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
While it s a far cry from her strong history in the surf and sand, Roos women s coach Steve Moody said Mercer, daughter of ironman legend Darren, had the fitness and motivation to make the transition pay off. This is the first time she s strapped on the boots, so it s a pretty brave move actually, Moody said. Hats off to her, it would be easy to sit back and do what you know you re good at and be comfortable with but she s decided to get out of her square and have a crack. She s been really good and has been enthusiastic about it.
Lifesavers fed up with being beach babysitters are urging parents to ditch their mobile phones and keep their kids within arm s reach after hundreds of children had to be rescued during the school holidays last year. Volunteer and professional lifesavers saved 361 children aged 12 or under in December and January last year with frightening numbers being rescued from outside the flags and even from flat water public lagoons. The alarming figures have prompted lifesavers bracing for a record summer school holidays to issue a plea for parents be on alert at the beach, and not leave their children alone in the water.