Beach Events

Beach Sprint

This event is exactly what it sounds like – an individual event where competitors sprint along a beach track towards the finish line.

Track lengths for the beach sprint (and beach relay) will vary depending on the age of competitors:

70M for U8 – U14 and Masters.

90M for U15 – Open.

Beach Relay

Teams of four members will run in ‘shuttle fashion’ using a piece of rubber hose (or similar) as a baton, which is passed from member to member. The race is conducted over the same length course as the beach sprint, with the first team home with the baton declared the winner.

Beach Flags

Competitors lie face down in the sand and – upon the whistle blast – jump to their feet, turn around and sprint before diving for a rubber baton located in the sand. Beach flags is a knock-out event (similar to musical chairs) whereby there is always one baton less than competitors per heat. One competitor is dropped each round until there is only one remaining, who is declared the winner.

Speed and reaction time are important to ensure you can grab a ‘flag’ or else you will be eliminated. Track lengths for the beach flags varies depending on the age of competitors:

15M for U8 – U14 and Masters

20M for U15 – Opens.

Water Events

Ski

The ski (and board) events are often referred to as craft events; as such they are contested in the ‘craft area’ at a surf carnival. A surf boat is also considered a surf craft event, however is conducted in a separate arena to board and ski.
There are many variations of ski events, including male or female, mixed, single or double and a multitude of relays. These are briefly outlined below. You must be 16 years or older to compete in ski events.
All events involve paddling a fibreglass ski from the beach, through the break and around a defined course (set by buoys) and back to the waters edge, crossing the finishing line. Up to sixteen competitors or teams may compete in a single heat.

Ski Race

Competitors will paddle a ski around the ski course, with the race conducted over a minimum distance of 300M from knee-deep water. Double ski competitors will paddle approx 50M further.
Divisions for the double and single ski include Men’s and Women’s in Open, U19 and Masters (see Masters). The double ski is also conducted as a mixed event in the Open division.

Ski Relay

This event consists of a team of three paddlers completing the ski course over a distance of approx 300M each. Upon returning to the beach the competitors who complete the first and second legs will tag the next person, with the third crossing the finish line to finish the race.
Divisions for the ski relay include Open, U19 and Masters (see Masters). There is no double ski relay.

Board

Divisions include Men’s and Women’s in Open, U19, U17, U15 and also Masters. This is an individual event whereby a competitor must complete the board course, conducted over a distance of approx 250M.

Board Rescue

Divisions include Men’s and Women’s in Open, U19, U17, U15 and also Masters. Each team consists of two members – one swimmer and one board paddler. On the start, the swimmer or ‘patient’ enters the water and swims to a buoy, where a raised hand signal is given for the board paddler to enter the water and rescue the swimmer. Once the swimmer is reached, they climb onto the board, and together both competitors paddle the board back to the beach, aiming to crossing the finish line first.

Board Relay

Divisions include Men’s and Women’s in Open, U19, U17, U15 and also Masters.

This event consists of a team of three paddlers completing the board course, conducted over a distance of approx 250M each. Upon returning to the beach the competitors who complete the first and second legs will tag the next person, with the third crossing the finish line to finish the race.

Swimming

Surf Race

In these races competitors sprint from the starting line on the beach into the surf where they swim around a set of coloured buoys and return to shore. The finish line is located between two flags about 15M up from the beach, meaning competitors need to sprint from the water to the line.

Divisions for the surf race include Open, U19, U17, U15 and also Masters (see Masters). Race distance is 170M for U15 – Open, and 120M for Masters.

Belt Race

This exciting event has teams consisting of one beltman, supported by four linesmen. Using a traditional surf reel, line and belt, the objective is to be the first beltman to reach the swimming buoys at a minimum distance of 120M.

The linesmen ‘pay the line out’ as required by the beltman, being careful not to allow too much rope which will slow the swimmer down with excess weight, or to cut it too short causing the swimmer to be stopped mid-stroke. The belt swimmer wins the race by reaching his can first.

Divisions for the belt race include Open and U19.

Tube Rescue

Teams consist of four members – one patient, one tube swimmer and two rescuers. The race involves the patient either swimming or being dropped out to a buoy, who must be returned to shore using tube rescue techniques.

At the starting gun, the tube swimmer dons a rescue tube and fins, swims out to the patient and attaches the tube before swimming back to shore. Upon the tube being attached to the patient, the two rescuers must also swim out to the buoys and assist the patient back to shore. When reaching the shore, the patient is dragged up to the finish line and the first team to successfully rescue the patient wins.

IRB

The Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) is the fastest and most manoeuvrable piece of rescue equipment used by surf lifesavers.

The Wamberal SLSC IRB racing team is made up of our clubs finest drivers and crews. The team is always looking for more people.

The events Wamberal competes in are the Rescue, Tube Rescue, Mass and Teams, spread across 4 divisions, Under 21’s, Women’s, Men’s and 35 Plus.

The basic procedure for IRB racing is for crews and their IRBs to start from near the shore, proceed out to the turning buoys, retrieve the patients on the seaward side of the buoys and then return to shore. The main aim of IRB racing is to improve the skills and abilities of IRB drivers and members required for successful rescue operations.

For more information on how to become part of the IRB competition team, please contact [email protected].

Board Riding

Wamberal SLSC has a proud tradition in Board Riding. Divisions include Men’s and Women’s in Open, U19, U17 and U15 as well as Masters. There is surfing in both short boards and Mal’s.

The judging objective is to assess the rider’s style, skill and ability to make full use of the wave being ridden, by their performance in wave selection for quality and size and for the longest time at the fastest speed using the widest range of manoeuvres in the most critical section(s) of the wave.

This event sees individual competitors vying for a score out of ten (10), based on their performance while riding a surf board. The length of each round is between 15 – 30 minutes, or until the maximum number of waves has been caught by the competitor, being 10 waves.

Surf Boats

A boat crew consist of five competitors, four “rowers” and a “sweep” who controls the boat by using a sweep oar. Boat crews start at the water’s edge holding their boats ready. On the starting signal, crews row around their assigned turning buoy situated approximately 400metres off shore and return to the beach. The winner is the first crew to pass their boat between the finish flags on the beach.

MASTERS

Members over the age of thirty (30) years are entitled to compete in specific ‘age category’ events. Masters carnivals are often held separately or in conjunction with other surf carnivals. Additionally the State and Australian Masters Championships are held prior to their respective Open events every year. Masters events are conducted generally under the same rules and conditions as Open disciplines, the only difference being the age category limitations such as 30-35 years, or for team events, 160 years (combined team minimum age) and so forth.