The Sunshine Coast has been named host region of the 2022 and 2023 Surf Life Saving Queensland State Championships, with the new partnership announced on October 1st at Alexandra Headland Surf Life Saving Club.
The event will be sponsored by Sunshine Coast Council and Visit Sunshine Coast will provide promotional support for both events.
Sunshine Coast Councillor Jason O’Pray was joined by 2021 Queensland Youth Athlete of the Year Emma Woods, Alexandra Headland’s Jett Kenny, General Manager of Alexandra Headland SLSC Ashley Robinson and Surf Life Saving Queensland’s Sport Manager Stu Hogben for the announcement earlier this morning.
The annual event, which attracts more than 8,000 competitors and spectators alike, is Queensland surf lifesaving’s pinnacle sports event for the year. Athletes from all over Queensland battle it out in surf, ski and sand events, including the most gruelling of all, the Ironman and Ironwoman.
The Youth State Championships for athletes from under 11s through to under 15s will take place from February 25-27,2022. The Senior and Masters Championships will take place the following weekend from March 4-6, 2022.
The action will be just as exciting off the beach with a dedicated Festival Zone and entertainment precinct, which will include food and market stalls, a Big Screen to watch the action unfold, roving entertainment, athlete meet-and-greets and live music.
The six-day event is expected to generate $4.5 million into the local economy.
Economy Portfolio Councillor Jason O’Pray said after hosting the Aussies earlier this year, this event will reinforce the Sunshine Coast’s reputation as a safe and popular destination for delivering quality events.
“Alexandra Headland provides the perfect stretch of beach for the best in the state to test their rescue ready skills across the sand and the surf,” he said.
“Hosting the event in a quiet tourism period generates significant economic benefit for the region. So it’s a win win.”
Surf Life Saving Queensland CEO Dave Whimpey said the organisation is looking forward to seeing the carnival return to the iconic Sunshine Coast.
“We took our Surf Life Saving Queensland Championships to a new level in 2021 and we look forward to working with the Sunshine Coast Council and Visit Sunshine Coast on delivering an even better experience in 2022,” he said.
“Queensland has the best surf sports athletes in the country and we look forward to celebrating them again in 2022 through our daily livestream and atmosphere in our Festival Zone.”
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