30-671: The Australian Surf Life Saving Championships known as The Aussies is the national Surf lifesaving championships for Australia. It is the largest surf lifesaving event in Australia and the largest event of its kind in the world. It is organised by Surf Life Saving Australia , and had been held annually since 1915. The first Australian Surf Life Saving Championships were held at Bondi Beach, New South Wales in March 1915. The first Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) Masters Championships took place in 1987. It has since become an annual event, providing
60-525: A competition cap with distinct colours or patterns. These are worn during competition and for training on the beach. The patrolled area of the beach is marked out with red and yellow flags and beachgoers are encouraged to swim between the flags. Those wishing to use surfcraft are required to remain outside the flags. In the UK, SLSGB has a long history of voluntary members patrolling local beaches, offering advice, first aid and rescue services. This continues today and
90-548: A final of 16 athletes. These are the blue ribbon events the Championships, and also the ones that attracts the most attention in terms of television and spectators on the beach. The events are typically the last events on the program, raced on a final day of competition. . Surf lifesaving Surf lifesaving is a multifaceted social movement that comprises key aspects of voluntary lifeguard services and competitive surf sport. Originating in early 20th century Australia ,
120-653: A land drill and 'reel test'. The first New Zealand National Champs where clubs were able to compete was held in 1922. The Surf Life Saving Great Britain (SLSGB) organisation was formed in 1955. Volunteer clubs patrolled beaches in England at Bude and St. Agnes in Cornwall and at Brighton , their aim to protect, rescue and resuscitate bathers. Voluntary organisations exist in Germany, such as DLRG and Wasserwacht . Lifesavers are volunteers that typically patrol in groups under
150-621: A land drill and 'reel test'. The first national champs where clubs were able to compete was held in 1922. Surf Life Saving in New Zealand continues to grow in size and there are now 74 affiliated surf clubs. Surf Life Saving New Zealand (SLSNZ) is the national association representing 74 Surf Life Saving Clubs in New Zealand. Around 19,000 people are members of SLSNZ. The 74 clubs are grouped for consultation and programme delivery purposes into local regions, and are supported by Surf Life Saving New Zealand staff. These new groupings were an outcome of
180-439: A patrol captain for a given period of time on weekend and public holidays under a roster system. In order to be a surf lifesaver a person must hold a Bronze Medallion or a Surf Rescue Certificate and pass an annual proficiency test. Lifesavers who are on patrol wear red and yellow cloth caps on the head. While not performing rescues they are also required to wear long-sleeve yellow shirts and red shorts to provide protection against
210-554: A platform for experienced surf life savers to showcase their skills and compete at a high level. Held at the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships every year, the Australian Ironman and Ironwoman Title is awarded to the winners of these events. The format is the same as for typical surf carnivals, a 10-to-20-minute race with a field of 150 competitors, which over several rounds of will be reduced to
240-432: Is 'In it for Life'. This refers to both the long relationship many members have with the organisation, as well as to the organisation's purpose of preventing drowning and injury, thereby saving lives. Specific New Zealand beaches are patrolled by qualified Surf Lifeguards from mid October until April each year. Red and Yellow flags indicate that a beach is patrolled by Surf Lifeguards. The area of water in between these flags
270-526: Is a vital service to the community. Many local authorities provide a lifeguard service from May to September on popular beaches. In some areas Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) Lifeguards operate on behalf of the local authority. The other key part of surf life saving is the competitive sport which evolved from the training activities of lifesavers at Australian and New Zealand surf beaches, though most events share little with modern Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) based surf rescue techniques. The sport
300-473: Is also the home of Piha Rescue . However Waipu Cove Surf Life Saving Club is notable for being the oldest club in the Northern region. Soon after the clubs were formed, rivalries developed and this led to the formation of competitions between the clubs and regions. By early 1912 competitions were being organised by Wellington's Maranui Club, with male members competing in squads of 8. The competitions consisted of
