LAURA Thurtell returned from the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships in Perth earlier this month with two silver medals.
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Two Forster Surf Life Saving Club members competed in the event, which was billed as the largest event of its kind in the world, in the same magnitude as the Commonwealth Games.
More than 5000 athletes turned out on Scarborough Beach representing 190 clubs from around the country.
Laura Thurtell and Kim Winter from the Forster club took on the best representatives from strong clubs throughout Australia in their separate age divisions.
Laura, in the 45-49 years category, finished second in the surf swim, second in the rescue tube race and fourth in the Ironman event.
“It was freezing cold and you were cold all day, sitting around in slightly damp swimmers, trying to warm up between races."
- Laure Thurtell
Kim, who was suffering from a recent illness, in the 50-54 years events, came fourth in the ski, fifth in the 2km run and fifth in the flags. The performances were the culmination of months of preparation for the two athletes, with up to 11 training sessions a week.
The conditions at Scarborough posed a significant challenge for all the competitors. On the water, conditions varied between flat and calm to choppy, and there was a trough and bank to deal with.
“Tactically, it made it very hard,” Kim said.
The famous West Australian afternoon wind ‘The Doctor’ also posed some problems for competitors, while the chilly conditions out of the water lasted all day.
“It was freezing cold and you were cold all day, sitting around in slightly damp swimmers, trying to warm up between races,” Laura said.
Both competitors have taken part in the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships before, which were held last year on the Gold Coast. They are drawn to it by the level of competition, which offered the best in Australia.
After training as a lifesaver in Sydney as a teenager, Laura took up the sport about eight years ago after a 20-year break.
Kim completed her bronze medallion in 1986, but joined the local club 10 years ago and took up competition in 2010.
Laura will now coach club members and compete herself at the NSW Pool Rescue Championships in July at Woy Woy and Australian Pool Rescue Championships in August at Homebush. She is hoping to convince Kim to join her there in competition.
