Lifesaving sport season begins

LIFESAVERS and athletes of all ages will be participating in the coming summer season of sport carnivals up and down the Victorian coast, which started on Saturday with the Rosebud Endurance Surf Boats Carnival.

“Our youngest nippers across the state are working hard towards their very first lifesaving sport competitions and at the other end of the scale the masters will put on a show of their expertise built up over a lifetime of competing,” Life Saving Victoria sports director Rachael Rylance said.

“One thing’s for sure, spectators of all events will be guaranteed an exciting display from the first surf boat event at Sorrento in October and ending with the junior and senior state championships down the coast at Warrnambool and Apollo Bay in March.”

The beach carnivals will see lifesavers battle it out in the surf and sand in countless events, including beach sprints, beach flags, ski, board races and the iconic ironman and woman, drawing as many as 1,000 young participants for the final day of friendly competition.

Coming local events include a surf boats carnival at Lorne SLSC on November 5, state team trials at Torquay SLSC on November 26, a surf boats carnival at Jan Juc SLSC on December 3 and a junior carnival at Cosy Corner on January 5.

“Not only are the competitors great athletes, but they also know valuable surf lifesaving skills,” Ms Rylance said.