High hopes for event despite clash

MAROOCHYDORE Surf Life Saving Club head coach Clint Robinson says the organisation is hoping to make its annual carnival one of the biggest in the state.

There will be plenty of action at Maroochydore Beach this weekend. Picture: Cade Mooneycm

MAROOCHYDORE Surf Life Saving Club head coach Clint Robinson says the organisation is hoping to make its annual carnival one of the biggest in the state.

Some of the state’s best junior and senior surf lifesavers will head to Maroochydore this weekend for the Maroochydore Junior Surf Carnival and Maroochy Surf Classic Senior Carnival.

Robinson, a former Olympian, says Maroochydore is in a rebuilding phase with its annual event, which happens to coincide with the first round of the Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Series on the Gold Coast.

“I still believe there’ll be quite a few people despite the Kellogg’s being on,” he said yesterday.

“With consistent swell and a decent forecast, there should still be a fair bit of surf around for the event.

“It’s one of the biggest carnivals on the Sunshine Coast. From a timing point of view it’s difficult, but it gives everyone a good lead into the season.

“We’re hoping to boost the interest and then maybe push it back a bit over the next few years.”

Juniors up to under-14s will compete in a range of events today, and 15-year-olds up to masters will take to the water and sand tomorrow.

Robinson said he was expecting the ski paddling races to be some of the most hotly contested of the season.

“It’ll be interesting to see who shows up and the majority of good ski paddlers will be there because there aren’t too many over events on at the moment,” he said.

Actions starts at 8am on both days and will include ski, board, swim, relay and ironman races, among others.

Most competitors will be from South-East Queensland.

MAROOCHYDORE CARNIVAL

Westpac Maroochydore Junior Surf Carnival – today from 8am

Maroochy Surf Classic Senior Surf Carnival – tomorrow from 8am

Originally published as High hopes for event despite clash