"Aussies" make a major splash on Scarborough Beach

Australia’s fittest surf lifesavers are gearing up for a week of intense competition as the 2008 UBD Australian Surf Life Saving Championships return to Scarborough Beach.

The championships, proudly known as "the Aussies", are the world’s biggest surf carnival with the major competitions on this weekend, 5 & 6 April.

The championships represent the peak of competition for surf lifesavers from Australia’s 305 surf life saving clubs who give up their time to patrol the nation’s beaches.

This year, about 12,000 competitors, officials and spectators will visit Scarborough Beach to witness six days of exhilarating action. Events include surf races, surf ski paddling, board paddling, beach events, including sprints, Ironman and Ironwoman, surfboard riding, rescue and resuscitation and the world-famous surf boat races.