started by Isabel Huntington, the number 1 draft pick in the 2017 AFLW draft as well as a member of the Fairhaven SLSC and an ex-Nipper.

The community event raises funds for the Tim Gates Foundation, established in the memory of Fairhaven SLSC member Tim Gates, who died in a surfing accident at Fairhaven beach in 2008.

The foundation raises and administers funds to support young surf lifesavers to learn, further their skills, and compete in the surf and on the beach. To enter, head to timgatesfoundation.org.au.

Up-and-coming lifesaver talent will be on show in Torquay tomorrow (Friday), with Torquay SLSC hosting the annual Nippers Carnival at Cosy Corner from 9am. The event, which draws thousands of Nippers and spectators to the beach, is the second state carnival of the season. Tomorrow and Saturday will also see the holding of the Bells Bash Cliff Run and Danger 1000 swim respectively.

Next weekend will see both Torquay and Fairhaven host some of Australia’s best surf sports athletes.

On January 12, the Torquay SLSC will host the Surf Coast Times Jim Wall Ironman – Australia’s longest running ironman event and this year a qualifier for the final of the Nutri-Grain Ironman Series race, to be held two days later (January 14) at Fairhaven SLSC as part of round four of the national Ocean6 Series.

To enter, head to torquayslsc.com.au.

The same weekend will see the next instalment in the Lorne Pier to Pub, which is in its 38th year and still holds the title of the largest ocean water swim in the world. Entries for the Pier to Pub on January 13 have closed but people can still secure a spot for the Mountain to Surf fun run on January 12. To enter, head to lornesurfclub.com.au.