Regional Athlete Development

Surf Life Saving Queensland is committed to developing athletes throughout Queensland and has a dedicated regional surfs sport program to cater for northern competitors.

North Australian Surf Life Saving Championships

The North Australian Surf Life Saving Championships is one of Queensland’s major events, and is the largest surf sports event held outside of South-East Queensland. It is third only in size (number of competitors) behind the Queensland Surf Life Saving Championships and the Queensland Junior Surf Life Saving Championships.

The North Australian Surf Life Saving Championships are restricted to entry by surf lifesavers from clubs located within the Wide Bay Capricorn, North Barrier, and North Queensland branches as well as the Northern Territory – Hervey Bay in the south to Port Douglas in the north and across to Darwin and Gove. Competition is held across a range of events and caters to under-11 to masters’ competitors.

Queensland Country Team

The Queensland Country (under-13 to under-17) representative team is selected each year based on results achieved at the North Australian Championships. The team comprises of 40 competitors, with five males and five females selected from each  age group – under-13, under-14, under-15 and under-17. The team competes annually at the Queensland Interbranch Championships against Sunshine Coast, South Coast and Point Danger branches.

Queensland Country High Performance Pool Rescue Squad

With a strong emphasis currently being placed on Pool Rescue Competition development within regional Queensland, SLSQ – through the SLSQ Regional Surf Sports Advisory Panel – have implemented a Queensland Country High Performance Pool Rescue Squad. This squad is selected annually (normally in May/June) with squad members given exposure to specialised coaching, attendance at training camps and an opportunity to attend high-level competitions and carnivals such as the State and National Pool Rescue Championships and the Arafura Games. For more information about the Queensland Country HP Pool Rescue Squad, please contact Craig Holden (cholden@lifesaving.com.au).

Pool Rescue Competition Development Clinics

Pool Rescue Competition development clinics are conducted regularly across regional Queensland, with emphasis placed on enhancing the knowledge and developing the skills of athletes, coaches, officials and team managers. These clinics are hands-on and are a great opportunity for members to learn more about this growing discipline and try their hand at some of the finer skills involved. For more information about these clinics, please contact SLSQ Surf Sports Coordinator, Ryan Bennett (rbennett@lifesaving.com.au).

SLSQ Regional Surf Sports Advisory Panel

As part of this new focus on enhancing and growing surf sports in regional Queensland, the SLSQ Regional Surf Sports Advisory Panel was formed. The panel meets regularly and discusses strategic and operational issues to continue to develop surf sports in regional areas and to provide more opportunities for northern athletes to compete.