Surf Lifesaving Carnivals
Gold Coast Surf Lifesaving Carnivals & Championships
Surf Life Saving is recognised as the most effective surf rescue service in the world. Surf Sports play a key role in improving lifesaving skills, fitness and motivation.
This summer Queensland's top lifesavers will line up across the state to take on the surf and sand, promising to be the most exciting season of sport on the beach. Young and old, professionals and beginners alike, will come together at a beach near you, delivering an thrilling carnival that you won't want to miss.
Best of all its free - all you have to do is find you spot on the beach or under a tree, and your in for a day at the beach that you'll never forget.
Click here if you require SLS accommodation
Nippers
There are now over 40,000 junior surf life savers (Nippers) in Australia. Children can join the program from as young as seven years old. The aim of the junior program is to give children surf awareness and surf safety skills so that they can keep themselves safe at the beach.
They can also participate in board paddling, surfing, swimming, running, wading and other fun activities and games. These are the skills that allow children to compete in club, regional and state surf life saving carnivals.
Juniors
After 'Nippers', the Juniors program (aged 13 - 15) sees children learn various rescue techniques and gain surf rescue certificates. This is a pathway to getting their 'Bronze Medallion', participating in beach patrols and developing into patrolling lifesavers.
The spirit of competition - Ironmen & Ironwomen
As well as the vital community service Australia's life savers perform, they also engage in regular competition to maintain their skills and fitness.
These competitions are known as surf carnivals. They showcase an array of surf life saving disciplines and involve three main areas of competition - beach events, surf swimming events and surf craft events.
The pinnacle of surf life saving competition is the LightIce Australian Surf Life Saving Championships. Held over four days on the Gold Coast in Queensland, the championships attract more than 7,500 competitors ranging from veteran greats of the surf to young champions in the making, as well as established stars like Olympic kayaking gold medallist Clint Robinson.