NSW Surf Life Saving 2022: why decision made to cancel championships on northern beaches

NSW floods and shocking weather have combined to cause chaos at the NSW surf life saving titles to date. Now officials have made a big call on the fate of the championships.

Amanda Lulham

@amandalulham

3 min read

March 7, 2022 - 1:26PM

NewsLocal

The opening stages of the NSW surf life saving titles were impacted by weather and sickness but there was still plenty of happy winners in the younger age group.

Local Sport

Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.

Surf Life Saving NSW has cancelled the remainder of the state championships - with the exception of the land-based First Aid Competition - due to the weather, big swells, water quality and amount of volunteers involved in flood rescue.

The state body said the decision has been made “in the interests of competitor safety and wellbeing’.

The event was to have resumed on Friday with competition including open racing.

“In considering the impact that the recent and continuing extreme rainfall has had on water quality and clarity, the impact that large swells have had on the beaches as well as a forecast for hazardous surf conditions for the remainder of this week, it was the strong recommendation from the Championship Safety Committee that it would not be safe to proceed with the event,’’ a statement read.

“SLSNSW had been hopeful that the original postponement of the Open and Masters events would allow the championships to continue and we are extremely disappointed that despite the best efforts of everyone involved in the planning and conduct of the championships, it is clear that the weather will not improve sufficiently, nor is the beach environment safe from the past two weeks of extreme rainfall.’’

NSW ironman Kendrick Louis in the recent Nutri-Grain Ironman Series.

SLSNSW said the involvement of key volunteers in the flood rescue effort has put a significant strain on the ability to ensure the required level of water safety is in place for the event.

Only the land based First Aid Competition later this month will proceed to allow for results that determine entry into the Australian Championships.

After cancelling or postponing youth, masters and open event in the last week, NSW surf life saving officials made the decision to can the event on Monday morning.

The weather made life tough but couldn't dampen spirits on day one of the NSW titles.

LAST WEEK: Some of NSW’s top young surf lifesavers will miss competing at the state championships this year as officials work to juggle the schedule of the state championships to get some racing in for older athletes.

Wild weather, flooding, a gastro outbreak and forecast dangerous sea conditions have combined into a perfect storm of schedule chaos for organisers.

Officials said the youth championship racing, cancelled due to an outbreak of gastro on the weekend affecting both competitors and spectators, will not be rescheduled at this stage.

Queenscliff life savers Keller, 9, Halle, 9, John, 9, Carla, 9, Vicky, 8, and Juno, 8.

A spike in the swell and dangerous sea conditions forecast from Wednesday through to Sunday has also forced major changes to the annual event being held on Sydney’s northern beaches.

The masters water competition, due to be held early this week, has been postponed with a date to be considered.

But beach events will be raced this Sunday along with march past.

The entire open water program for the open championships has been moved to March 11-13.

This was the run with the surfboats which were scheduled to complete at this time originally.

But this coming Saturday will see a day of under 17 to open beach events go ahead, including relays and beach sprints around North Steyne, Queenscliffe and Freshwater.

North Cronulla members Lucy Watkins, 10, Michaela Jenkins, 10 and Isla Renshaw 10. Pic: Darren Leigh Roberts last week.

The most impacted were the 13, 14 and 15 age groups due to race last weekend but forced off the sand by a gastro outbreak.

Shocking conditions and big surf are forecast to hit the coastline this week including 4m swell on Thursday.

“The Competition Committee has met and reviewed the forecast for the week ahead and there is to be ongoing significant rainfall which will continue to affect water quality,’’ NSW surf life saving said.