Paddlers and rowers will converge on the River Derwent on Saturday morning for the 57th Surf Safari. Regarded as the longest running surf craft event in Australia, competitors from 12 years of age to 70 plus will paddle or row over various distances. The long course event for skis and boats will be set to maximise downwind opportunities. The early weather reports indicate a race from Tinderbox to Sandy Bay, a distance of 18.5 km.

Since 2010 Sam Norton has achieved 10 wins making him the most successful single ski competitor in the history of the event. The Hobart based athlete will be keen for a 11th win. At last weekend’s 20 Beaches ski race in Sydney, Norton was 6th over the line against the top paddlers in Australia. Former Burnie paddler, Dylan Askew who is now based on the Gold Coast could cause an upset. He is one of Australia’s most promising ocean paddlers and recent results at a national and international level have been outstanding. Ben Maynard has recently returned from the ICF World Titles in South Africa and will be primed for a podium finish. Clifton Beach paddlers, Warwick Lovell and Dan Reardon will be keen to show off their ocean racing skills. 

The open female ski race will see the current title holder and Olympic rower, Kerry Hore, up against Burnie’s Phoebe Woodhouse who has returned to Tasmania after 3 years in Queensland. Woodhouse was placed 6th last weekend in Sydney and has exceptional skills in rough water. Elsie Menzies, Cate Clingeleffer and Clifton Beach SLSC coach Courtney Beswick will be looking to cause an upset. 

A shorter 8 km ski course has attracted good numbers of both younger and master paddlers.

The open women’s surf boat long course event over 18 km will see the Australian Masters championship crew, Burnie Rrisk competing against fellow club crew, Burnie Breeze and Clifton Beach Cuttlefish. Burnie has dominated the event in the past few years, and it will need a big effort from Clifton to see them take the title.

Clifton Beach with two crews and Burnie with three crews will fight out the open men’s surf boat event. The predicted south to SW conditions will test the boat sweeps to get the most out of the trailing swells. Burnie will be going for back-to-back wins and after winning at Bicheno Diamond Dash two weeks ago. 

Surf board paddlers aged from 12 to 16 will compete over a 2- or 4-kilometre course off the beach at Sandy Bay. The Under 15 female board race will be a close contest between Carlton Park’s Estelle Leary, Amelia Stuart and 13 year old Lily O’Garey from Burnie.

Full event details is available: www.surfsafari.org

Peppermint Bay Cruises ferry will follow the event with tickets available: https://events.humanitix.com/surf-safari-spectator-cruise