Ocean Events

Ocean events are the heart of surf sports — testing swimming, paddling and boat skills out in the surf itself.

• Surf Swim — endurance, speed and surf awareness; individual and team races swimming around buoys and back to shore
• Board Paddling — strength, balance and surf skill on a racing board; individual races, board rescue (swimmer plus paddler), and three-person relay teams
• Surf Ski Racing — power, endurance and ocean knowledge; individual, double and relay ski formats
• Ironperson — a multi-discipline race combining swim, board paddle, ski paddle and beach run in one continuous course
• Surf Belt Race — a traditional event where a belt swimmer, linesmen and reel handler work together: the swimmer races to a buoy and is hauled back in
• Rescue Tube/Board Rescue — simulated rescue scenarios testing lifesaving skill, speed and technique, using swimming or paddling
• Taplin Relays — team relays combining swim, board, ski and run legs (the Youth "Cameron" version drops the ski leg, using swim, board and run only)
• Board Riding — surfing judged on wave selection, length of ride, and the quality and difficulty of turns and manoeuvres

Surf Boats also race in the ocean — see Surf Boat Racing.