Competition/Carnivals

Every year Life Saving Victoria runs a series of Junior Life Saving Carnivals throughout the summer season, with a Victorian State Junior Championship Carnival March 2011 nletter 1over the Labour Day weekend in March. 

Children must reach the age of 7 by midnight on 30th September 2011 if they wish to compete in Junior Life Saving Carnivals this 2011/2012 season. This means that  Nippers need to be 7 years of age as at September 30 to compete in the youngest competition age bracket of U8.

Please note that U6 & U7 age groups are not permitted to compete under the SLSA rules.

Competition is offered that incorporates fun and teamwork. Events for Nippers involve swimming, board paddling, wading, running, beach flags, iron nipper and relays. This is optional and at your own expense. Junior Carnivals - $20.00, Junior State Championship - $30.00. All children who wish to compete at carnivals must obtain their Proficiency badge (S Badge or T Badge). This is normally assessed at the start of the season.

To maintain safety and lifesaving standards, Surf Life Saving Australia has a set of standards of competency that Nippers must achieve before being eligible to compete at carnivals.

  1. All competing swimmers are required to complete an annual "S Badge" Proficiency test.
  2. The Proficiency shall be valid until 31st of December the following year.
  3. Once your child obtains their "S Badge" parents need to sew it on to the front, lower, left hand side of their child's bathers.
  4. Competitors not displaying "S Badge" Proficiency patch will not be permitted to compete in water - based events at Junior Carnivals.
  5. Carnival race starters will inspect competitors at the start line to ensure they are wearing a badge.
  6. Badge will be supplied on successful completion of test that involves a RUN - SWIM – RUN (see our section on skills evaluation)

S Badge evaluation take place in the first few weeks of the Nippers Program (check calendar for details).  Below is a list of distances Nippers must attempt in the Competition skills evaluation

 

Age Group
 

Distance
 

Under 8
 

NA  (this age group only competes in wades)
 

Under 9
 

Minimum 150m open water swim (competition course as per competition manual)
 

Under 10
 

Minimum 150m open water swim (competition course as per competition manual)
 

Under 11
 

Minimum 288m open water swim (competition course as per competition manual)
 

Under 12
 

Minimum 288m open water swim (competition course as per competition manual)
 

Under 13
 

Minimum 288m open water swim (competition course as per competition manual)
 

Under 14
 

Minimum 288m open water swim (competition course as per competition manual)
 


This is a summary of some of the competition events offered at Junior carnivals (extracted from SLSA Surf Sports Events Manual)

 

Carnival Events

Event

Description

Beach Flags
 

Beach Flags is a traditional event that has existed since the very beginning of Lifesaving. It involves a group of lifesavers competing for flags (pieces of hose-pipe). An athlete is 'knocked-out' each time and eventually there is a run off between two lifesavers. The one who wins the flag, wins the event.
 

Beach Sprint
 

Beach Sprint involves a sprint over a distance of 75 - 100metres. This distance depends on the amount of beach available at the time.

Beach Relay
 

Beach Relay is held on the sand and consists of a team of four competitors and a rubber piece of hose. Members 1 & 3 are stationed at one end of the lanes whilst members 2 & 4 are at the other. The object is to successfully complete the race without dropping the baton and exchanging within the set boundaries.
 

Wade Race
 

Wade Race is a skill designed to teach lifesavers the art of proficient running into the surf. The skills they learn enables them to lift their legs high and swing out over the waves to enhance their ability to increase the response time in entering the  water in the case of a rescue. Competitors begin on the beach start line and on the starters signal enter the water and either wade, dive and or swim around three Life savers usually standing waste deep in the water and then run to the finishing line on the beach.
 

Wade Relay
 

Wade Relay involves teams of four who conduct a tag style of race over the same course as the wade race. 
 

Board Race
 

Board Race uses a nipper or Malibu board. It also involves negotiating the break and then following a set course of buoys. You then return to shore surfing the waves back to the beach. First over the line is the winner. The board race requires balance, strength and endurance.
 

Board Relay
 

Board Relay consists of three paddlers completing the board course as above in a tag system. The first team to successfully pass all the buoys and cross the finish line will be declared the winner.
 

Surf Race
 

Surf Race involves swimming around a course of buoys placed out in the ocean and swimming to shore
 

Iron Nipper
 

Iron Nipper   This event trains lifesavers with the ultimate endurance ability.   It consists of a board paddle, a swim (or a wade for younger age groups) and a run to the finish line.  The carnival referee will determine the order of events on the day.
 

Aqua Cameron Relay
 

Aqua Cameron relay is an event where 4 members complete the legs of the Iron Person race. Three of the members will either swim, wade or board paddle while the fourth member will run and tag each member after each leg of the race.
 

March Past Team
 

March past team  - a team of 11 marchers from each life saving club carries a reel and club flag, marching to music around a set course and are judged on their timing, marching ability, overall appearance and presentation.
 

Belt & Reel Race
 

Belt and Reel race is a beach event and involves two competitors (one runner and one reeler) and an approved life saving reel.  (U12 and above)
 

Board Rescue
 

Board Rescue - each team consists of two competitors, a swimmer and a board paddler.  On the starters signal the swimmer enters the water and swims to their allocated buoy and signals to the  board paddler to “rescue them”. When the board paddler has picked up the swimmer, the two competitors paddle to the beach where they must cross the finish line.