Representatives from hosts Swansea Belmont, Lake Macquarie City Council, and the wider Surf Life Saving community came together to mark the event’s return to the Lake Macquarie based club for the first time since 2010.
After 4 years at Ocean Beach – Umina where The Championships were co-hosted, Blacksmiths Beach was announced as the host venue in 2016 triggering a mountain of behind-the-scenes work as the countdown moves into the final month.
Swansea Belmont SLSC President Graham Burge says the club is thrilled to have the event back at Blacksmiths.
"Preparations have been underway for quite some time now and the workforce numbers are increasing so everything is coming along smoothly.
The State Championships caters for surf athletes aged from U9s right through to over 70s and contains a full program that features water and beach events, as well as surf boat competition.
Held across three weekends and incorporating the Lifesaving Championships as a separate event the State Championships deservedly hold lofty status as one of the peak championships in the career of a surf lifesaver.
It’s not just the athletes who benefit with the local community expected to enjoy an economic stimulus worth $10 million dollars as a result of the thousands of surf lifesavers and their families expected to descend on the area.
The summer season has been a successful one for NSW athletes with many of the competitors fine-tuning their skills at a club and branch level before turning their full attention to the challenge that awaits.
The time of training is nearly at an end while a chance for glory beckons.
The NSW Surf Life Saving Championships proudly supported by Your local club will be held at Swansea Belmont on the following dates;
- 25-26 February 2017 – Lifesaving Championships
- 3-5 March 2017 – Age Championships
- 8-9 March 2017- Masters Championships
- 10-12 March 2017 – Open Championship
Monday 6 February 2017