Amongst them, clubs with a great history such as Cronulla, Wanda, North Bondi, South Maroubra had come to test their skills in this early season hit out.

Saturday saw over 200 competitors line-up in our Endurance Ironman event and spectators on the beach numbered over 1000. Officials, under the guidance of Barry Loring, did a great job in keeping the events ticking over like clockwork.

On Sunday over 400 competitors, age ranging from the under 10 nippers to our veteran lifesavers in the over 50 category, met to compete.

The first event was the march past, an iconic surf lifesaving event that has been installed now as a Forster favourite. Clubs eagerly chased the points for having a go, even if some of the club flags were somewhat out of the ordinary.

Soon after competitors lined up for the first swims as the various age groups hit the water and charged out to the swim cans. The distance was testing for some and gave an indication of the amount of off season training that had been completed.

Events continued in the board and ski disciplines as the weather cleared and the temperature increased.

At midday there was a break in proceedings as a lunch interval was declared to give our hard working officials a chance to catch their breath and have a rest.

Darrell Roche our sponsor from the Professionals Forster Tuncurry was on hand to conduct the lucky draws for some great prizes. The major prize, a Kracka board valued at nearly $1000, was won by Rebecca Ives from Soldiers Beach SLSC. Rebecca and her parents were over the moon as this will allow Rebecca to move into a senior racing board next season when she competes in the under 14 age group.

David Thompson, SLSA director of surf sports announced the Australian Surf Life Saving championships would be returning to Kurrawa on the Gold Coast in 2010 for three years.