ALYSHA CASTELLI
On the weekend of November 23- 24 last month a group of Esperance Goldfields Surf Life Saving Club members drove to beautiful Bremer Bay to take part in coaching and training and compete in the annual Rainbow Coast Carnival.
Albany Surf Life Saving Club hosted this year’s carnival, and we were lucky enough to have perfect conditions at Blossoms Beach for a fun filled weekend.
The weekend provides our members with the opportunity for coaching, training, networking and some friendly competition with the other south coast clubs.
This year was a packed program with EGSLSC’s largest traveling group to date with 65 competitors attending.
The competition began with skills training from 7am for the Jet Ski, Ski Paddle, Boat paddle and the Inflatable Water Boat, followed by Education, Training and Skill Development delivered by SLSWA.
Parents participated in a Nipper Rescue Certificate Course and SLSWA delivered a Nipper Coaching and Officiating Clinic.
The competition component started at lunchtime with an afternoon full of Beach activities: Little Nipper 250m beach race, 2km Beach Relay, Individual Beach Sprints, Beach Flags and Beach Relay.
Sunday morning covered off on the water activities with another beautiful day on the beach. Board rescue was a fun way to bring the Juniors and the Seniors together, and the clubbies then took part in the following water races: Swim Race, Swim Relay, Board Relay, Mixed Team/Taplin/Ironman, Nipper Ironman, Individual Ski race and Individual Board Race.
Esperance Goldfields Surf Life Saving Club individuals and teams placed in many races, and it was a successful competition overall.
The club should be proud of their efforts and came third against the larger Albany and Denmark Surf Life Saving Clubs.
Competitors are now training for the Great Southern Regional Qualifier carnival in Albany on the January 18-19, and the annual Fuel to Go & Play WA Country Carnival which will be held over the Australia Day long weekend in Bunbury.
It will see athletes from seven years old through to master’s compete in a range of events, including ironman, beach sprints and flags, ski and board races, and surf boats.
Alysha Castelli is the EGSLSC’s Director of Administration.
