SA lifesavers ready for international surf rescue challenge
This year South Africa, Australia and New Zealand will compete with athletes from Japan, Spain and the USA.
INTERNATIONAL surf lifesaving competition returns to Durban for the first time in a decade when the eleventh edition of the International Surf Rescue Challenge takes place over three days at the Durban Surf Lifesaving Club, North Beach on 28, 29 September and 2 October.
Featuring some of the best male and female lifesavers in the world, the competition started in 1999 as a trans-Tasman rivalry between Australia and New Zealand before expanding to include South Africa in a Tri-Nations format.
In recent years the competition has grown to include teams from Canada, Germany, France, Great Britain, Spain, Japan and the USA. This year South Africa, Australia and New Zealand will compete with athletes from Japan, Spain and the USA.
South Africa has selected strong open and youth teams that will include established stars like beach sprinters and flags specialists Ryle de Morny and Durbanite Mandi Maritz, swimmers Amica de Jager and Travis Misdorp, rescue stalwart Martin Binnedell, ironman stars Alice Edward, board star Anna Notten and ski specialists Josh Fenn, Nick Notten, and Dom Notten, who will captain the open team.Marine SLC stalwart Carmel Billson is a threat to all the ocean events, and with Sasha-Lee Corris-Nordengen will be a formidable rescue unit.
“This apex competition serves as an exciting precursor to the World Conference on Drowning Prevention hosted by LSA in Durban from 8-10 October 2019 and showcases exactly what lifeguards do – train, compete, save lives!” said Lifesaving South Africa president Dhaya Sewduth.
Lifesaving South Africa’s Director of Sport, Craig van Rooyen, says having the opportunity to host the event in Durban has many positives for the sport of lifesaving in South Africa.
“This event not only gives us the opportunity to showcase our local talents but also our lifesaving organisations and the pristine beaches of Durban to an international audience. This event attracts over 180 competitors, spectators and supporters from all over the world, and generates a positive economic impact for the city and the country. We will see many world-renowned lifesaving athletes compete in various events over a three day period at North Beach which is home to Durban Surf Lifesaving Club, one of the largest and oldest clubs in South Africa,” said Van Rooyen.
