The sport of Life Saving is unique in the fact that it actually helps people to save lives. It is primarily intended to encourage lifesavers to develop, maintain and improve the essential physical and mental skills needed to save lives from the beach. The multi-disciplined sport of lifesaving has grown with the increase of Life Saving Clubs. Life Savers now compete to test their fitness and surf skills in local, regional and national competitions.

Originally lifesaving sport was little more than a way of keeping lifesavers fit; now for some it is a full time career, especially in Australia. The Australian National Lifesaving Championships are the 2nd biggest participation event in the world, only 2nd to the Olympic Games. In the UK our National Championships are a smaller affair but still attract more than 500 competitors each year. In Cornwall alone over the 3 sections we have more than 600 competitors. Gyllyngvase SLSC has hosted the National Nipper and Youth Championships for the last 2 years running.

All the events have some element relating to the skills required to save lives at sea; including the flags event, which is about quick reactions and tube rescue, simulating rescuing a casualty from the sea. The sport helps to develop our Lifesavers skills, knowledge and techniques. There are opportunities for members to compete for Cornwall, England and GB teams which are selected from ranking events with specific criteria. As a club, Gylly SLSC are becoming a strong Surf Life Saving Sport contender. We finished 8th out of 31 in the Super Club rankings in 2010, above many more established and larger clubs.

Surf Life Saving Competitions are divided into the following areas:

• Surf swimming.
• Beach events (sprints and distance running events, relay and beach flags).
• Team events – running, swimming and craft relays.
• Board and ski paddling.
• Surf boat rowing.
• IRB simulated rescue.
• Stillwater events.