It s awesome, he said. It s so good to have that local Aussies - they re so few and far between. I m really enjoying it, I ve been here all weekend with the youth and now the masters and then obviously through the rest of the week with the opens. I love it, I really enjoy it and to still be going around now and from all those years ago. My mum and dad, John and Maureen, are here to watch and they still love it. It s a great atmosphere and a great venue too. While he s been competing in the masters division, which wraps up on Monday, the Noosa Heads coach is eyeing up a competitive debut with daughter Jordan in the open division which runs from Tuesday to Saturday.
Surf Life Saving Queensland sport manager Stuart Hogben said the fitness levels the competitors maintained was amazing. It s one of those ones where there is camaraderie not only from Queensland clubs but guys from interstate that ll come up and that s their chance once a year to catch up, he said. But, they still maintain that fitness and really do put on a good show. While they re all mates off field, you ll see a lot of rivalries on the beach when racing starts. Here s some of Queensland s best masters lifesavers to watch out for across the two days.
WOMEN
Kristy Munroe
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Subscriber only A teenager has put Tannum Sands on the map after winning big at the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships. Taj Andrews, 15, took home gold in the U15 Male Board final at the Sunshine Coast on Friday. The young gun delivered an impressive performance by sprinting up the beach for a thrilling final. Hailing from Tannum Sands, Taj certainly wasn t letting the skills of his competitors weigh on his mind. I knew that there were so many good paddlers here, but I had to focus on my own race, Taj said. Taj Andrews, 15, took home gold in the U15 Male Board final at the Australian Life Saving Championships at the Sunshine Coast on Friday.
The event will run from April 16-24. First to compete will be the U14 and U15 athletes. The action starts from 8am Friday at Maroochydore beach with ironman and ironwoman and surf and board races throughout the day. The final events will be the under 14 male and female surf race finals. Sprints and beach relays will take place at Mooloolaba from 2pm Friday. Saturday s beach events at Mooloolaba begin at 7am with the young athletes competing in 2km runs. Flags will start from 4.30pm. Competitors aged from 30 to 75 will also hit the water at Mooloolaba on Saturday with the masters open swim events starting from 8am.
First in action are the country’s juniors, with the Youth Surf Life Saving Championships running across Friday and Saturday.
There’ll be plenty of rising stars on show, with Alexandra Headland lifesaver Eliza Parish among the best. See below for more Queensland stars to watch.
Surf Life Saving Queensland sport manager Stuart Hogben said Parish performed well at the state championships and would be set to benefit from a home beach advantage this week.
He said she had quality teammates and coaches to guide her too.
“Jack Hansen is probably one of the better coaches that we ve seen coming through the state,” Hogben said.