The Sunshine Coast has secured one of Queensland’s biggest and most iconic sporting events for not one, but two years.
We have been named host region for the 2022 and 2023 Surf Life Saving Queensland State Championships, which attract more than 8000 competitors, officials, supporters and spectators.
Each six-day event is expected to inject $4.5 million into the local economy.
Alexandra Headland will be host club and the surf spectacle will be sponsored by Sunshine Coast Council with Visit Sunshine Coast providing promotional support.
Sunshine Coast Councillor Jason O’Pray was joined by 2021 Queensland Youth Athlete of the Year Emma Woods (pictured), Alexandra Headland’s Jett Kenny, host club general manager Ashley Robinson and Surf Life Saving Queensland’s sport manager Stu Hogben at the official announcement.
Athletes from all over Queensland will 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, while the Senior and Masters Championships will be held 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.
Economy Portfolio Councillor Jason O’Pray said that after hosting the Aussies earlier this year, this event would 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 was 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.”
Help keep independent and fair Sunshine Coast news and sport coming by subscribing to our free daily news feed. All it requires is your name and email. See SUBSCRIBE at the top of this article
