The following are the Victorian local rules that govern the Life Saving Victoria senior and masters competitions for the 2023/2024 lifesaving season.
Wetsuits
Endurance Championships
Given the timing of this event is early in the competition season, wetsuits are encouraged in all age groups, in all water events.
Youth / Senior / Masters’ Carnivals and Championships
Rules regarding the wearing of wetsuits at carnivals are covered in Section 2.5.2(g) and (h) of the Surf Sports Manual. In addition, the Carnival Safety Committee will be empowered and supported with decisions to allow wetsuits to be worn should water, wind and air temperatures put competitors at risk of hypothermia, or severe cold, or where the level of participation in events is likely to be impacted by the unpleasant environmental conditions. Competitors are advised to bring wetsuits to carnivals in the event that their use be allowed.
Youth/Senior Competitors will be allowed to use wetsuits at the commencement of the Summer Carnival season up until the 24th December.
On days when the Carnival Safety Committee has not allowed wetsuits to be worn, competitors will be allowed to make their own choice to wear wetsuits should they wish to do so. Team Managers are to inform their swimmers on the risk of disqualification should they choose to wear a wetsuit in events where the Carnival Safety Committee has not permitted them to be worn.
Combined Age Groups
When different age groups are combined into one event for individual or team events, competitors will nominate prior to the race which age group they will be contesting for either the individual event, the team event or both if multi-age individual and team events are combined
For example, a combined U19 and Open, Surf Race and/or Surf Teams event, swimmers will nominate which individual age group they are contesting (their own or open) prior to the commencement of the event. plus which age group their surf team is contesting. An U17 swimmer in this event could only contest the open surf race as U17 competitors cannot race in U19 individual events.
Belt Races
Open, U19 and U17 Belt Race handlers shall be eligible for pennants at carnivals and medals at the Victorian Lifesaving Championships and shall be charged the relevant entry fee. As such, the handlers’ names are still required on the team entry information supplied to Life Saving Victoria, stating that they are a “handler”, unless they are already entered into the Carnival as a competitor.
Board and Ski Area
All competitors, and in particular the first four (4) placegetters, may be scrutineered without prior warning, at the conclusion of their event. Any member whose craft does not comply with scrutineering requirements the Carnival Disciplinary Committee will review and provide appropriate action.
Sprint Swim
The sprint swim is a local event. Ideally, the course is around two buoys, laid 70m from knee depth water (as per Section 4 Figure 2 of the Surf Sports Manual).
Under 14 Competition local rules
U14 competition age group may only compete within their own age group for all individual events.
U13, U14, and U15 age groups will compete in combined team events as per the SLSA Youth Australian Championships.
U14 aged competitor is permitted to participate in the U13/U14 or U14/U15 team age category in an event discipline but not both age groups in an event discipline i.e., an U14 competitor is permitted to compete in say an U13/U14 Board Relay and an U14/15 Surf Teams.
Competitors cannot be substituted between heats and finals across age groups. I.e., an U14 competitor cannot compete in the heat of the U14/15 board relay and then compete in the finals of the U13/14 board relay.
Under 13 Competition at Senior Carnivals
Due to the inclusion of U13’s at Aussies, there are specific carnivals where U13’s are invited to compete to be exposed to the senior competition.
U13’s are only permitted to compete in the following nominated Senior Carnivals:
- Sunday 12 January 2025 – Anglesea SLSC
- Sunday 2 February 2025 – Lorne SLSC
Please note the following key points:
- U13s are not permitted to compete in individual events at the Victorian Lifesaving Championships, they will only be able to compete in team events. For individual events, they will need to compete at the Victorian Junior Lifesaving Championships.
- U13 Competitors are ONLY permitted to compete in programmed U13 programmed team events.
- U13 age competitors must remain in the U13 age category for individual events and shall not be permitted to compete in any older age division in individual events even if they turn 13 during a season and obtain, or are eligible to obtain, the SLSA Surf Rescue Certificate. With the exception of the specific U13– U15, 5 person R&R event, U13 age competitors are eligible to compete in designated U13 and U14 team events only.
- U13 competitors in individual board events will be required to compete on a nipper board.
- U13 competitors competing in U13/U14 team events that require the use of a board will be required to use a Mal ONLY. Team Managers must ensure that U13 competitors have the required level of proficiency in using a Mal in surf conditions in these team events.
- U13 competitors will be competing on U14/U15 Youth Carnival courses- (Positioning of the buoys may be adjusted longer dependent on the surf conditions at both Anglesea and Lorne).
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