Three years in Perth has been good for the Aussies'

Scarborough, WA, March 18: More than 6000 surf lifesavers, coaches and officials from around Australia will join tens of thousands of spectators at the 2009 Whereis® Australian Surf Life Saving Championship, being held at Scarborough Beach, Perth until Sunday.

This is the third and final year the event will be held at Scarborough Beach under the current arrangements, a tenure which has seen the event consolidate its position as the biggest of its type in the world.

Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) President, Ron Rankin AM said the move of the event, known as ‘the Aussies,' to Perth has been highly successful on a number of different fronts.

"We have been able to invest in the better management of the event, while creating enjoyable and fair competition for our members, and generating a remarkable economic return for the people of Western Australia," he said.

Hon Dr Liz Constable MLA, Western Australian Minister for Tourism said the 2009 Whereis® Australian Surf Life Saving Championships will showcase Scarborough Beach and Western Australia to a potential television audience of about 400,000 people around Australia.

"The 2007 event attracted more than 14,500 visitors to WA who directly spent $23.8 million on services such as accommodation, transport, tours, shopping and entertainment," the Minister said. "This is new money into the WA economy specifically from visitors to the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships."

Councillor David Boothman, Mayor of the event's host, the City of Stirling, thanked major partners EventsCorp and Surf Life Saving Australia for their support over the past three years and commended everyone, including City of Stirling staff for their hard work, enthusiasm and dedication in the planning and running of this iconic Western Australian event.

"Scarborough Beach and its amphitheatre have provided a wonderful home to ‘the Aussies' and this event has been a wonderful addition to Australia's iconic and world class beach and has helped to revitalise and transform this area into a world class tourist attraction," Mayor Boothman said.

Whereis® Marketing Manager, Andrew Ford commented, "Whereis® is proud to be the naming rights sponsor of the Whereis® Surf Lifesaving Championships in 2009. Whereis® plays a vital role in helping Australians navigate their way and enjoy their time on the road and now on the beach!"

"Whereis® and SLSA recently combined their strengths to launch an Australian first beach-mapping experience on www.whereis.com with more than 8000 beaches now featured on the website. This means Australian beach-goers can not only make informed choices about beaches and therefore avoid unpredictable conditions, but can find walking or driving details of how to get there all in one ideal location!" he said.

At the conclusion of this year's Aussies, three years at Scarborough Beach will have seen:

A combined total of 15,000 athletes competing for 2700 medals.
1500 officials watching over nearly 900 separate races.
300,000 spectators experiencing the country's best surf sports competition.
A lasting legacy for the surf lifesaving movement in WA and for the community generally.

Western Australia's leading surf sports star, defending Australian Ironwoman champion Alicia Marriott, who won her title in front of an adoring home crown last year, says the Australian championships have provided an enormous boost to surf lifesaving in WA.

"It's been awesome for the sport in WA, not just in numbers with more people getting involved but you can see the enthusiasm of the juniors who have seen the Aussies first hand," she said.

"The nippers that you talk to now want to go on to compete and maybe be a champion or compete in the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain series.

"At the finish of last year's Ironwoman final when we ran up the beach to the amphitheatre it was amazing to run up and see so many faces in the crowd that you recognised.

"It's a great atmosphere and better than when the crowd is further away. In WA conditions the finishes are usually tight so it makes a difference having that extra run and the crowd really lifts you"

Fast facts

What: 2009 Whereis® Australian Surf Life Saving Championships

When: 17 - 22 March 2009

Where: Scarborough Beach, Perth, Western Australia

Who: More than 6,000 competitors and officials from around the country.

Age groups: Competitors will compete in age groups ranging from U15 to over 70s.

No. of events: More than 295 events including surf races, surf ski paddling, board paddling, beach events including sprints and flags, Ironman and Ironwoman, surfboard riding, rescue and resuscitation, and the world famous surf boat races.

What's on? Tuesday and Wednesday: Masters Championships

Wednesday: SLSA Interstate Championships

Thursday to Sunday: Open Championships

Friday evening: SLSA Awards of Excellence

Television: Highlights of the 2009 Whereis® Aussies are on Channel 7 and local affiliates:

Part 1 - Sunday 29 March

Part 2 - Saturday 4 April (Adelaide only)

Sunday 5 April (other metro city)

Check local guides for times