Burnie SLSC ready to make waves at 2025 Tas Surf Masters Champs

Friday 17 January 2025

Finishing third overall at last year's event proved to Burnie Club Captain Luke O’Garey that they certainly can mix it with the other clubs. 

“We were pleased with our result last year,” said Luke. “Carlton Park SLSC and the other clubs have a lot more numbers than us and when it comes to Masters so I guess we do punch above our weight a bit”.

This weekend Luke will be leading another small contingent to neighbouring club Ulverstone for the 2025 edition of the Championships. 

Luke said that this year's team boasts some very strong competitors, including Australian Championship medalists and former state champions while the RRiSK Women’s Surf Boat team took out Team of the Year at August's SLST Awards of Excellence.

“John Lakeland is a part of this year’s team,” said John. “Over the last 10 years John has picked up numerous medals at the Australian Championship and is always very strong in his age group.”

For Luke he said that the best part about Masters carnivals is the camaraderie and sense of community they breed.

“It’s great fun getting to race around with all the people you have grown up doing surf with and being able to have a bit of friendly banter throughout is great,” said Luke.

“I remember racing in a lot of masters carnival when I just turned 30 and it was pretty exciting getting to mix it with club legends”, 

Luke says that while there will be a lot of laughs shared throughout the carnival, don’t be mistaken, once the competitors hit the sand at Ulverstone they mean business.

“Once we put our foot on the line we do take it seriously,” said Luke. “So much so that we often try to relieve our youth”. 

Jokingly, Luke admits that this mindset routinely results in a few sore bodies the next day. 

Clubbies aged from 30 to over 60 will  head to Ulverstone SLSC tomorrow to compete in the 2025 Tasmanian Masters Surf Lifesaving Championships.

Carlton Park SLSC are aiming for their fifth straight title in the year the club is also celebrating its 50th anniversary.

The Championships, set to start at 9:30 am, will feature a variety of racing including beach runs, flags, sprints, relays, surf races, board races, skis and more. 

Results of the Championship will be published on Live Heats

Burnie SLSC ready to make waves at 2025 Tas Surf Masters Champs