In 2003, the City of Stirling, together with Eventscorp and Surf Life Saving Association (WA) won a bid to host the 2007, 2008 and 2009 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships (the ‘Aussies’) at Scarborough Beach. Since 1997, the Aussies had been held continuously at Kurrawa Beach on the Gold Coast and in 2007, they were relocated to Scarborough Beach for the next three years.
The Australian Surf Life Saving Championships will return to Scarborough Beach for the third (and final) year during the week of 17 March through to 22 March 2009, where competitors will gear up to farewell Scarborough Beach in style with six days of action packed competition set to bring the beach alive. More than 6000 competitors from 200 clubs, as well as 500 officials will converge onto Scarborough Beach to compete in 150 different events across 15 disciplines including iron man and iron woman and surf boats. Up to 100,000 surf life saving enthusiasts are also expected to come and witness the best that surf life saving has to offer. These numbers make the Aussies the largest event of its type in the world and second only to the Sydney Olympic Games in size and magnitude.
Since moving to Scarborough Beach in 2007, the Aussies has delivered some historic moments, including home grown Ironwoman Alicia Marriott (City of Perth) becoming the first ever Western Australian to win the Australian Open Ironwoman crown. Adding to this year’s excitement will be the Australian Interstate Championships, to be held on Wednesday 18 March during the 2009 Aussies. The event is a long standing Surf Life Saving tradition that is a state versus state battle, with the best competitors from each region putting it all on the line for state glory.
The 2009 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships dates:
2009 Australian Masters Surf Life Saving Championships
17 - 18 March 2009
2009 Australian Interstate Championships
18 March 2009
2009 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships
19 - 22 March 2009
The Australian Surf Life Saving Championships is the pinnacle event in the sport of surf life saving and is more than just a competition. The event is a great opportunity to showcase the discipline, technique and skills necessary to provide an invaluable volunteer life saving service on Australian beaches.
The event is to be broadcast on Channel 7, with the pre-recorded programme to be distributed nationally and internationally.
The championships are the climax of a busy season for surf lifesavers. Clubs and individuals pit themselves against the elements and their peers to prove they are the best rescue and resuscitation outfits, ironmen, swimmers, boat crews, march past teams, ski paddlers, board riders and runners.
The City of Stirling is proud to once again host the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships at iconic Scarborough Beach. The event promises to be a great spectacle for people of all ages with heaps to do and see!