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Ironman surflifesaving is a sport that combines four major aspects of surflifesaving into a single race. The sport originated in Australia where it still remains extremely popular.

A race consist of four legs, three water legs (swimming, board paddling, and kayak ski paddling), and one beach running leg.

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The ski leg involves paddling an 18ft kayak around three buoys (similar to beach sprint rowing). The swimming leg requires a swim around 9 colored buoys. For the board leg, athletes are required to paddle a Malibu paddle board on a course setup with four black-and-white lines.

Races are conducted in an alternating water and run leg format. The race starts with a swim (about 400m), ski (about 800m), or board (about 600m), for about 3 to 4 minutes. It is followed by running on the beach around two flag posts, for about 150m.

The races continue until all three different water legs are completed each followed by a run. The race ends in a finish line, and the athlete to cross it first is declared as the winner.

Ironman surflifesaving competitions are conducted as part of most beach carnivals. Some of the major events for the sport are Australian Ironman Championship, the World Championship, and the Coolangatta Gold.

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Similar Sports

• Surf Lifesaving — competitions consist of performing various tasks performed by lifeguards on the beach
• Surfboat Rowing — a team of riders compete using surfboats on a course out and back through the surf.
• Beach Sprint Rowing — short rowing race in the open water also involving a beach sprint.
• Paddleboarding — a person kneels or lies prone on a board and uses their arms and hands to propel themselves through the water.
• Beach Flags — a surf lifesaving sport in which competitors race in the sand to collect a flag.
• Open Water Swimming — competitive swimming races conducted over various distances (10km at the Olympics) held in rivers, lakes and oceans.
• Surfing — participants stand on a surfboard, and use the waves for propulsion

Related Pages

• Ironman Triathlon — 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile cycle and a marathon run.
• Complete list of sports
• The Encyclopedia of Sports
• Sport in Australia