Rowers battle the sea inaugural Surf Boat Pro at the Geraldton Life Saving Club

The Geraldton Surf Life Saving Club hosted the Inaugural Surf Boat Pro as teams battled big surf to see who could best tame the waves. A staple event for surf lifesaving clubs surf boating sees five-person crews — four rowers and a sweep — attempt to get their boat out through the surf and back again in the fastest time possible. The sweep is the team leader who helps steer the boat and while the task may sound simple crews must battle high swells and power through the waves and a mistimed run through the surf can see the boat quickly turned over in the surf. Organised by a sweep from Coogee Surf Life Saving Club and a sweep from Geraldton Surf Life Saving Club crews from Sorrento, Mullaloo, Coogee and Cottesloe travelled up to Geraldton for the inaugural competition. They were greeted with tough conditions as teams began their mad scramble from the shore and not every boat was successful in timing their run out of the surf. The Mullaloo women’s team swept by Willow Williamson came out on top followed by a mixed crew from Sorrento swept by Craig Croke while Coogee swept by Kevin Mahony rounded out the podium. With the success of the first event the Surf Boat Pro will now be held annually serving as a recruitment drive to get more people interested in surf boat rowing and the Geraldton Surf Life Saving Club. The Geraldton Surf Life Saving Club will be holding a registration day on October 16.