Competition
Surf Life Saving is recognised as the most effective surf rescue service in the world. Competition assists the lifesaving movement to sustain this title. Competition has a key role in improving lifesaving skills, fitness and motivation. From age 7, competitors compete in a range of aquatic and beach events designed to promote fitness and surf skills at all levels.
Venus Bay competes in a number of competitions each year and is renown for its competitiveness in IRB racing. Teams train regularly during the season and the club competes in summer competitions as well as winter competitions. There are 8 different events that Venus Bay compete in and training is available for all of these. Members have the opportunity to compete in club, state and national competitions.
Description of Surf Carnival Events
IRONMAN/IRONWOMAN
This is the ultimate test of a lifesaver's skill and fitness as these races push fitness and endurance to the limit! This event involves a swim leg of over 250 metres, a surf board paddling leg of around 300 metres and a surf ski paddle leg of over 350 metres. The transition between each leg is a 40 metre sprint and the race to the finish line is a 50 metre sprint.
SURF RACE
Males and female lifesavers contest this event in individual and
team categories with up to 50 competitors in each event, starting on the
beach. The course is 200m out to sea and then 40m around a triangular
set of buoys. The finish is located about 20m up the beach.
SURF SKI
Surf ski events are conducted in four categories: the single ski, double
ski, mixed double ski and the ski relay. Paddlers circumnavigate three
buoys and race back to the water's edge. Race distances vary from about
700 to 750 metres in length depending on surf conditions.
BOARD RACE
Competitors race on 3.2 metre fibreglass boards out through the break, around a set of three buoys and back to the water's edge. Competitor's then run up the beach with their board to the finish line. The race length can vary from 650 metres to over 700 metres.
BOARD RESCUE RACE
The board rescue event features a swimmer and a board paddler in a simulated
rescue. The swimmer swims to the cans, waves to the paddler who must then
reach the cans, pick up the swimmer and return to shore. Both competitors
must carry the board across the finish line.
BEACH SPRINT/RELAYS
Competitors race over a distance of 90 metres in soft or hard sand. Teams
of four runners make up a relay team and in shuttle fashion over the same
course as the beach sprint with team members using a piece of rubber hose
as the baton.
BEACH FLAGS
This is an aggressive knock-out event where competitors, who lie face
down on the sand prior to the starter's whistle, sprint 20 metres before
diving for a rubber baton located in the sand. One competitor drops out
each round until only one person remains.
IRB EVENTS
The Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) is the fastest and most manoeuvrable
piece of rescue equipment used by surf lifesavers. It also provides the
'prop' for some of the most exciting competition. There are four
major types of IRB races. They are
Tube Rescue, Teams Rescue, Mass Rescue and Surf Rescue
