SA Lifesaving Championships kicks off in Gqeberha

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Day one of the SA Lifesaving Championships has kicked off in Gqeberha. It saw the Masters and older age groups set the tone for what the Friendly City can expect for the next six days. Surf and sea events were the order of the day.

A soft opening, for what is promised to be an action-packed week of events that combine swimming skills, endurance and lifesaving competencies. The more seasoned competitors took part in beach sprints, flags, surf and ski as well as Malibu board races and overall run and swimming.

“We will have winners per age category. You’ll have your 30-35 year-olds, 36-40 and so forth up until 80 years old and obviously, they will compete for gold silver and bronze. Per event is positions and overall for the clubs, it works on a points system which is all the events added together,” says Craig Van Rooyen, Lifesaving SA director of sport.

Teams from all over the country have graced the shores of the Bay. Home town favourites and defending champions Summerstrand Lifesaving Club are back to claim victory.

“Everyone knows to get to the top is tough but to stay there is much tougher. I think a lot of teams are gunning for us. My team this year is a lot smaller. I think parents are away with kids’ stuff and all sorts. But we’ve got a small team here ready to knock the socks off everyone,” says Fanta Gouws, Defending Champions: Summerstrand Lifesaving Club.

“Jah so we came down with our craft, it was a long trip. Some of us drove down, others flew down but yeah we love PE we love coming down here. The surf is smaller than what we’ve got in rocks so we are very happy to be here,” says Andrea Booysen, Umhlanga Rocks Lifesaving Club.

Still-water events will start tomorrow at the Newton Park Swimming Pool.

2 years ago