The ASRL represents the surf rowers of Australia, guiding the development and promoting the advancement of National surfboat competition at both grassroots and elite levels.
Important updates regarding the Australian National Championships are being sent to all our subscribers via email. All members and interested persons are encouraged to read and take note. You can view all of the updates BY CLICKING HERE. If you are not already subscribed to our Newsletters, you can do so on that same page.
Results from the final day of racing at 2022 ASRL Open are available to view! A full summary will be distributed to the membership in the coming week. For now, to review all results please download the ASRL app.
The ASRL Committee announces the formation of a Sweeps Academy as an initiative of the ASRL Sweeps Committee. The Sweeps Academy will develop, deliver and update training resources for the training and development of sweeps across Australia.
Expressions of Interest are sought for 6 x ASRL Sweep Instructor/Assessors volunteer appointments. Applications close on 13 March 2022.
You can read more, join the conversation and download the position descriptions by CLICKING HERE
LIVE STREAM IS BACK AGAIN, and this year we are going streaming ALL FOUR DAYS!
We are excited to have BigVoice Media Group onboard to deliver an enhanced stream! The stream will be available on Facebook and YouTube through our channels (links below)
Schedule (all in NSW time, check your local time)
Thursday 17 February 12:30 - 13:00 LIVE ASRL Open Preview Show 13:00 - 16:00* Masters, including finals
FRIDAY 18 FEBRUARY 07:30 - 16:30* Racing including heats of Reserve Grade male and female, Interstate Championships and heats of Under 23 male and female
SATURDAY 19 FEBRUARY 07:30 - 16:30* Racing including heats of Open Male and female, and heats of Under 19 male and female, followed by elimination racing
SUNDAY 20 FEBRUARY 07:30 - 15:00* Elimination racing followed by FINALS
* Finishing times are TBC and are an estimate as of time of publication. Finish times could be earlier or later than what is advertised.
2022 ASRL OpenSITE MAPS AND BOAT PARKING: Please make yourself familiar with the traffic management plans for parking cars and boat trailers in relation to the 2022 ASRL Open.
ASRL OPEN 2022 - WELCOME! BULLETIN #1 NOW AVAILABLE
Welcome to the first bulletin for 2022 ASRL Open!
Please take the time to read the latest updates throughout this publication.
The ASRL Open is proudly supported by; Team Navy The NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW Surf Life Saving Australia Sutherland Shire Council Elouera SLSC
The second bulletin will be made available most likely in early February.
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS BULLETIN AND WILL GO OUT IN BULLETIN #TWO IS
Entries are NOW OPEN for 2022 ASRL Open, held from 17 - 20 February 2022.
Entries are open to all eight divisions along with multiple Masters age categories 160+ and up.
The entry fee is $65.00 per competitor.
Surf Sports Officers/Boat Captains are to complete entries via SEMS. This is the first time we have used SEMS for ASRL Open.
22 December - Entries Open 6 February - Entries Close, invoicing occurs 13 February - Late Entries Close (additional $15 fee) 13 February - Payments due (clubs will be invoiced on 7 February)
SCHEDULE
THURSDAY 17 FEBRUARY PM - Masters
FRIDAY 18 FEBRUARY Reserves (M/F), Under 23 (M/F), Interstates (order of racing TBC closer to event)
SATURDAY 19 FEBRUARY Open (M/F), Under 19 (M/F) and elimination racing with all categories to be prepared to race
SUNDAY 20 FEBRUARY FINALS!
PLEASE NOTE - Confirmed block times will be made available closer to the event. As with many events, the Order of Events is pending COVID-19 regulations and all updates will be published to the surf boat community as they arise.
For ALL enquires please email events@asrl.com.au and a member of the Event Organising Committee will respond.
The ASRL Open is proudly supported by Team Navy, the NSW Government through Destination NSW, Sutherland Shire Council and Elouera SLSC.
The ASRL are looking to build a list of key contacts for a database leading into the ASRL Open, throughout the event, and afterwards to ensure that we have a key contact per club.
Please work with your fellow 'boaties' at your club to have one person (more than likely your Boat Captain) complete the Google form link below.
Surf Boat officials new and old, local and interstate are encouraged to submit an expression of interest in the season's 2022 ASRL Open to be held from 17 - 20 February at Elouera, NSW.
