And Burleigh
This week the AUSTRALIAN SURF LIFESAVING CHAMPIONSHIPS were also taking place at Kurrawa at Broadbeach. Thousands of volunteer Lifesavers, their families and followers AND all their equipment come from all over Australia to represent their beaches and Lifesaving clubs.
The weather was very ordinary, and the seas were starting to test these brave souls, specifically the inconsistency of the surf, with rips running all over and so close to shore.
The Parade of competing Clubs
The first day (see below) are "The Masters Comp", that is those Lifesavers who are ageing!!!!
The weather closed in, there were so many accidents, and the irratic seas fought all the competitors.
So much equipment was smashed.
The organisers moved some of the classes to North Kirra as it was calmer there. NOT FOR LONG!!
Even the Control Towers at North Kirra were accidental targets.
This surf boat actually knocked over the Control Tower, then proceeded to use it as its base!
And of course there were the lighter accidents - where the surf just "nuded" this competitor.
Things just got worse, and yesterday a young 19 year old competitor from NSW who was competing was hit by his ski board in the head, and died later in hospital. He had started in Nippers when he was 8 years old. It has been 14 years since the last Lifesaver died at the Championships - he was only 15, and there is a park on the boardwalk at Broadbeach named after this young man.The Championships were cancelled yesterday, and again today, these pre Cyclone seas have taken a terrible toll already.