330-436: Is approximately $ 11m. SLSNZ does not charge a national membership levy, instead providing programmes and distributing over $ 2m each year to clubs. In 2020, it was announced that SLSNZ would receive $ 9.4m per year in government funding to support club operational expenses, club capital projects and replace high risk revenue streams. However, the full cost of running Surf Life Saving clubs is over $ 12 per annum and this contribution
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#1732876174333360-456: Is designated as the safest place to swim on the beach, as well as showing where Surf Lifeguards are patrolling. It is widely publicised that beachgoers should "Swim Between the Flags" in order to be safe while swimming in the ocean. Surf lifeguards are identifiable by their yellow shirts and red shorts. Surf Life Saving New Zealand is sponsored chiefly by BP, TSB, DHL and Lotto. In the early years of
390-646: Is still based on volunteer clubs which perform rescue duty, from children in the "nippers" category through to professional elite circuits that have been established for the high-profile "ironman" events. The sport is still mainly in Australia and New Zealand. However, the Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service in Canada has run the Nova Scotia Surf League competitions every summer since 2000, and competition programs exist in five regions of Canada. In Europe
420-487: Is the question of the first surf club — Bondi or Bronte. As this study has shown, the first group of organised lifesavers formed on Manly Beach in 1899. While moves on Bondi, Bronte and Manly in early 1907 saw the organisation of irregulars, it was the surf bathers of Bondi who first organised themselves as a formal club in February 1907.” The Bondi Surf Bathers' Life Saving Club was officially established on 21 February 1907, at
450-1150: The Royal Hotel in Bondi - as was recorded in the newspaper The East Sydney Argus , and in the Waverley Council minutes acknowledging receipt of a letter from the newly formed group. On 10 October 1907, the Surf Bathing Association of New South Wales (SBANSW) was founded with nine clubs and affiliated associations. The nine “foundation” clubs were the Royal Life Saving Society , Manly Surf Club , Bondi Surf Bathers' Life Saving Club, Coogee Surf Life Brigade ( Coogee Surf Life Saving Club ), Bronte Surf Brigade (Bronte Surf Lifesaving Club), Bondi Surf and Social Club ( North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club ), Tamarama Surf Club (later disbanded, however nowadays Tamarama Surf Life Saving Club ), Maroubra Surf Club ( Maroubra Surf Life Saving Club ), United Wanderers Surf Club, and Woollahra Surf Club. The first club outside of Sydney
480-416: The 2003-2004 season there were 24,968 active members (those who are rostered to patrol regularly), of which approximately 40% are women. In the 2003-2004 patrol season, lifesavers performed 9,044 rescues, provided emergency care to 26,739 patients, and undertook 171,965 preventive actions. Surf Life Savers provide important surf rescue services on beaches in Australia on weekends and public holidays throughout
510-680: The 20th century, the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association (NZASA) controlled the limited amount of life saving activity by explaining resuscitation methods and providing demonstrations at swimming club carnivals. The next step occurred in 1912 when the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) was formed during a conference, called by Canterbury, of all the head centres. The RLSS was established in Christchurch and remains there to this day. The first surf clubs began in
540-492: The SLSNZ structure, including more advanced lifesaving certificates, Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) qualifications, VHF radio and first aid qualifications. Volunteer lifeguards patrol beaches and work with the public to prevent people getting in trouble. In the summer of 2018/19 volunteers performed over 118,000 preventative actions during 237,000 hours of beach patrols. Sport events are held at club, regional and national level, and in
570-453: The age categories of Under 15, Under 17, Under 19 and Open. Events span the range of rescue skills and test competitors’ strength, fitness and agility in swimming, running, paddling a surf ski, board or canoe or rowing a surf boat. Racing Inflatable Rescue Boats is an increasingly popular part of the sport. SLSNZ's income is $ 6m a year derived from sponsorship, gaming machine grants and The NZ Lottery Grants Board. The organisation's total income
600-438: The beach throughout the year. Lifeguards also patrol lakes, pools, and other aquatic venues. Support Services also operate to augment the patrols on the beach by providing surveillance away from the flag areas and emergency back-up when required. Surf Lifesaving New Zealand Surf Life Saving New Zealand ( SLSNZ ) is the national association representing 74 Surf Life Saving Clubs in New Zealand. The organisation's motto