Please complete the Google form, which includes a medical form, via link below to secure your expression of interest to officiate.
The attached "History of the Modern Surfboat" has been very generously compiled by Bert Hunt, Life Member ASRL
You're now invited to read through the updated history of the modern surf boat. We hope you enjoy revisiting some of the wonderful memories of our past and present surfboat builders.
Bert adds: "This document hasn’t been researched to the point of total accuracy and isn’t meant to be the definitive compilation of the stages of surfboat manufacture. It is written with a view to inviting others to provide some of the detail to backfill some of the gaps. Apologies in advance to any boat builder missed or for any detail not correct, as this is an attempt to create a running history of our evolution and later versions will correct and record and add any missing pieces."
Australia’s premier surf boat event will be heading back to one of Australia’s favourite beaches in 2022, bringing more than 3,000 competitors, supporters and event officials to Cronulla in Sydney’s south.
The 2022 Australian Surf Rowers League (ASRL) Open will be held at Cronulla’s Elouera beach from 17 – 20 February 2022, with over 350 surf boat crews from almost 100 clubs expected to attend. This equates to thousands of surf life savers from across Australia who will head to Elouera for four days of exhilarating surf boat racing.
The Australian Surf Rowers League would like to introduce two incoming ASRL Vice Presidents. The incoming members replace Don Cotterill (did not re-elect) and Nick Sampson (moved into President role).
GRANT HOWE (Tasmania) - One Year Term Father of 4 President of Surf Boat Rowers Tasmania. Managing Director Zenith Wealth, Financial Adviser, Business Coach and Key Note Speaker Podcast Host “Get the Know Howe”” Rotarian Member of the Penguin Surf Life Saving Club in North West Tasmania
Grant commenced rowing as a Junior in 1989, concluding his rowing in 2006.
After a significant period of time away from Surf Life Saving, he re-joined at Penguin in 2019 to row for general fun and fitness.
"I was a little taken back at how much participation and standard had declined therefore deciding to give back to the sport that had previously given so much to me during my younger years. I drove the reformation of Surf Boat Rowers Tasmania, and with a very passionate team, we have built a three year plan to rebuild the sport here in Tasmania, which we have already made significant inroads during the season just finished."
Grant's business experience and surf boat passion will ensure he is an outstanding Vice President for your ASRL.
PHIL CHIPMAN (Queensland) - Two Year Term
With over 30 years of engineering and project management experience Phil Chipman is currently the Technical Director of GoldlinQ who supervise the design, construction and operation of the Gold Coast Light Rail.
Prior to this appointment Phil held various senior appointments in major water infrastructure projects and associated road and community infrastructure projects in Queensland. Phil started his career in the Australian Army as an officer in the Royal Australian Engineers.
Phil was President of the Mermaid Beach AEME Surf Life Saving Club from July 2011 until July 2017 and was made a Life Member of the club in 2015. He has held the appointments of Boat Captain at Mermaid Beach for 12 years, Surf Sports Director for two years and Secretary. Under Phil’s presidency the Mermaid Beach SLSC won Queensland Surf Life Saving Club of the Year consecutively in 2013-14 and 2014-15 and Australian Surf Life Saving Club of the Year 2014-15. Phil was also the President of South Coast Branch of Surf Life Saving Queensland where he represented the 12 surf clubs in the northern Gold Coast and Southern Moreton Bay area over the period July 2015- July 2017. As such was a member of the Queensland State Lifesaving Council over this period.
Phil gained his Bronze in January 1990 at Southport (Queensland) and has also been a member of Arcadian SLSC (Townsville).
Phil has rowed surf boats since gaining his Bronze in 1990 and been sweeping since coming to Mermaid in 1999. He is currently stroke of the Mermaid Mayhem 200 masters crew who won Queensland and Australian Gold medals at the 2021 championships. Prior to this he had previously won one Gold and one Silver Australian medal in masters competition plus numerous State medals.
Phil brings a wealth of experience in surf boat rowing, sweeping and surf life saving governance to the ASRL Committee.
ASRL COMMITTEE FOR UPCOMING SEASON Nick Sampson (President) Natasha Tunney (Secretary) Rory Gillespie (Treasurer) Edwina Wright (Vice President) Geoff Wilson (Vice President) Grant Howe (Vice President) Grant Wilkinson (Vice President) Phil Chipman (Vice President) Rod Costa (Vice President)
The Australian Surf Rowers League (ASRL) are proud to announce REX DALE as the forty-sixth inductee into the ASRL Hall of Fame.
