Canberra will host a 10km surf boat race next month. It is the most inland race in the country of its kind and a far cry from the rolling waves usually associated with this iconic Australian sport.
inauguration ceremony Burley Griffin Gift Crews from New South Wales and Victoria will battle it out on Lake Burley Griffin on Saturday 1st October in a test of endurance.
Surf boats with crews of four rowers and sweeps typically race against each other on over 800m courses that test strength and skill. The sport harkens back to a time when surf boats were essential lifeboats saving lives on Australian beaches.
The calm waters of Lake Burley Griffin may seem far removed from the beach setting, but this time of year, just before the short racing season begins, the open waters that are a feature of the surf boat racing calendar are on the horizon. A long race is held. The long race provides a great training opportunity for the crew for the New Year’s Batemans George Bass Surf Boat Marathon from his Bay to Eden.
The Brulee Surfers Surf Life Saving Club boat crew, who live and train in Canberra, had plans to bring the sport to Australia’s landlocked capital by hosting a surf boat race on Lake Burley Griffin.
“We were planning to have our first race in 2021,” explains Gary Pettigrove, president of the Broulee Surfers Surf Life Saving Club. The club is very excited to see it come to fruition this year. “
Boats from surf clubs in Sydney, South Coast NSW and as far away as Torquay, Victoria are expected to compete for the fastest surf boat on the lake.
The race is held in a time trial format, with boats starting on the foreshore of Kingston and heading to Springbank and the Spinnaker Islands before finishing in Kingston. Races are contested in Open, Under-23 and Masters categories.
Race organizer Steve Moore says there are plenty of vantage points for spectators. I’ll come back later and give people the best view,” he says. “But either the bridge or the settlement site offers a good view.”
of Burley Griffin Gift It is supported by Cox Architecture, Capital Brewing Co., G-Shock Australia, Canberra Floorcraft and Doma Hotels and offers great prizes for winners and competitors.
