Water Sports

Swimming is a core skill for surf lifesavers that incorporates core fitness, strength and conditioning.  We endeavour to develop our members as strong and competent swimmers and improve our competitive ranks of swimmers.  

Scarboro SLSC offers a swim subsidy for competitors who are training with a Swimming WA Accredited club.   We hold Sunday swim events all year round. In the Summer season the swim commences at 9.30am.  This is followed by our Club runs and a Board Race. In the Winter Season our Polar Bears swim is at 10.00am.  This is followed by hot coffees, sustenance and fellowship each Sunday in Winter.

Scarboro has a strong tradition in Board Paddling, with paddlers competing with success all over Australia in a range of age groups and events. It isa natural progression from your Surf Rescue Certificate and Bronze courses.  

Board paddling involves a combination of paddling on your knees and laying down. The racing boards (or mals) are made with a combination of carbon fibre and epoxy making them light and durable. Racing mals are generally around the 8-9.5ft mark in length and come complete with knee grip and handles. Racing mals are a little more difficult to stay on than a “Surf Rescue Board”, as they are lighter, narrower and are different mould (to exert speed for racing).

Our patrols use another type of board in rescue situations called a “Surf Rescue Board” which are a lot wider so that they can support a life saver and patient to the beach safely and efficiently. We are developing a large and enthusiastic squad to represent Scarboro at State and National Competitions.  Come and join the energy of team training.

Our board squad is currently led by Coach Heath and there are multiple fitness and skills sessions held each week over Winter and during the Surf Season.

Sure, surf lifesavers row boats, paddle boards and swim but ski paddling is the competitive discipline that grabs the attention of the crowds and television audiences. Colourful and fast, with a link to kayaking and the growing sport of off shore ski paddling a ski race final at Australian Championships will almost certainly boast Olympic medallists and current and past members of National teams. Scarboro has a proud tradition in ski paddling with the Vidler and Wright families and recently as the home of best female paddlers in the country.
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Equipment
A surf lifesaving ski must conform to tight regulations with each ski requiring a sticker of compliance that is checked prior to major competitions. They are expensive craft, typically $3000 or more new and propelled by paddles the can cost upwards of $500. While the club maintains a fleet of good quality skis for up and coming young paddlers to learn on it is expected that every paddler source his or her own ski as soon as they are proficient paddlers. There are no local manufacturers and it’s necessary to order skis from the east with waiting times in the order of six months. There’s a healthy market for second hand skis which are recommended while learning.

Paddling
Balance is the first skill that a new paddler must acquire, once attained coaching and training focus on paddling technique, surf skills and fitness. It’s generally accepted that a number of years of paddling will be required before a paddler will be competent in all surf conditions. A paddler must be at least 15 years old before they are allowed to commence.

Races
Traditional ski races are termed ‘round the cans’ with a start off the beach, negotiation of the surf break, a paddle in clear water around three buoys followed by chasing the swells and surf on the way home. Given that ski paddling is a sport outside of surf lifesaving there’s also a large number of other events available to a ski paddler.

Coaching and Training
Ski paddling at Scarboro caters for all abilities and ages from u17s and up.  All events involve paddling a fibreglass ski from the beach, through the break and around a defined course and back to the water’s edge, crossing the finishing line.  There are a number of training sessions each week and for more information please contact us and ask to speak with the Ski Captain.

Surf Ironman incorporates a board leg, a ski leg and a swim leg with a short soft sand run between each. Iron competitors usually form the base of the board, ski and swim squads, although also partake in dedicated iron sessions weekly.