Interstates surf life saving 2023: NSW, Qld, SA, VIC, Tasmania, WA athletes to watch
NSW and Queensland might not have it all their own way at the Interstates surf lifesaving titles on Monday with a host of swim stars and world champs representing rival states. Who to watch
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The powerhouse states of surf lifesaving could well be in for a shock at the Interstates with rival teams armed with the personnel to pull off some big upsets at the Maroubra event on Monday.
The Surf Life Saving Australia Interstates are one of the biggest events in the sport with state pride on the line as athletes showcase their life saving skills and fitness.
From ironman and ironwomen racing to beach sprints, flag racing and rescue events, the Interstates throw the spotlight on our best and brightest surf life savers.
And while NSW and Queensland athletes dominate the elite side of the sport, there are plenty of athletes from rival states ready to make a mark - and potentially cause some major upsets at Maroubra on Monday.
Tasmania has an unusual team as it boasts five sets of sets of brothers and sister.
There are also world champions, rising stars of swimming and stars of the Nutri-Grain ironman and ironwoman series competing.
NSW SURF LIFE SAVERS TO WATCH AT INTERSTATES
The host state has two established stars along with a rising star headlining their team.
Nutri-Grain ironman Jackson Borg and ironwoman Lizzie Welborn from Newport are both set to race as is youngster Connor Maggs, now on the series full-time after taking up a position vacated by an injured athlete.
Also in the team is Mollymook’s Sam Zustovich, the beach flag champion at the last Australian surf life saving championships, and North Cronulla speedster Alex Rampoldi.
Joining them are Redhead’s Lani Waller, star at the inter branch championships and a rising star of the sport and Noah Maggs, the younger brother of Connor from Sydney’s northern beaches.
He has been dominating swimming events at recent surf carnivals and is one to watch in the future.
Alexis Sutherland from Cooks Hill is also competing. At Aussies 2022 she was one of only two competitors in the country to place in the top six in each individual water event.
Sutherland also cleanswept individual water events at the Hunter Branch championships.
QUEENSLAND SURF LIFE SAVERS TO WATCH AT INTERSTATES
Queensland is a team always bursting with talent and includes some of the best young athletes in the sport, including pathway and youth athletes Bianca and Jasmine Rayward from BHMP.
Jasmine is a multi-talented athlete and a member off the Australian World Youth team.
She has also just moved up from the U15 age group to compete in U17 and U19 events.
Her busy schedule will include the U19 Female Double Ski, Open Mixed Double Ski, Open Female Double Ski, U17 Female Single Ski, U17 Ironwoman, U19 Board Rescue, U17 2km Ocean Swim, U17 and U19 Female Taplin, U17 and U19 Board Relay, U17 Surf and Board Races, and various beach events.
The Queensland team also boasts Currumbin’s Elizabeth Forsyth, the current world open flag champion (2018-2022) and 2022 world beach sprint champion 2022.
Some of their leading males include pathway athletes Byron Oliphant from Alex Headlands and Australian world youth team members Riley Brennan (youth) and Callum Brennan (open) from Currumbin.
SOUTH AUSTRALIAN SURF LIFE SAVERS TO WATCH AT INTERSTATES
One of South Australias’s best is Somerton’s Jordi McMillan, an up-and-coming sprinter who ran a junior world qualifying time last year.
Another to watch for is Seacliff’s Tom May who pushed surf legend Ali Day hard in the first leg of the last Coolangatta Gold before finishing sixth. he is also one of SA’s top ski paddlers and iron athletes.
Clancy Luscombe is expected to make a splash in the water as of top junior swimmer who raced for Australia at the FINA world junior open water swim championships in 2022.
Harry Pearce from Port Elliot SLSC’s is from a regional club and a beach sprinter with Glenelg’s Lachlan Larven the recipient of an SLSA National Rescue Medal last year for a significant rescue.
VICTORIAN SURF LIFE SAVERS TO WATCH AT INTERSTATES
Victoria has a host of athletes to watch including open athletes Brayden Casamento (board), James Porter (ski), Jorden Merrilees (swim), Grace Harris (Board/Iron), Hannah Schmidt (swim) and Em Carty (beach).
The under 17 and pathway athletes to watch are Will Richards (ski), Hudson Pierce (board), Aston Roberts (swim/iron), Paige Holt (swim), Mia Cook (board), Jemma Holt (board),
Charlie Farrell (board), Will Newton (swim), Harry Scurrah (beach), Sophie Jacka (swim), Katie Gorvett Page (swim) and Zoe McKenna (iron).
TASMANIAN SURF LIFE SAVERS TO WATCH AT INTERSTATES
The Tasmania team stands out for the number of family members racing;
Mary (Open team), Cate (Youth team) and Anna (Pathways team) Clingeleffer from Clifton Beach.
James (Youth team) and Laura (Pathways team) Fullarton from Clifton Beach.
Cooper (Open Team) and Jordy (Pathways team) Armitstead from Port Sorell.
Lachlan (Open team) and Will (Pathways team) Mackinnon from Carlton Park
Phoebe (Open team) and Alex (open team) Woodhouse.
Athletes to watch from Tasmania including open competitor Cooper Armitstead, ski paddler Phoebe Woodhouse, youngster Cate Clingeleffer, board specialist Oceania Eustace,
Jackson Lawson (craft), Sam Castle (swim and board) and pathways athletes Jordy Armitstead (water), Will Mackinnon (water), Graci Malley (swim) and Ethan Leary (beach).
WESTERN AUSTRALIAN SURF LIFE SAVERS TO WATCH AT INTERSTATES
Western Australian officials have identified a number of their guns to watch at the event in
Brodie Lee (U17), Danniel Humble (Open), Imogen Herrington (Open), Matt Colliss (Open), Megan McCaffrey (U17), Olivia Doddy (U15), Selma Alibegovic (Open), Soraya Lee (Open),
Tana Wesley (U17) and Tom Nolan (Open).
Olivia Doddy is the lone athletes from country WA, representing the City of Bunbury and a top water athletes.
Perth’s Megan McCaffrey is well-credentialed as the WA Open beach sprint champion and the reigning WA U17 board race champion.
Mullaloo SLSC’s Soraya Lee excels in swim and iron races with Trigg Island veteran Daniel Humble excepted to shine in the open ski.
Tom Nolan is also a veteran and will be competing in the beach arena with Jazmin Shipway-Carr, the state surf ski champion and a finalist in the open ski at the Aussies.
Imogen Herrington is an Aussies beach medallist and Tana Wesley a rising star of sprinting.
Brodie Lee is a top young talent in the water and Tighe O’Toole, from the City of Perth club, is the reigning U13 WA ironman champion.
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