SURF LIFESAVING'S BEST READY FOR ACTION

March 25,2012: Surf lifesaving's older generations will grab the spotlight when the Australian Surf Lifesaving Championships start with a splash at Kurrawa Beach on the Gold Coast tomorrow.

The Masters Championships will fill the first two days of the week-long annual surf sports extravaganza. Open competition, as well as events in under-19, under-17 and under-15 age groups, is due to start on Wednesday.

Competitors aged from 30 years up into their 70s will line up in age group competition tomorrow (Monday) and Tuesday.

Among them will be many former top-line surf lifesaving competitors who refuse to be beaten by father time.

Some such as Mooloolaba's Martin Kenny and Trent Robinson are still good enough to match it with younger
rivals in open events.

At the recent Queensland championships, Kenny, the younger brother of ironman superstar Grant Kenny, and
Robinson won a Masters silver medal in the double ski event.

Two days later the pair came out and upstaged much younger rivals to win the Queensland open double ski title.

Ski paddling will see some of the most intense competition of the Masters Championships but the pursuit of gold medals will be frantic in all competition areas.

As well as the surf skis, events to be held include surf races, board races, beach sprints, beach flags and surf boat rowing.

Individual competition is due to be held tomorrow, with team events and relays held on Tuesday.

The open section of the championships is scheduled to start on Wednesday, with many of the finals, including the glamour ironman and ironwoman, to be decided next Sunday, April 1.

About 7000 competitors have entered to contest the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships across the next seven days.

The Australian Surf Life Saving Championships is proudly supported by Events Queensland.

On behalf of Surf Life Saving Australia