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Surfski (Surf Life Saving)

Deriving from training activities by beach lifeguard services in Australia, surfski lifesaving has become a popular competitive surf-sport now practiced in many countries like the US, South Africa, New Zealand, Canada and the UK with other European nations developing rapidly.

Particularly in Australia there is an established schooling and club system training youngsters to progress to elite competition.

Classically 'spec' skis are used by life saving clubs; boats are narrow, tough, durable with greater rocker to exit shore surf zones but are generally much less stable than shorter canoes. Paddlers, like kayakers, use double-blades.

Life saving competitions can encompass a multitude of sports: beach sprints and relays, surf swimming, knee and paddleboarding, rescue scenarios, oar-rowed longboats, inflatable rescue boat racing and of course surfski paddling.

In lifesaving surfski races competitors begin in knee-deep shore-break about 1.5 to 2 metres apart, paddle frantically through breaking surf to a first buoy which marks the start of course, often a loop, towards a water-finish-line usually located back towards shore and surf – lifesaving surfski competitions are held over shorter distances than full surfski ocean-racing.

Governed by the International Life Saving Federation, IronMan and IronWoman competitions are regarded as pinnacle events on the calender, national contests also take place. Lifesaving is not an Olympic discipline.