Carnival Events
All Bronze Medallion members who wish to compete at carnivals must be registered, proficient, financial (seasonal carnival levy may apply), and have carried out the regulated number of patrol hours.
Beach Events
Beach sprint | competitors race on a straight sand course of approximately 70 – 90 metres to the finishing line.
Beach relay | teams of 4 competitors race on a straight sand course of approximately 70 – 90 metres with a baton, running one lap each. The final runner of a team over the finish line wins.
Beach flags | competitors start lying on their stomach facing away from a baton/s buried in the sand approximately 15 – 20 metres away. There is always less batons than competitors. On the starting gun, competitors rise, turn and race to secure a baton. The competitor(s) who fail to obtain a baton are eliminated. The process repeats until there is a single winner.
2 km beach run | competitors race on a sand course in four laps of 500 metres to total approximately 2 km.
Surf Craft Events
Single Surf Ski Race | from a floating start, competitors paddle their surf ski around three buoys and return to the finish line. The finish is judged when any part of the surf ski crosses the finish line with the competitor and their paddle all in contact.
Double Surf Ski Races | from a floating start, competitors (two per ski) paddle their ski around three buoys and return to the finish line. The finish is judged when any part of the ski crosses the finish line with both team members and at least one paddle in contact with the ski.
Surf Board Races | from the beach (standing start) each competitor enters the water with their surf board, paddles around all buoys and returns to the beach. The winner is judged by the first competitor to cross the finish line on their feet and in contact with their board.
Surf Board / Surf Ski Relay | teams of three competitors compete in a relay format over a course similar to the respective individual races. After rounding the buoys and returning to the beach the first competitor runs around two turning flags to tag the second competitor. The second competitor then completes the course and tags the final competitor. The race finishes when the final competitor rounds all buoys, returns to the beach and runs to the finish line.
Rescue and Resuscitation (R&R)
The Rescue and Resuscitation (R&R) competition provides the opportunity for SLSA members to demonstrate in a competitive manner some traditional rescue and resuscitation techniques used in Surf Life Saving.
Surf Boats
A boat crew consists of five competitors, four of whom are “rowers” and one a “sweep” who controls the boat by use of a sweep oar and commands to the rowers.
Boat crews start at the water’s edge holding their boats ready. On the starting signal, crews row around their assigned turning buoy situated approx 400 metres off shore and return to the beach. The winner is the first crew to pass their boat between the finish flags on the beach.
Swim Events
Surf Race | the Surf Race involves swimmers starting on the beach and then running, wading and swimming about 170 metres to sea to round as set of buoys and then return to the beach. The event concludes with a run finish to the flags placed on the beach.
Belt Race | the Surf Belt race involves the use of the surf reel, line and belt and is one of the most prestigious and traditional races in Surf Life Saving competition. The event begins on the beach with the swimmer placing the belt around their waist and towing a surf line out to their allocated buoy and signalling their finish. The Belt swimmer is assisted by three linesmen and a reel handler.
Rescue Tube Rescue race (four person) | the rescue tube rescue event features four team members: a patient, a rescue tube swimmer and two rescuers/assisters. The event commences with the patient swimming to their allocated buoy and signalling back to the beach. The rescue tube swimmer then swims to rescue the patient with the assistance of swimming fins and a rescue tube. Upon arrival at the buoy the rescue tube swimmer harnesses the patient into the tubes and swims back to the beach. As the rescue tube swimmer and patient approach the shore the two rescuers enter the water to assist in getting the patient across the finish line.
Rescue Tube Race (two person) | the two person rescue tube race is similar to the 4 person rescue tube rescue race except without the assistance of the two rescuers. The patient swims out to the buoy, signals the rescue tube swimmer who then swims out (with the assistance of fins), collects the patient and swims them back to the finish line on the beach.
Rescue Tube Race | the rescue tube race is contested on the same course as the surf belt race. When the race commences the competitors must run up the beach to collect their rescue tube, turn and race to the water and swim to their allocated buoy to signal their finish of the race.
Run-Swim-Run | this event is run across a normal swimming course with the competitors commencing the race by running approximately 200 metres to round a flag on the beach before embarking on a swim around a set of buoys and then back to the beach. Once the competitors complete the swim leg they must then run around the same flag as the start of the race and sprint to the finish.
Wading Race | the wade race is a popular amongst younger athletes and involves running out to an allocated turning mark at knee depth water and then the competitors may either wade, dive or swim along the beach to another marker before returning to the beach to run to the finish line.
Wading Relay | the wading relay is a four person event where competitors complete the wade race one at a time and tag the next person who then continues on. The race is completed once the fourth and final team member finishes the wading course and runs up the beach to the finish line.
