More than 50 international competitors will join the over 7,200 Australian surf lifesavers at the world’s biggest surf lifesaving gathering, starting on Queensland’s Gold Coast today , Tuesday 16 March. 38 athletes from New Zealand, 7 from Japan, 4 from South Africa, 1 from France and 1 from The Netherlands will compete in some of the 228 events to be held over six days.

More than 50 international competitors will join the over 7,200 Australian surf lifesavers at the world’s biggest surf lifesaving gathering, starting on Queensland’s Gold Coast today , Tuesday 16 March. 38 athletes from New Zealand, 7 from Japan, 4 from South Africa, 1 from France and 1 from The Netherlands will compete in some of the 228 events to be held over six days.

The 2004 NRMA Insurance Australian Surf Life Saving Championships is shaping up to be one of the best in the event’s 82 year history, with more competitors, more officials and more events than in previous years. New events include Masters Surfboats, the Lifesaver Relay (consisting of teams of nine, made up of a surfboat crew, a swimmer, a board paddler, a ski paddler and a beach sprinter) and longboards.

Surf Life Saving Australia President, Ron Rankin AM, said since 1995 there has been a 37% increase in the number of competitors in the championships, including a 40% increase in the number of entries in female-only events, demonstrating the vibrancy of surf lifesaving sports.

As the 2004 Masters Lifesaving Championship began on Tuesday morning (Australian time) conditions were excellent, with an easy one metre swell, and calm conditions.