Surf Sports

Surf Sports is a pivotal part of Surf Life Saving. First introduced by the movement as a tool to develop and retain surf lifesavers, these outcomes remain an integral part of Surf Sports today with members participating in a variety of events that promote a healthy lifestyle, camaraderie and sportsmanship – ensuring members are fit and experienced to patrol Mid North Coast beaches. Surf Sports also serves as a major recruitment tool in attracting new members.

Surf Sports consists of many individual and team events or disciplines such as swimming, board paddling, surf ski paddling, Ironperson, beach flags, beach sprints, surf boat rowing and IRB racing. It also includes traditional events such as the March Past and Rescue & Resuscitation. Events cater for ages from under 8 years through to 70+ years.

Surf Sports competition begins in the under 8 years as part of the Junior Activities Program with the number and distance of events increasing as they progress through the Junior program until the under 14 years season is completed. Junior athletes must gain a relevant Surf Education award and pass a competition skills evaluation test relevant to their age to compete every season.

Cadet, Opens and Masters competitors need to be a current bronze proficient member and accrue the required number of patrolling hours each season.

Surf Sports provides an opportunity for participants to further develop whether it be as an athlete, official or coach while having a whole lot of fun along the way.

See you on the beach!

Interbranch Team

Coaches and Officials

Officials

Ensure competitions are run in a safe and secure environment, while maintaining rules and regulations. There are three levels of Officials within the Surf Sports arm of Surf Life Saving:

 Core Official – Core Officials work with entry level participants in a club surf sport environment (recreationally or competitively). Participants will generally be non-bronze proficient. Core Officials are permitted to Officiate at any carnivals where up to and including under 14 years age categories are conducted. 

Technical Official – Technical Officials choose to fulfil specific officiating role(s) and who work with participants who are actively competing in a club, branch, state and national surf sport competition environments. 

Senior Official – Senior Officials choose to fulfil specific senior officiating roles and work with athletes competing in a state and /or national surf sports competition environments. It is a prerequisite for this award to hold an officiating accreditation of Technical Official for a required amount of years. 

Coaches

Work with surf sport athletes across all of the disciplines of Surf Life Saving competition. There are three levels of coaching accreditation: 

Foundation Coach  – The Foundation Coach award is aimed at coaches of entry level participants actively participating in a club surf sport environment (recreationally or competitively). This level is generally for Nippers (U8 – U13) based coaching.

Development Coach – The Development Coach course provides coaches with the knowledge and skills to effectively plan and deliver discipline specific coaching sessions with a particular focus on skill development.

Performance Coach – The Performance Coach course has been created to provide coaches with the knowledge and skills to effectively plan and deliver discipline specific coaching sessions with a particular focus on athlete performance.

Click here for  coaching general information and resources.

 

SLSMNC Carnivals

SLSMNC Branch carnivals for 2026/27 season – TBA

First Branch Carnival

  • Dates: 24th & 25th October 2026
  • Venue: TBA
  • U8 – Masters

2nd Branch Carnival

  • Dates: 7th & 8th November 2026
  • Venue: TBA
  • U8- Masters 

Newcastle Permanent Branch Championships

  • Dates: 20th & 21st February 2027
  • Venue: TBA
  • U8 – Masters 

*Save the dates
*Possible 3rd Branch carnival – 15th& 16th  January 2027 Venue TBA

*All dates and venues are subject to change

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