This weekend, South Australia’s best surf sports athletes will usher in a new era for surf sports competition in SA when they begin the battle for supremacy in a brand new 4 part Surf Sports Series of events held over the coming 8 weeks.
The Surf Sports Series is supported by the Lifesaving World Championships 2018 “Ride the Wave” community engagement program and is designed to sharpen the skills of South Australian surf sports athletes competing on the national and world stage.
“Surf Life Saving SA has a strategic intent to develop our local athletes in preparation to become local heroes when we host the Lifesaving World Championships here in Adelaide in 2018. Last year we started to accelerate our athlete’s performance with the introduction of our high performance academy program with Flinders University, producing initial great results. This summer we are extremely excited to be putting the talents of our elite athletes on display in a fan friendly, high intensity competition in the 2016 Surf Sports Series” said Surf Life Saving SA CEO Clare Harris.
The Surf Sports Series will feature new varying, short course formats in keeping with Foxtel’s popular Summer of Surf Series events and the Surf Life Saving Australia Interstate Championships. Athletes will compete in Board, Beach and Ski events for individual points rather than the traditional club points allocated at regular Surf Lifesaving Carnivals.
“The new courses and the shorter time table for these events will be welcomed by spectators and participants. They make for thrilling competition and offer instant results. The Surf Sports Series is perfect to build the profile of our athletes and help the public watch and support Surf Sports whilst also inspiring our juniors to aim high. The Surf Sports Series will be fantastic to watch, on the south coast the surf should provide some exciting conditions and the metropolitan beach events will be held at twilight, the perfect time to be on the beach enjoying the sunset with friends and checking out some great sporting action for free” said Ms Harris.
250 competitors from across the State are set to thrash it out tomorrow afternoon to gain vital points towards the overall series titles.
This year athletes will compete across the four events to accumulate individual points towards the Series titles.
SA Iron Women Champion Lily Warrick will be fighting hard to keep her crown on the weekend. “There are lots of talented underage females coming up through the ranks into the open competition this year, in particular Brittany Jessup, Sophie Hawkins and Sophie Zuill.” Miss Warrick said.
Lily still remains hopeful and is excited about the hype the first event will bring.
“I am excited about the atmosphere on the beach. The colour, the music and the hype getting spectators involved. This will be a revolutionary Series for Surf Life Saving SA.” Miss Warrick said.
Former National Champion Jake McKenzie has a lot to prove this weekend with his recent return from Queensland. McKenzie will be looking to topple the Zuill brothers who are favourites to take out the Surf Sports Series this year, after their consistent wins last season.
“The Zuill brothers will be out in full force, they will be ones to contend with. It is always a good hit out with them.” Mr McKenzie said.
Former under-age SA Board Champion William Schetter has come into the 2016/17 season inspired and hungry for some results, knowing he will need to outperform the brothers.
“The Zuill brothers for sure are the biggest competition.” Mr Schetter said.
The short format high intensity competition is set to be a crowd favorite. Get along to Seacliff this Saturday to check out all the action.
Surf Sports Series Event Dates:
Round One: Saturday 24 September | Seacliff SLSC | 3pm-7pm
Round Two: Saturday 8 October | Chiton Rocks SLSC | 10am-12pm
Round Three: Saturday 22 October | Aldinga Bay SLSC | 10am-12pm
Round Four: Saturday 12 November | Glenelg SLSC | 3pm -7pm (Series Grand Final)