Congratulations to our Surf Sports Team who have been competing in QLD for the Australian Surf Lifesaving Championships 2022.

We had Leo Oliver, Kade Stoodley, Macklin Harvey and Sadie Proctor competing for the first time. They all did amazing learning how it all works and what it feels like to compete against up to 150 athletes in U14-U19 and 250 in Opens.

With the changing weather conditions the Open Championships moved from Broadbeach to North Kirra. This made for lots of program changes, waiting, tough surf conditions and cuts to progress to the next round with many of our athletes just missing out.

Unfortunately the Seedy Seals Boat Crew were unable to compete in the Reserve Women due to their event being delayed till Sunday when they were booked to fly home.

Our U17 Team were amazing, showing resilience, courage and determination in the tough surf conditions, progressing through rounds and making 3 Team Finals!

South Port came away with 4 Australian Title Medals, lots of personal bests and so many times where they missed out by 1 or 2 places to progress to the next round.

Results – Youth Championships
Board Race
8th Rd 1 – Leo U15
9th Rd 1 – Kade U14
U14 2km Run – 19th – Kade
U15 Iron – 9th Qtr Final – Leo
U15 Surf Race – 18th Qtr Final – Leo
U15 Team Events – Kade and Leo
4th – U15 Board Rescue – Kade and Leo
8th – U15 2X1km Run – Kade and Leo

Masters Championships
🥉Seedy Seals Surf Boat Crew -160yrs – Rachel Trowbridge, Megan Syversten, Lisa Biggs, Mary Carr, Jason McGaffin – with 2nd, 1st and 1st placing in the rounds.

Alex Botha 35-39yrs
🥈 Board Race
🥉 Ironperson
4th Ski Final
5th Surf Race Final

Open Championships
U23 Surf Boat Crew – South Port Shockwaves – Megan Sinclair, Amber Smith, Jade Benn, Charlotte Woodroffe, Jason McGaffin made it through to the Quarter Final with a 3rd, 1st, 1st and just missing out on progressing to the Semi with a 4th
U17 2×1km Run
🥈 Sadie and Zalika
U17 Ski Relay – Sadie, Tillie, Zalika
4th R1, 13th Final
U17 Taplin – Sadie, Amy, Zalika
4th Semi – 13th Final
U19 Taplin – 13th Semi – Tillie, Amy, Lilija
U17 Surf Team – 7th Semi- Sadie, Amy, Lilija, Zalika
U17 2km Run – Sadie
U19 Double Ski – Sadie, Zalika
3rd Semi, 11th Final
U17 Board Relay – 6th Rd 1- Tillie, Sadie, Zalika
U17 Board Rescue
6th Rd1 – Tillie, Amy
7th Rd 1 – Sadie, Zalika
U19 Board Rescue – 8th Qtr – Amy, Lilija
U17 Ski
7th Rd 1 – Macklin
2nd Rd 1, 10th Rd2 – Sadie
9th Rd 1 – Tillie
13th Rd 1 – Zalika
U17 Board Race
3rd Rd 1, 10th Rd 2 – Sadie
8th Rd 1, 12th Rd 2 – Zalika
4th Rd 1, 15th Rd 2 – Amy
11th Rd 1 – Tillie
13th Rd 1 – Lilija
U17 Surf Race
14th Qtr, 29th Semi – Zalika
13th Qtr, 40th Semi – Tillie
17th Qtr – Sadie
19th Qtr – Amy
25th Qtr – Lilija
U17 Iron
9th Rd 1 – Zalika
11th Rd 1 – Amy
12th Rd 1 – Sadie
14th Rd 1 – Tillie
Open – Alex
Board Rd 1 – 13th
Ski Rd 1 – 14th
Iron Rd 1 – 13th

Massive thanks to:
Lyndon Mills for spending a few days in the IRB; Craig Smith (Clagus), John Smith (Schmidt) and Derry McGaffin for towing the Surf Boat and Board and Ski’s; Brett Harvey for taking all the paddles so we didn’t have to pay for extra luggage, Deb Sinclair for helping out the U23 Boat Crew even when she was still unwell; all the families who came to the beach to support the athletes even when they weren’t competing and helping to move the tent and all the craft when we had to move beaches, welcoming Amy and Lilija from Semaphore into our team, Sally-Ann Botha for the amazing Aussies gear (everyone loved it😍) and BOM for all your behind the scenes support of our Surf Sports Team.

To our amazing Coaches Jason McGaffin and Alex Botha who took leave to compete and support our team without their families in addition to their time throughout the year to coach and mentor our athletes, along with Sean Lohse, Clayton Jones and Alex Gettie (Tuesday swimming).

Finally to our amazing athletes who train all year round to do what they love and represent South Port so well. It was fantastic to hear South Port South Australia mentioned many times over the loud speaker during the Championships and a few interviews of our U17 girls.

Exciting to see what Aussies 2023 brings.

Kylie Cederblad
Surf Sports Manager