Pictured are Rex's boat crew at Dee Why when winning gold at Australian Championships in 1975 - Peter Grant, Bob Luce, Lance Hately, Gary McKellar and Rex Dale.
Rex rowed in Point Lonsdale SLSC 'A' crew from 1967-1980 and his record is outstanding.
AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS (5 medals as a rower in 6 years)
1st Dee Why 1975 1st Clifton Beach 1976 2nd Glenelg 1974 3rd Kingscliff 1978 3rd Trigg Island 1979
After rowing, Rex served as an official at state carnivals and Australian Championships for 25 years.
AWARDS GAINED Australian Sports Medal 2000 Victorian Sports Star Medal 1977 Life Member Point Lonsdale SLSC Life Member Victorian Surf Rowers League (VSRL) Life Member Life Saving Victoria Outstanding Service Medal VSRL Distinguished Service Medal VSRL
Congratulations to Nick Sampson (Avalon Beach SLSC) who has won the election for the role of President of the Australian Surf Rowers League. We would also like to thank Phil Chipman for putting his hand up to nominate for the position.
Nick nominated for ASRL president to tackle the unprecedented challenges we are facing in surf boats and more broadly Surf Sports under the Surf Life Saving Banner. Using his experience and knowledge, Nick and his committee will face the challenges head on and work with the clubs, branches and states to see that the sport of surf boats is protected from further decline. Nick will challenge each of the states' surf boat panels to be innovative and try new ways of working that will be sustainable and improve the experience for our members.
Below is a summary of Nick Sampson’s involvement in surf boat rowing.
NATIONAL INVOLVEMENT ASRL Vice-President - 4 years to current National Surf Boat Advisory Panel member - 3 years to current ASRL Open Event Committee - 3 years to current
STATE/BRANCH INVOLVEMENT Assistant State Team Manager - 2 years Chair of the Sydney Northern Beaches (SNB) Surf Boat Panel - 6 years to current Deputy Director Surf Sports SNB - 5 years Branch Team Manager - 2016 Assistant Branch Team Manager - 2016 to current
CLUB INVOLVEMENT Director of Life Saving - 2 years to current Director of Surf Sports - 6 years Boat Captain - 2 years Bar Manager - 6 years to current Junior Captain - 2 years
ACHIEVEMENTS World Gold National Team Gold State Team Gold ASRL Silver ASRL Bronze State Gold x 2 State Silver x 3 State Bronze x 3 Branch Gold x 3 Branch Premiership Gold x 7
AUSTRALIAN SURF ROWERS LEAGUE INC. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2021 Venue: Tallebudgera SLSC, 10th July, 1:00pm
Please note the venue date/time may change due to covid restrictions
Please note due to the growing COVID-19 situation in NSW, the ASRL Annual General Meeting has moved to Queensland. Attendance restrictions may apply. We will release further information closer to the Annual General Meeting.
AUSTRALIAN SURF ROWERS LEAGUE INC. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2021 - AGENDA Venue: Wanda SLSC, 10th July, 1:00pm 2 Marine Esplanade, Cronulla NSW 2230
Please note the venue date/time may change due to covid restrictions
We have one position, President that requires a vote. Voting will open for this position at 1:00pm on Wednesday, 23rd June and close on Saturday, 10th July at 1:00pm.
All current Financial Members, Life Members and Hall of Fame Members will receive an email providing a unique link for access to the vote, controlled by our webmaster Perry Brennan. Members will be asked for a simple yes or no. To be the successful candidate for president a simple majority of votes is required.
TO READ/DOWNLOAD THE FULL AGENDA AND OTHER AGM INFORMATION CLICK HERE
Australian Surf Rowers League (ASRL) NOTICE OF 2021 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Date: 10th July 2021 Time: 1.00pm Location: St Kilda Surf Life Saving Club, St Kilda VIC
* An open forum for all members will follow the AGM *
Call for ASRL Committee Nominations:
In accordance with the ASRL Constitution Clause 20, the ASRL Committee hereby calls for nominations for President, Secretary and 3 Vice-Presidents.
