Carnivals and competition are an excellent way of increasing fitness levels, surf skills, competition skills, developing self-esteem and confidence, sportsmanship and social skills as well as building team spirit.
A junior surf lifesaver choosing to compete, undertakes a training responsibility to themselves and teammates and also a desire to always perform at their best.
They represent themselves, their family and the Tugun Surf Lifesaving Club in the way they act, participate and compete and are role models for all of our members.
All Tugun Junior Surf Life Savers who complete their relevant pool swims, run swim run & award proficiency are eligible to compete at carnivals. It is important all children be allowed to enjoy the friendliness and rewards competition can bring without feeling pressured by parents in any way. All Tugun Nippers (having completed the relevant proficiencies) will be offered the opportunity to attend carnivals and compete, no matter what level of skill.
Team Days
Teams days will be every weekend prior to a carnival, or on selected weekends. Team events include: wade relay, swim team, board relay, board rescue, cameron relay, beach relay (please refer to the water section for details on these events).
Teams will be selected by a Selection Committee, comprising age managers, team manager and coaches. Team selection will be considered on the basis of the kids’ results from carnival days and attendance at training sessions, and as at the discretion of the Selection Committee. Any concerns with team selection should be addressed directly to the Junior Activities Committee.
State Titles
- WHO: State Titles is for under 11’s to under 14’s age group
- WHERE: Sunshine Coast
- WHEN: 16 – 19 February 2023
For kids to be eligible to compete at the State Titles there are requirement as per the state rules. This includes:
- all Under 11’s need to qualify for every event; details of the qualification number for each event can be sourced from your age manager or the team manager.
- The Under 12-14 age groups are required to qualify for the iron person events, this is the only individual event that they need to qualify for.
- All age groups need to qualify for team events, details of this can be sourced from the team manager.
For kids that have qualified for the State Titles, or have made the representative team for Tugun SLSC, each competitor will receive a state pack (cost to be advised).
In order to receive a significant discount for state packs all parents are required to undertake volunteer work around the club (for example being an official or water safety at carnivals, or working the BBQ).
Carnival Events
Surf Race: the Surf Race involves swimmers starting on the beach and then running, wading and swimming about 170metres to sea to round as set of buoys and then return to the beach. The event concludes with a run finish to the flags placed on the beach. Under 9 – 14
Surf Teams: teams consist of four member who must complete a surf race format, points are awarded in the order that the children return to the beach (e.g. 1st=1 point, 2nd=2points, etc.) the team with the lowest score wins. This race is different to the other team events in the sense that all competitors start the race together. Under 10 – 14
Wading Race: the wade race is popular amongst younger athletes and involves running out to an allocated turning mark at knee depth water and then the competitors may either wade, dive or swim along the beach to another marker before returning to the beach to run to the finish line. Under 8 – 10
Wading Relay: the wading relay is a four person event where competitors complete the wade race one at a time and tag the next person who then continues on. The race is completed once the fourth and final team member finishes the wading course. Under 8 – 10
Board Race: from the beach (standing start) each competitor enters the water with their surf board, paddles around all buoys and returns to the beach. The winner is judged by the first competitor to cross the finish line on their feet and in contact with their board. Under 10 – 14
Board Relay: teams of three competitors compete in a relay format over a course similar to the respective individual race. After rounding the buoys and returning to the beach the first competitor runs around two turning flags to tag the second competitor. The second competitor then completes the course and tags the final competitor. The race finishes when the final competitor rounds all buoys, returns to the beach and runs to the finish line. Under 10 – 14
Board Rescue: teams of two, which consists of a swimmer and board paddler. On the start signal the swimmer swims to the designated buoy, and raises their arm in the air for the paddler to see, the board paddler then paddles out to the can and retrieves the swimmer from behind the can. They then continue to paddle back to the beach together; the team must cross the line together both holding the board. Under 11-14
Iron Person: the premium event!! This is the ultimate test of a lifesavers fitness, skill and endurance, combining the swim leg, board leg and beach sprint. Under 11-14
Cameron Relay: team of 4 (swimmer, board paddler and two sprinters) the swimmer or board paddler starts the race and go around the designated bouys, they then return to the beach and tag the runner who runs around the two flags. This process is continued for the next two people in the team. The starter is determined by the toss of the coin. Under 11-14
Champion Lifesaver is an event that provides individuals with the opportunity to demonstrate the physical and mental skills required to be a lifesaver. Tugun SLSC has been a dominant competitor in this event for the last 3 seasons at both branch and state level. Champion Lifesaver competition is available for Under 14’s through to Opens age groups. This is a fairly quick competition with events only being held twice throughout the season, one for branch (qualifier for state) and state competition.
Beach sprint: competitors race on a straight sand course of approximately 70 – 90metres to the finishing line.
Beach relay: teams of 4 competitors race on a straight sand course of approximately 70 – 90metres with a baton, running one lap each. The final runner of a team over the finish line wins.
Beach flags: competitors start lying on their stomach facing away from a baton/s buried in the sand approximately 15 – 20metres away. There is always less batons than competitors. On the starting gun, competitors rise, turn and race to secure a baton. The competitor(s) who fail to obtain a baton are eliminated. The process repeats until there is a single winner.
R&R – stands for Rescue and Resuscitation; this is a competitive activity that provides members with the opportunity to demonstrate some traditional rescue and resuscitation techniques that have been used in Surf Life Saving for many years. Tugun SLSC has been very successful in R&R for many years, in both the two man and 5 man competition.
- Two Man R&R – this available to kids in the Under 11 age group up until Under 13’s. This competition requires two people (boy or girl) to compete in a team together and demonstrate rescue and resuscitation techniques to the judges.
- Five Man R&R – available for Under 14’s right through to Opens in senior competition. This form of competition requires a team of five people to compete together in a team and demonstrate rescue and resuscitation techniques to the judges. Each member of the team has a designated position and activity that needs to be conducted by him or her.
Marchpast: March Past is one of Surf Life Saving’s original events and represents the traditional discipline of a surf lifesaver. Tugun SLSC has been a very present figure in Marchpast competition for many years in both senior and junior clubs. The senior Marchpast team has won several Surf Lifesaving Australian Title and medals and many State Title medals.
Teams of twelve, often dressed in full length club swimming costumes, march in time to music around a set course carrying a surf reel, line and belt and following their standard (flag) bearer. Teams march in formation following commands and they are judged on factors such timing, arm and leg swing, space and dressing, body carriage and presentation.