Coast surf lifesavers shine at state championships

The 2025 NSW Surf Life Saving State Open Championships kicked off on Thursday, March 13, with near perfect conditions.

Of the Central Coast clubs, it was Terrigal who led the charge in the water events, finishing 12th overall on the leaderboard, two spots in front of Avoca’s 14th place.

Under 19s competitor Lizzie Shearer was undoubtedly the star of the Terrigal team, bringing home two individual silver medals in the U19 female surf race, and the open female board race.

She rounded up her medal tally with a bronze in the U19 female team surf race, with fellow competitors Oliva Edwards, Skye Hackshall and Zahra Green.

Following closely behind on the medal tally was Terrigal teammate Jett Green, who also took home two individual medals; a gold in the U19 male board race, and a bronze in the U19 male iron.

A strong contingent of the Central Coast’s ski paddlers made their presence known, with Terrigal’s U19 female and male double ski teams bringing home silver medals, and Avoca’s open female single ski relay team bringing home a bronze.

Kaelan Montgomery of Terrigal also nabbed an individual bronze medal in his U17 male single ski race.

The Central Coast’s ski paddlers and their clubs are well supported by the Avoca Kayaking Club, with Head Coach Ange Manser –named the 2024 NSW Kayaking Coach of the Year – doing a superb job of training both technique and speed in her athletes.

NSW’s surf life saving athletes, along with other surf athletes from all over Australia, descend upon the Gold Coast from March 29-April 6 for the culmination of their season, the Aussie Titles.