By Molly Magennis
Two Altona Life Saving Club athletes competed in the Surf Life Saving Australia Super Surf Teams League at the weekend.
Jack Wolff and Saxon Davidson were a part of two Victorian teams that competed in the event in Bondi, the Victoria Blues and Victoria White.
It was the first time Victoria has ever fielded two teams in the event, which was a curtain raiser for the Kelloggs Nutri Grain IronMan and IronWoman Series.
Both athletes achieved individual success, with Wolff coming first in the round one Men’s beach sprint B final, second in the round three Men’s beach sprint B final and third in the round two Men’s beach flags B final.
Davidson took home third place in the Men’s beach flags A final and first place in the round two Men’s beach flags B final.
Wolff said he and Saxon were very proud to represent Altona in the Super Surf Teams League.
“It was great to put our training to the test against some of Australia’s best beach athletes and even better to come away with a win in the round one beach sprint B final and see my teammate Saxon take out the B final of the flags in round two.”
“Congratulations to the entire Victorian team on a fantastic effort and thank you to our head coach Cliff Goulding and team manager Sonia Kinsey for your support.”
Overall, round one saw the Victoria Blues in 8th place and Victoria White in 10th. In the mixed ocean relay, they managed 6th and 8th respectively.
Life Saving Victoria director of aquatic sport Aaron Green said LSV is incredibly proud of the athletes who represented Victoria.
“To make one of the teams is an achievement in itself, so to see Jack and Saxon having consistent top three finishes in the beach sprints and beach flags is fantastic, especially after such a disruptive two years for our athletes with COVID-19 lockdown impacts,” he said.
“As well as raising the curtain for the iconic Kelloggs Nutri Grain Series, which boasts our sport’s athletes, including former Victorian Harriet Brown, they also raced in one of the events, the Ocean Relay, that SLSA will take to the International Olympic Committee as they bid for lifesaving sports to be a part of the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games.
“It is incredible to think that in ten years’ time, we could be seeing Victorian athletes like Jack and Saxon lining up for board, surf, ski and sprint races like they were at North Bondi this weekend for an Olympic gold medal.”
