The Aussies 2014 Officially Opened

Surf Life Saving Australia, April 2, 2014: Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) officially opened The Australian Surf Life Saving Championships 2014 “The Aussies 2014” today at the Entertainment Hub and main stage at Scarboro Beach, with champion Sorrento lifesaver Liam Ryan reciting the Athletes Oath.

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Ryan, 17, and a WA State Team member and Champion Pool Rescue competitor is one of more than 5,000 competitors from Surf Life Saving clubs across the country who have entered the Championships, which are being held over the next five at Scarborough Beach – culminating in Sunday’s finals.

The Sorrento member of last 14 years was joined on stage by Carol Gibbs from Trigg island SLSC – who has been officiating for 28 years – who read

President of Surf Life Saving Australia Mr Graham Ford said The Aussies were the biggest event of the Surf Life Saving season - a surf sports showcase of the skills needed by our volunteer life savers need to ensure they are recue ready.

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Mr Ford and Tourism Minister and Member for Scarborough, Liza Harvey, and His Worship the Mayor, City of Stirling, Councillor Giovanni Italiano, officially opened the Championships returned to the shores of WA for the first time in five years.

2014 is the 11^th time WA has hosted The Aussies - the finale to the Australian surf sports calendar, and the ninth time it has been hosted at Scarborough, the beach that Surf Life Saving selected to host the Championships in 1951 when it awarded the event to WA for the first time.

“The Masters competition has been running for the past two days and today marks the start of the Open competition, which will include Under 15s, Under 17s and Under 19s,” Mr Ford.

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“SLSA has worked closely with the City of Stirling and local authorities to deliver the event, and has stringent command and control processes in place to ensure that the event is as safe as possible for competitors and spectators.

“We expect to see some very exciting competition and lots on from sponsor activations and entertainment over the coming days in Scarborough,” Mr Ford said.

“Competitors will contest everything from surf boats to beach sprints and flags to swim, board, ski and ironman to lifesaving, first aid and the traditional R and R,” he said.

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Hashtag #Aussies14 and like us on Facebook and Twitter.

Visit the event website at www.sls.com.au/aussies

DOWNLOAD OFFICIAL TIME TABLE OF EVENTS CLICK HERE

DOWNLOAD OFFICIAL AUSSIES PROGRAM CLICK HERE

DOWNLOAD MEDIA ACCREDITATION FORM CLICK HERE

Issued on behalf of Surf Life Saving Australia
Hanson Media Group

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