Ron Lane
At the recent Maroochydore Rebel surf carnival held on Maroochy Beach, 60 members who were in attendance to represent the Sunshine Beach Surf Life Saving Club, in the words of club head coach Wes Berge, “put on a great display of surf skills and talent”.
This team aged from 10-15 years were in many cases performing in their first surf carnival. Taking this into consideration the following overall results of this team were indeed something to be proud of. Not only that but it also gives a good feeling for competition season ahead.
According to a club flyer, the major stand out for the team was the club spirit, something that was at an all-time high level. With a busy season of competition ahead this would have to be one of the most important factors in building a successful team. A high club spirit also indicates great support from both parents and supporters.
“Drawing on experience they achieve on their home beach, a beach known for big surf, the squad was in their element,” Berge said.
The team got off to a good start when their debutants, the U11 boys won the Cameron Relay. This was quickly backed up when the uU12 and 13 girls won their board relay. The U13 and14 boys board teams also finished on the podium as did the U15 girls’ relay. To round off the girls’ relay events the U14s took second place in the Cameron.
A stand out individual performance saw U11 Liam Wright win the coveted Ironman and back up with a second place in both the board race and surf swim. Others to finish on the podium in their Ironman events were Zac Heffernan U13,Darcy Lewis U15 and Mikaela Price U15.
In the swim section those to also to finish on the podium were Liam Wright U11, Olly Thompson U12,Claire Cameron and Senna Greveling U14,Darcy Lewis and Mikaele Price u/15 and in the board section, Liam Wright U11 and contesting the final U13, both Ava Gooderham and Kieren Dean.
Good result from Sunshine’s U13s: all three, Zac Heffernan, Ava Gooderham and Kieren Dean made the Inter-Branch Sunshine Coast Representative team for the first time.
The all- round results have been very good indeed. With the Ironman event, which includes, swim, board and run, being held in such high regard, the results in this section, are very encouraging.
Add to this the selection of the three members to represent the Sunshine Coast and it makes the season ahead look very promising.
Berg remarked, “I am incredible happy with our teams’ performance on the day and very proud of how the club is going and I am looking forward to the season ahead.”
Karate
On Saturday Karate Noosa of the World Shotokan Karate Federation hosted an Open Karate Tournament. It was under supervision of Karate Noosa head coach Bryan Dukas.
Sensei Dukas 6th Dan ran the tournament on traditional Japanese Shotokan rules, where students not only compete in free sparring but in basic sparring as well as kata. The tournament was aimed at the development of the youth in the local area in the skills of karate.
‘’We had students from Noosa area, Gympie as well as Beerwah in attendance.’’
It was his wish to introduce this system, as he had experienced it, while training as a young boy in Japan.
‘’Students’ sportsmanship and manners are of the utmost importance in our karate dojo. Students have to display this at all times.”
The students not only get to display their karate skills, but also learn life lessons such as supporting their team members, good manners and dignity in losing.
They had students from the new white belts (beginner gradings) to national and world champions in the mix, thus giving the new students the opportunity to see high level students in action and high-level students the opportunity to mentor the less experienced students.
Divisions were under 18 years only and split into belt and age categories.
In this day and age, it is good to know that there are still martial arts clubs that respect and adhere to the teaching and code of ethics handed down through generations. Clubs that are prepared to accept and teach such philosophy can only go from strength to strength and, most important of all, is the code of ethics that young students not only learn, but are prepared accept and live by, will be with them through life.
Noosa Outriggers
Good news from the Noosa Outriggers Club. The club which is located at Chaplin Park, Mill St Noosaville, will be hosting the 2022 Noosa River Race on 3 December. Competition will kick off at 7am and go through till 3pm.
The program certainly looks good with races for men and women as well as mixed teams and club juniors. The junior races will be contested over courses, from 1km to 6km distance.
Adult teams race either a short course of 8 km or a long course of 12km.This year’s regatta will see the racing take place on the Noosa River: starting just near the Noosa Yacht Club and heading down to the Sound.
The 8km race will be over one lap of the Sound and the 12 will cover two laps, and for the families and supporters there are some great vantage points from which you can cheer your team to victory.
Later in the summer months the club will be having a regatta in Laguna Bay. This is a sport that has its origins in the Pacific Ocean and is steeped in Hawaiian traditions.
At the Park the club will have tasty food available and lots of fun for all. The sport of Outrigging is dynamic and also a good spectator sport. We wish them well for the season ahead.
