SUNSHINE Beach Surf Club has secured second place in the Surf Race Championships held at Alexandra Headlands over the weekend.
Lifesavers brought their patrol skills into the competitive arena for the championships, demonstrating emergency response and life-saving techniques.
The championships are an integral part of the surf sports calendar, focusing not only on the athleticism of the lifesavers but also their knowledge and the vital skills needed to excel as a patrolling member.
Lifesavers compete in three areas including patrol, first aid and the Champion Lifesaver competition.
Competitors combine a theory paper with water events and beach sprints for the Champion Lifesaver, while those in the patrol and first aid competitions are given simulated rescue or accident scenarios and are judged on their handling of them.
Test scenarios included dealing with a jellyfish sting, anaphylactic reactions, lost children, swimmers and board riders in/out of the flags and snakebites.
Sunshine Beach SLSC surf rescue coach Jo Redwood said in the Champion Lifesaver section of resuscitation, Sunshine Beach members’ lowest score was 37 out of 40.
“An amazing achievement with one competitor, Jonty Redwood, achieving a perfect 40 score,” she said.
Team Sunshine Beach finished second overall in the branch and all 10 members who competed received a medal place, which is a great achievement for such a small club.
Jonty Redwood took out gold in the Champion Lifesaver test for the Under 14 division, with Tallulah Wilson grabbing gold for the Under 15 division and Brock Redwood securing gold for the Under 17 division.
In the patrol competition, the Under 15 and Under 17 teams both took home gold.
These results ensure upcoming younger members of Sunshine Beach patrol are able to deal with many different first aid incidents, life-threatening emergencies and generally react to unknown situations in a calm manner.
