THAT’S A WRAP!

State Champs 2023 a Roaring Success

Sydney’s Northern Beaches put on a show over 12 action-packed days of competition as the 2023 NSW Surf Life Saving Championships, proudly supported by Your local club, was run and won.

The numbers behind the showpiece event are fascinating; more than 20,000 competitors, spectators and officials spread across three clubs and two beaches – Freshwater SLSC, Queenscliff SLSC and North Steyne SLSC – over three weekends, making it the largest community sport carnival in the state.

It was the 73rd NSW Surf Life Saving Championships, with the first held at North Wollongong Beach in March 1950. The first iteration of the event included events such as the Pillow Fight, won by the then Swansea-Caves SLSC, and the Chariot Race which was claimed by Cronulla SLSC.

While neither of those events ran along Manly and Queenscliff Beach this year, competitors aged 8 to 70-plus marshalled for the swim, ski, board and ironperson racing, through to beach sprints, flags, relays and surfboats. Other events included the Champion Lifesaver, first aid and rescue/ resuscitation competition and of course the colourful and spectacular club March Past.

Newport SLSC was too strong again in the Open Championships, claiming a ninth title, while North Bondi SLSC flexed its muscles and emerged as winners of the Age and Masters Championships.

The event delivers an enormous economic boost to the host region every year, in the order of $10 million.

“The NSW Surf Life Saving Championships is a great opportunity to celebrate volunteer surf lifesavers and the fantastic work that they do,” said ClubsNSW Chairman, George Peponis OAM.

“The State Championships is our showpiece event, our opportunity to bring everyone together from up and down the NSW coastline doing the things we love,” added SLSNSW Director of Surf Sports, Don van Keimpema.

“The State Championships is our showpiece event, our opportunity to bring everyone together from up and down the NSW coastline doing the things we love.”

Catch up on all the action in our Event Recaps or Age and Open Livestreams on our Youtube Channel