630-451: The beaches as lifesavers looking after public safety. There had been some debate between Manly Life Saving Club , Bronte Surf Lifesaving Club and Bondi Surf Bathers' Life Saving Club as to which was formed first. After a panel of SLSA historians reviewed all the documentation provided by each club in 2005, SLSA agreed that they recognise Bondi as the first surf life saving club. They stated “A hardy perennial in surf lifesaving history
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#1732876174333660-622: The membership voting in a new and bold constitution in September 2009, known as "Project Groundswell". In New Zealand, surf lifesaving is both a sport and a community service. To participate in either facet it is necessary to be a member of a club, and to have the ‘entry level’ qualification - the Surf Lifeguard Award, formerly the Bronze Medallion. There are a range of other surf lifeguard and surf related qualifications available through
690-597: The movement has expanded globally to other countries, including New Zealand , Ireland , South Africa , and the United Kingdom . Surf lifesavers in Australia are colloquially known as "Clubbies". Surf lifesaving originated in Australia in 1907 in response to drownings at local beaches in Sydney . Such groups became necessary following the relaxing of laws prohibiting daylight bathing on Australian beaches. Volunteer groups of men were trained in life saving methods and patrolled
720-462: The northern region, Piha Surf Life Saving Club was founded in 1934 and as such is the oldest club on Auckland's west coast and is the home of Piha Rescue . Soon after the New Zealand clubs were formed, rivalry began to take place which created the forming of competition between the clubs and regions. By early 1912 competitions were being organised by Wellington's Maranui Club, with male members competing in squads of eight. The competitions consisted of
750-414: The patrol season on a volunteer basis. In New South Wales the season coincides with the beginning of the September school holidays and finishes on ANZAC Day . They also provide year-round on-call volunteer rescue services in most areas known as Support Services. Lifesavers are distinguished in Australia from paid lifeguards which are generally employed by the relevant Local Government authority and patrol
780-813: The sport is increasingly developed, with Italy, Spain and Germany particularly strong and the UK, the Netherlands and Ireland developing rapidly. Surf life saving clubs regularly hold surf carnivals where clubs compete with each other in a range of beach- and rescue-oriented events including combined swimming and running, surf ski and surf boat races. The youth arm of the clubs is known as Nippers , and holds similar events. The various events involve elements of surf swimming, board riding, sand running, mock rescues using rowed surf boats, and paddling special kayak -like surf skis . Some events are for individuals, but many are team events. Individual surf lifesaving events include: Individual surf life saving clubs compete at
810-456: The state and national levels at the annual State Championships and Australian Surf Life Saving Championships where around 450 events are run over nine days of competition with over 6,000 competitors from around Australia and internationally. Surf lifesaving in Australia is well-developed as both a voluntary lifesaver service and as a competitive sport. There are 314 surf lifesaving clubs in Australia that collectively patrol over 400 beaches. In
840-451: The sun. Support Operations Lifesavers are required to wear the appropriate functional attire. This includes wetsuits for RWC (Rescue Water Craft) drivers, JRB/ ORB (jet and offshore rescue boat) crew and high visibility tabards for Duty Officers who liaise with other emergency services at major incidents. The crews of various Lifesaver helicopter services over the country wear appropriate aviation equipment. Each surf life saving club also has
870-456: The years 1909 to 1910 leading off with: Castlecliff (Wanganui), Lyall Bay ( Wellington ), New Brighton ( Christchurch ) and Worser Bay Wellington . Over the next few years other clubs formed, around five regions: Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Gisborne / Napier / New Plymouth and Wanganui . Piha Surf Life Saving Club was founded in 1934, and as such is the oldest club in Auckland. It
900-409: Was Kiama Surf Bather's Club, founded in 1908. The first New Zealand Surf Lifesaving Clubs began in the years 1909 to 1910 leading off with: Castlecliff (Wanganui), Lyall Bay (Wellington), New Brighton (Christchurch) and Worser Bay (Wellington). Within the next few years other clubs started forming around five regions: Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Gisborne/Napier/New Plymouth and Wanganui. In
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