Cronulla Surf Life Saving Club

The 2012 Shark Island Swim Challenge is nearly upon us! Save the date - Sunday, 18th March 2012.

Online entries are soon to be open. Visit www.sharkislandswim.com.au to keep abreast of the latest swim information, and for a link to the online entry form and payment system. Meanwhile, any enquiries about the swim may be directed to the Race Secretary at Cronulla SLSC. Mail to PO Box 8, Cronulla NSW 2230, phone (02) 9523 5300 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The boaties have been busy training all winter and have just completed their first competition for the season - the 14km Roosters River Run down the Georges River.

Two crews raced in the Open Men's and Reserve Men's divisions. The guys are preparing for the upcoming George Bass Surfboat Marathon to be held over a whole week on the south coast in January.

There's a lot of hard work to be done yet, but the boys are keen and persistently training hard!

The first proper surf carnivals begin within the next 2 weeks.

Dear Members,

Please find attached the Surf Summer Training Schedule for 2011/ 2012 season. This will begin on Monday 10th October and will continue until the Australian Titles.

Please let myself (Nathan Smith) know if there are any problems. Thanks!

Nathan Smith
Club Coach 

Men of steel - boats of wood!

Well, not quite, at least not anymore. Modern surfboat racing is based much more on the science and technique of rowing, and there are nearly as many women as men taking up the sport.

The boat area of a surf carnival is where the action is. Traditionally a rescue craft and superseded by the IRB, a surf boat is now used primarily for competition. Where boats were once made from wood, modern vessels are constructed of fiberglass and equipped with carbon oars. Surf boat crews consist of four rowers and a sweep.

Starting in the shallows (in heats of six) the crews leap into their boats rowing out through the break, urged on and steered by their sweep to the turning buoys some 400M out to sea. Turning the cans they head for home chasing any wave the sea will offer to be first to the line back at the beach.

Surf boat rowing is an adrenaline sport - especially when the surf is pumping – and is not for the faint hearted. Breaking through the surf and cracking the waves to shore are all important parts of winning a race. Physical strength and fitness are desirable attributes, though equally important is the ability to be a part of a team.

Divisions of surfboat racing include Open Men’s and Women’s, Reserves, Colts (U21) and Juniors (U19). There are also several Masters Divisions (see Masters). You must be 16 years or older to row a surf boat.

There are so many events that encompass swimming that it is one of the core competitive sections within any successful surf club. The main events under this discipline (specifically surf swimming) are outlined here. Stillwater swim events are covered under the category of Pool competition (See Pool Lifesaving).

Surf Race

In these races competitors sprint from the starting line on the beach into the surf where they swim around a set of coloured buoys and return to shore. The finish line is located between two flags about 15M up from the beach, meaning competitors need to sprint from the water to the line.

Divisions for the surf race include Open, U19, U17, U15 and also Masters (see Masters). Race distance is 170M for U15 – Open, and 120M for Masters.

Belt Race

This exciting event has teams consisting of one beltman, supported by four linesmen. Using a traditional surf reel, line and belt, the objective is to be the first beltman to reach the swimming buoys at a minimum distance of 120M.

The linesmen ‘pay the line out’ as required by the beltman, being careful not to allow too much rope which will slow the swimmer down with excess weight, or to cut it too short causing the swimmer to be stopped mid-stroke. The belt swimmer wins the race by reaching his can first.

Divisions for the belt race include Open and U19.

Tube Rescue

Teams consist of four members – one patient, one tube swimmer and two rescuers. The race involves the patient either swimming or being dropped out to a buoy, who must be returned to shore using tube rescue techniques.

At the starting gun, the tube swimmer dons a rescue tube and fins, swims out to the patient and attaches the tube before swimming back to shore. Upon the tube being attached to the patient, the two rescuers must also swim out to the buoys and assist the patient back to shore. When reaching the shore, the patient is dragged up to the finish line and the first team to successfully rescue the patient wins.

The Rescue & Resuscitation (R&R) competition provides the opportunity for SLSA members to demonstrate in a competitive manner some Rescue and Resuscitation methods.

The rules and regulations of the R&R event are encompassed within the Rescue & Resuscitation Competition Manual and subsequent bulletins.

The March Past is literally the ‘flagship’ event of any surf carnival and one of the most traditional events that still exists today. It is a largely ceremonial event, strict on team uniformity and scored on absolute military precision.

Each club is encouraged to present a march past team of twelve (12) at major carnivals. The team marches onto the competition arena proudly flying the club standard (flag) and carrying a traditional belt line and reel, maintaining formation and moving in timely march. It is a very proud occasion for any club to witness their team representing the club at a major championship event, and an even prouder feeling to be able to fill part of that team.

Members over the age of thirty (30) years are entitled to compete in specific 'age category' events. Masters carnivals are often held separately or in conjunction with other surf carnivals. Additionally the State and Australian Masters Championships are held prior to their respective Open events every year. Masters events are conducted generally under the same rules and conditions as Open disciplines, the only difference being the age category limitations such as 30-35 years, or for team events, 160 years (combined team minimum age) and so forth.

