NSW retains Australian Surf Lifesaving Interstate Championship

The Australian Surf Lifesaving Interstate Champions held yesterday at Maroubra Beach, saw the New South Wales team secure the championship for the fourth consecutive time with a 12-point buffer over their Queensland rivals.

Teams from NSW, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania all lined up for the first Interstates Championships since before the COVID-19 pandemic in January 2020. The Australian Interstate Championships see the states’ best battle it out in IronMan and IronWoman racing, surf swimming races, board races, ski races, beach flags, beach sprint and relay events, with State pride on the line.

Battling the choppy wave conditions and strong winds of Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs across Pathways (U14-15), Youth (U17) and Open age divisions, NSW were named Overall Champions, holding onto the trophy they’ve kept since 2018.

NSW Captain Sam Zustovich (Mollymook), who won the Open Men’s Beach Flags, and placed third in the Beach Sprint and Mixed Beach Relay, said he was really proud of his team’s efforts.

NutriGrain Ironman Jackson Borg (Newport, NSW) won the Open Male Surf Ski, placed second in the Ironman, third in the Open Male Surf Race and picked up two firsts and a second place alongside his NSW teammates in relay events.

NSW’s biggest rivers from north of the border pushed the home state the entire day. While NSW won the Overall title and the Youth championship, it was QLD that were the top placed state in the Open and Pathways events.

Following her impressive fourth and eighth place NutriGrain Ironseries results over the weekend, Ironwoman Tiarnee Massie (Maroochydore) competed in seven events yesterday, winning the Open Ironwoman, Female Board Race, Open Mixed Board Relay and Open Mixed Surf Relay.

2023 Australian Surf Lifesaving Interstate Overall Championship Points

NSW - 255

QLD - 243

WA - 166

VIC - 148

SA - 130

TAS - 65

For full 2023 Australian Surf Lifesaving Interstate results and more information go to sls.com.au/interstates/

Images from top: Australian Surf Lifesaving Interstate Champions NSW Youth Beach Relay; Australian Surf Lifesaving Interstate Champions QLD Pathway Female Board Race Bianca Rayward; Australian Surf Lifesaving Interstate Champions WA Youth Male Flags