Around 60 athletes had bucket loads of fun as the 2026 NSW Surf Life Saving Adaptive Championships played out on Sunday 22 February at Blacksmiths Beach, with the medals won just the gravy on a day full of smiles and laughter.
Running for the ninth successive year, the Adaptive Championships takes place much like the rest of the carnival, with abridged conditions or rules to help athletes of all abilities compete to their best.
The Adaptive Championships also returned to the site of the inaugural event, with Swansea Belmont SLSC the first club to host the Championships as part of the premier state surf sports carnival.
“The youngsters and the Opens have a hell of a lot of fun here,” referee Michael Day said.
“At my club, North Cronulla, and a lot of other clubs across the state, we’re building pathways for these adaptive competitors to not just be competitors in a surf sports sense but to be competitors in the sense of getting Bronze Medallions, going on patrol, getting on the radios.
“It’s utterly awesome, I’ve spent three days on this beach, today’s my fourth, and as much fun as that was, this just beats it.
“It’s a terrific program, there’s not going to be bigger smiles on the beach than you get here. Even from the officials.”
Daniel Driscoll of South Maroubra SLSC was one of many to compete this year, picking up bronze in the U17 Male Wade, Swim, Board, and Sprint, but an incredible gold medal in the U17 Male Beach Flags.
“This event is really great, a lot of people are here and the water is so good to get in.”
“What do I get out of this? Well, the medals – I’ve trained for this, lots of hard work, and I can’t wait to keep going.
“I’m good at the flags, for some reason I just always get up faster than everybody.”
The Redhead rockstars are a crew of five great competitors from a local club to the north of Swansea, and Age Manager, Emily Price said she was thrilled to have such a great group competing close to home.
Some key results from the Redhead club included Ryder Lowe and George Cranch both collecting golds in the U10 Male Sprint and Flags, respectively, while Koby Wolfenden won bronze in the U15 Male Wade and competed strongly in the Board.
Josephine Gilard and Elyse Hall were both impressive competitors in the water and on the sand.
“We have done so well, our team did so well and tried their hardest and the club got second place,” she said.
“We did all the races and we’re just out here doing what all Nippers do, but maybe having a bit more fun.”
“It’s truly amazing, I love watching these kids go round,” SLSNSW President, Elissa Hancock said, as a race continued behind her.
“They all support each other and that’s what so great about Surf Life Saving.
“Over the years more and more competitors get involved, it’s so great for the organisation to have events like this.”
North Steyne SLSC finished the day as the champion club, buoyed by great showings from Jacob Lee McLennan in the U14s, Shintaro Gilbert and Isaac Lee in the U19s, Kate Neville in the Opens, Zoe Au-Yeung and Vladimir Matic in the U13s, and Sonny Nicolussi and Ethan Au Yeung in the U15s.
For full results, click here.
Tuesday 23 February 2026