Young guns shine at Australian surf lifesaving titles, past members remembered in emotional ceremony
There was a moving tribute, some history and stunning performances from rising stars and big names on a great day at the Australian Surf Lifesaving Championships. Latest news
Sunshine Coast
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Rain, wind and wild surf didn’t dampen day eight of the Australian surf life saving championships with teenage champions crowned and crucial finals spots snared ahead of Sunday’s finale.
Former clubbies were honoured, home tactics proved the difference, female stars paved the way and rising stars etched their names in Aussies history.
It was also the day surf life saving introduced a revolutionary race division to the championships.
With key finals less than 24 hours away, the tension has risen as the key competitors hope to stand tall.
Some of the highlights below.
Former club member and lifesaver honoured in emotional minute silence
Bondi stabbing victims Jade Young and Ashley Good were honoured in a moving beach ceremony on Saturday on the Sunshine Coast when surf lifesavers from around the country gathered at the Australian championships and paused for a minutes tribute to life savers who have passed away in the last 12 months.
Young was a popular member of the Bronte surf life saving club and was one of the six Bondi Junction stabbing victims.
Ashley Good was a former Mooloolaba and Noosa surf lifesaver who died trying to save her baby.
“We are a very close knit community and we are feeling this. Our 200,000 people are feeling it deeply as part of the surf family,’’ said Surf Life Saving Australia president John Baker, who reached out to Bronte SLC president Basil Scaffidi to offer condolences and any help needed in the wake of the tragedy.
The women died when Joel Cauchi went on a rampage in the Westfield shopping complex at Bondi Junction, sending shockwaves around the world.
Further down the beach surfboat rowers gathered for the annual Raising of the Oars to honour their comrades and fellow life savers who have passed away.
The Australian surf life saving championships conclude after eight days of competition on Sunday on the Sunshine Coast.
Home beach tactics prove vital in emotional female final
She looked to be fading out of the front pack but Alexandra Headland star Sive Gibson swooped her competition late thanks to some terrific pre-race planning.
Gibson, who took out the under 17 female surf race, thanked her coach Jack Hanson for his
“Jack had watched all the races before the final and his main message to myself and the other girls was to try and align ourselves with the bank,” she said.
“When we turned for home the leaders were in front of me so I popped my head up, looked towards the huge yellow scaffolding and when I went down that wave I just tried to hold it as long as I could.
“Once I popped out of the gutter I saw the girls all to the right of me and knew I had to run a bit further.
“I just sprinted as hard as I could and it definitely pays to have trained here in the last few months and years.”
The rising local star was overcome with emotion after the race.
“There’s so many amazing people that have supported me, my parents, my coaches and all of my Alex teammates that have pushed me along,” she said.
“I’m a bit teary because I honestly can’t believe it, it’s a very special feeling.”
All smiles for surf life savings' newest heroes
It’s been rated one of the most significant moments in Australian surf life saving history and the first ever inclusive racing at the famous annual championships has won the hearts and souls of competitors, supporters and the crowd.
For the first time since the inaugural Aussies back in 1915, adaptive events were raced at the 2024 Sunshine Coast event and proved a big hit and won over a new legion of fans.
Surf life saving took advice on how to set up the competition to bring out the best in their athletes with mats put down for wheelchair access, sensory quiet zones set up and guides and handlers available if they were needed to make surf life saving “a happy place’’.
“Thanks for having us surf life saving,’’ said Max Letizia from Sorrento in WA after his beach sprint.
Open duo claim unique back-to-back title
Newport pair Tom Doyle and Luke Chaffer claimed their second straight gold medal in the open male board rescue, a feat that had only been achieved twice before them.
“It’s so special to go back to back, it’s such a tough race to win and it’s very alley based but it was quite even today,” Doyle said.
“We had a good start and we paddle well together so we just had to nail the get on.”
The boys were able to snag the first wave in to shore, closely followed by seven or eight opposition teams.
“I was looking around, I could see a lump in front of us which was a bit of a double up so we were able to stand up first and maybe even started celebrating a bit too early,” Chaffer said.
“It got deep quick but we got through well and stoked to get the win.
“I think board rescue is one of the hardest races to win from under 11s all the way to opens so to be able to do it twice now is unreal.”
Burleigh swim team gold
It was a swim coaches delight in the open female surf teams final with 30 per cent of the field representing the powerhouse outfit of Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park.
Despite Charlotte Cross winning the event it was the quartet of Brielle Cooper, Claudia-Rose Slaven, Lily O’Sullivan and Jasmine Rayward that took home the gold.
Cooper, 25, said this gold medal was a definite club and personal highlight.
“It’s really tricky conditions out there today, the swim especially has gotten really long over the past few days,” she said.
“I’ve been trying to win this one for my entire career.
“I hadn’t got it yet but in working with the Burleigh girls for the past four odd years this has made the victory extra special.”
Cooper said she was excited for the future of female surf lifesaving.
“Having three teams from Burleigh meant there were 12 opportunities for our girls, Charlotte in our B team had an outstanding swim but I’m so proud of everyone and tactics definitely proved the key to our success,” she said.
“The depth we have in the open female and teenage ranks is something I’m extremely proud of and it will only continue to grow in the next few years.”
The Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park B team finished in fifth spot while the C team finished 10th.
Rising Newport duo no match for ‘bumpy’ swim finals
Newport duo Pipi Te Pania and Oliva Clues were on fire on Saturday morning helping the under-19 and under-17 female surf teams to gold medal victories.
The two 17-year-old’s helped Kimberley Doyle and Sarah Lock in the U19s before backing up for Dominique Melbourn and Charlie Barbour in the U17s
The NSW based club were able to overcome local threats Alexandra Headland and Maroochydore and Clues said she was proud of her team's efforts.
“The conditions were bumpy and the wind is picking up a bit but it’s still okay,” she said following the U17 victory.
“When I stood up and saw the three Newport caps in front of me I was smiling but you never know with these team events so I knew I just had to push as hard as I could for the line.
“I’m very happy with two golds to start the day but my main focus is to keep the momentum rolling throughout the day and for Sunday.”
Double delight for rising NSW star
Swansea Belmont and the wider surf lifesaving community have a certain star on their hands with Kaitlin Rees showing her class in the under-17 female division on Saturday morning.
Rees was able to win the ironwomen and board race final and her support team could be heard from opposite ends of the beach.
Newport’s Pipi Te Pania finished second in both the ironwomen and board race final while Zoe Woods (Alexandra Headland) and Tully Elliott (Redhead) secured bronze medals in their respective finals.
MORE TO COME
Originally published as Young guns shine at Australian surf lifesaving titles, past members remembered in emotional ceremony
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