The hard work has been done, now it is the competitors’ time to shine – that’s the message the organising committee of the 2016 Stramit NSW Country Surf Life Saving Championships had at the official launch ceremony held last Thursday.
Excitement was in the air as young life savers from South West Rocks SLSC joined representatives from the business community, Kempsey Shire Council and Stramit to launch country life saving’s biggest event.
The perfect beach-backdrop empty now but in just over three weeks’ time will be full of action and colour as surf life savers chase medals and personal bests.
With the championships returning to the mid-north coast for the first time since 2013, there is expected to be an increased turn-out of competitors from right across northern NSW who will look to take advantage of the great location.
Byron Bay SLSC will be out to continue their recent run of form at the Championships defending the title they won comprehensively in 2015, while southern rivals Warilla–Barrack Point will fancy their chances.
The 2016 event will also herald in a number of changes to the for- mat of the competition. It is now condensed into a two-day format as well as being held later in the summer to avoid peak season with at least 1,400 competitors and thousands more family, supporters and officials to flock to the town for the duration of the champion- ships.
South West Rocks club president Rod McDonagh says his team are excited about hosting the event again and are still hard at work pre- paring. ‘We are really fortunate to have a great bunch of committed volunteers who are vital to making this happen,’ he said. ‘It’s a lot of work but we’re almost there and looking forward to welcoming everyone to our little patch of paradise.’
The Stramit NSW Country Championships is the only event on the surf sport calendar to feature a full range of events including surf- boats, as well as all age groups from U8s through to Masters, within a two-day surf carnival. It will be con- tested at South West Rocks on 6–7 February.
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