Surf Life Saving Australia unveils new Pride Surf Rescue Board ahead of Sydney WorldPride

With Sydney WorldPride ten days away, Surf Life Saving Australia has unveiled a new Pride Surf Rescue Board, that will be used at the front line by volunteer surf lifesavers.    

Surf Life Saving Australia is an organisation that proudly celebrates diversity, with the LGBTQIA+ community forming an important part of surf lifesaving communities across the country.   

The new Pride Surf Rescue Board launched in conjunction with Sydney WorldPride, will feature a Progress Pride Chevron design at the tail of the board. The design was unveiled today at North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club.   

Surf Rescue Boards are the most commonly used piece of rescue equipment by volunteer surf lifesavers, accounting for more than 35% of all rescues which equates to an average of 3,300 people who are saved.   

John Baker ESM, President of SLSA shared “SLSA recognises the importance of acknowledging Australia’s diverse community both within our patrolling members and the community who visit our beaches every day.  

“The Pride Surf Rescue Board is a visible sign of progress and acceptance for everyone on the beach”.  

The chevron incorporates the Rainbow Flag, an ubiquitous symbol for LGBTIQA+ communities worldwide, combined with the Progress Flag designed by American artist Daniel Quasar in 2018.   

The progress element of the chevron represents people of colour, those that have died and the white, pink and blue representing colours from the transgender flag.  

The idea for the board design was first conceptualised by Matthew Theris, patrolling member and Deputy President of Bellambi SLSC while on a rainy day in 2021.  

“It was a quiet day on patrol, a group of us were discussing how we could attract more members to the Club which led to ideas centred around inclusion and diversity. We thought that perhaps we could apply a Rainbow flag to a Surf Rescue Board, which may encourage more interest in surf life saving and indeed membership to our club.”  

After many design ideas a final concept was presented to Lifesavers with Pride, and Gary Driscoll recalls “we loved the idea… the idea of a rainbow rescue board had great merit. So with that we approached SLSA for support in producing a line of Rainbow Rescue Boards.”

Surf lifesavers and supporters have proudly marched in the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras since 2007 with 60 life savers marching in the first year.  Since then over 1,400 life savers have marched in the parade coming from clubs all across Sydney, regional NSW and Interstate.   

The Pride Rescue Board will be used by volunteer surf lifesavers across beaches all over Australia.