DATES FOR 2012 AUSSIES ANNOUNCED

SURF LIFE SAVING, June 20: The Australian Surf Life Saving Championships will take place at Kurrawa Beach on Queensland's Gold Coast from March 26 - April 1, 2012, it was announced today.

The Aussies, as it is more commonly known, is the largest sporting event of its type in the world, with entries open to all Surf Life Saving members. It is a celebration of the Surf Life Saving movement; a chance for surf lifesavers from around Australia to display their talents.

Athletes of all ages will converge on Kurrawa Beach to contest over 300 exhilarating medal events, in what will be an action-packed week of competition.

Surf Life Saving Australia's General Manager - Sport, Dave Thompson, said that planning was already well underway for the 2012 event. "This is the biggest event on the SLSA surf sports calendar. As soon as we celebrate the completion of an Aussies, we review that year's event and begin planning the next."

"Masters competition will take place on March 26 and 27, with the Open Championships running from March 28 to April 1.  This year we have included one and a half lay days in the schedule, with each full day of competition beginning at 8am and ending at 4pm.

Following the 2011 Aussies, member feedback has suggested that the event should not run longer than eight days, and we have taken this into account with the schedule for 2012. However, we have still ensured that flexibility remains in the schedule to factor in official and athlete wellbeing as well as inclement weather."

The Aussies is supported by the Queensland Government through Events Queensland.

To find out more about this and other great events on the Queensland Events Calendar visit www.eventsqld.com.au

For more information, visit http://www.sls.com.au/aussies