Cronulla SLSC has a strong tradition and representation in Masters events. Often, many members who still compete in the Open Championships will 'double-dip' in the Masters division as well.

For information on Masters coaching and competition, you should contact the Masters Captain: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

An important part of competition is the development and honing of skills that will assist members while performing their patrolling duties. SLSA conducts many competitions that highlight the skills involved in rescue, resuscitation and first aid. Lifesaving competition events are described briefly in this section and in separate manuals and bulletins which may be issued from time to time.

If you are interested in possibly competing for our Club in any of the Lifesaving competitive events listed, please contact the Club Captain or your Patrol Captain for further information.

Champion Lifesaver

This event provides individual SLSA members the opportunity to demonstrate in a competitive manner the physical, life saving and knowledge skills required of a lifesaver. Credit is also given for life saving awards held.

It is determined on a point score basis, currently the total maximum points are 130. The four sections that comprise the Champion Lifesaver event are:

Rules, point’s allocation and procedure for the conduct of the Champion Lifesaver event are outlined in the SLSA Surf Sports Manual.

First Aid

The First Aid Competition is a team event designed to promote and to demonstrate a high standard of First Aid prowess by SLSA members. The competition is held with a simulated accident scenario and a set time limit for each team in the event. All teams receive the same scenario, where every effort is made to achieve realism with the scenario and in the presentation of casualties, giving the competitors the correct atmosphere by using casualty make-up, acting and staging.

Teams consist of two members from the same club. Judging of the competition is effected by marking sheets, which are related to the following seven sections of the scenario:

1. Approach to casualty
2. Examination of casualty and diagnosis of injuries
3. Specific points for all treatments
4. Disposal of casualty
5. Management of the incident
6. First Aid kits
7. Judge’s discretion

The rules, point’s allocation and procedure for the conduct of the Champion Lifesaver event are outlined in the SLSA Surf Sports Manual.

Patrol Competition

The aim of the SLSA Patrol Competition is to demonstrate how lifesavers work as a team in performing some or all of the skills associated with surf rescue patrol work. Team members in the Patrol Competition must be members of the same Club, but not necessarily be from the same Club patrol.

The Patrol Competition includes a number of physical skills, practical and theory tasks involving racing, rescue and/or first aid situations.

It is important to note this is not the same as our own Patrol Competition. Cronulla SLSC judges on such issues as patrol hours, 100% attendance, random inspections and participation in awards and lifesaving competitions. In contrast, SLSA have divided their Patrol Competition into 4 basic sections:

1. Physical skills
2. Theory
3. Resuscitation
4. Task (scenario)

The team with the greatest number of points from all sections is declared the winner.

Each team consists of six (6) competitors who are all proficient holders of the Bronze Medallion and Advanced Resuscitation Certificate. At least one needs to have their IRB Drivers Certificate, with one other also being either a proficient IRB Driver or IRB Crewman.

The rules, point’s allocation and procedure for the conduct of the Champion Lifesaver event are outlined in the SLSA Surf Sports Manual.

Rescue & Resuscitation

The Rescue & Resuscitation (R&R) competition provides the opportunity for SLSA members to demonstrate in a competitive manner some Rescue and Resuscitation methods.

The rules and regulations of the R&R event are encompassed within the Rescue & Resuscitation Competition Manual and subsequent bulletins.

While all the other competitive disciplines are having fun and competing throughout the summer months, the IRB are busy carrying out water safety. As a result, IRB racing takes place after the ‘main’ Australian Championships event, with IRB drivers and crew able to compete at an Interclub level at the Australian IRB Championships in autumn each year.

The main focus of IRB racing is to improve the abilities of IRB drivers and crew members. The five events that make up IRB racing generally revolve around the concept of IRB rescues and preparation.

IRB Rescue

Teams comprise of one driver, one crewperson and one patient. Crews and their IRB start on the water’s edge, proceed out to the turning buoys, retrieve the patient on the seaward side of their buoy and then return to shore.

IRB Tube Rescue

Teams comprise of one driver, one crewperson and one patient. Crews and their IRB start on the water’s edge and proceed out to the turning buoys. In order to rescue the patient, the crewperson must don a rescue tube and dive overboard to securely attach the tube to the patient. The crewperson swims back to the IRB and the driver assists both crewperson and patient into the IRB before returning to shore.

IRB Mass Rescue

Teams comprise of one driver, one crewperson and two patients. Crews and their IRB start on the water’s edge, proceed out to the turning buoys, retrieve the first patient on the seaward side of their buoy and then return to shore.

The first patient exits the IRB, the driver runs up the beach and around a flag/marker and then returns to the shore to assist the crewperson to turn the IRB around. They then restart the IRB and proceed out to sea, rescuing the final patient before returning to shore.

IRB Teams Rescue

Teams comprise of two drivers, two crewpersons and two patients. The concept is similar to the IRB Mass Rescue event, however a second driver and crewperson takes over control of the IRB after the first patient is rescued, and proceeds to rescue the second patient.