These positions are currently held by Michael Brooks - President, Natasha Tunney - Secretary, Don Cotterill, Grant Wilkinson, and Geoff Wilson Vice-Presidents
Rory Gillespie, the Treasurer and Three Vice-Presidents – Nick Sampson, Rod Costa and Edwina Wright - continue in their current positions for a further 12 months.
Nominations must be made in writing, signed by 2 current ASRL Members and accompanied by the nominee’s written consent. Nominations must be delivered to the ASRL Secretary no later than 28 days prior to the 2021 ASRL Annual General Meeting, ie,13th June 2021
YOU CAN DOWNLOAD/READ THE FULL NOTICE AND NOMINATION FORM BY CLICKING HERE
All fully completed surveys will go into the draw to win a Garmin vívoactive® 4 Shadow Gray with Silver Hardware watch valued at $579 or one of ten fitness packs including a Bopp Sport Activity Bottle, Mako Beach Towel and Zen yoga mat, all with the ASRL logo.
The survey will close at midnight, 28/03/2021. All the information you provide will be confidential and used for analysis purposes only, and your responses will not be identified in any way. Personal details you provide for any corresponding Competition you choose to enter will be used for this purpose only. Your information will be handled according to the Promoters Privacy Policy located at: https://www.sydney.com/privacy. You can opt out at any time. Please see Terms and Conditions for more information.
On behalf of the ASRL Committee and Carnival Referee Tamara Brawn we would like to thank everyone for their support of 2021 ASRL Open.
Our officials were amazing, the work party excellent and the water safety crew outstanding.
Below are the results from the three days of racing. More photos will be released in the coming days thanks to our amazing volunteer photographer Malcolm Trees (photo credit for image above), and you can revisit the footage on our YouTube and Facebook accounts, just click on 'videos'.
The 2021 ASRL Open will be live streamed once again, capturing the key moments of the event!
The LIVE STREAM will be available DAILY via Team Navy ASRL Facebook and Australian Surf Rowers League YouTube from 8am Friday, 11am Saturday and 9am Sunday. ***Times are a guide and will be confirmed prior to each day of competition. Times are NSW so please check your local time.
Can't make the ASRL Open this year? Get your mates and watch all of the action! Open up your surf club and live stream it on the big screen!
Please note this IMPORTANT messaging about the COMMUNICATIONS throughout 2021 ASRL Open.
*From Thursday night, we will only be using Team Navy ASRL Facebook and Team Navy ASRL Instagram @TeamNayyASRL for updates throughout the ASRL Open. We will NOT be using email/website for any of the days. Please ensure that you have access to at least one of these platforms, or at a minimum a couple of members of the crew. We will do our best to share key messaging to state based groups, although you need to get onto the platforms listed for the most up to date information
*All draws, results and schedules will be on the ASRL mobile app. You can get this in your App store on iphone or Google Play Store on android
The program below is for 2021 Team Navy ASRL Open, due to be held at Mollymook on Friday 5 March through to Sunday 7 March 2021.
The program is pending any further COVID restrictions and final numbers.
FRIDAY 5 MARCH 07:30 - Masters 10:30 (EARLIEST) - Interstates 12:30 (APPROX) Reserve Male and Reserve Female to commence racing at the conclusion of Interstates
SATURDAY 6 MARCH 07:30 - Block one, Under 19 Male, Under 19 Female and Under 23 Female Racing will commence at the conclusion of block one for Under 23 Male, Open Male and Open Female * If additional racing is required from Reserve Grade on Friday this will be included in block two
SUNDAY 7 MARCH 07:30 - Finals for all divisions We will be pushing racing until later in the day on Sunday (if required) so please be prepared for a full day on the beach.
New Date; Friday 5th March to Sunday 7th March 2021
With the current border restrictions, the ASRL Committee has pushed back the Open by 2 weeks to give the best opportunity for all states to attend.
“It’s a national event and we want everyone there” said ASRL President Michael Brooks.
Mr Brooks added “With every possible option explored and extensive consultation done with every state this was our best date working in with various state titles , Easter and Australian Titles. With this decision made the event will proceed regardless even if borders don’t allow all states to attend”.
The decision has also been made to reduce the program back to our traditional 3 day event. Stay tuned for program details including the Interstate Championships. What we can confirm is we will have a full days racing on Sunday, so if you choose to leave early, you do this at your own risk to missing finals.
The committee would appreciate clubs to enter early to allow planning of the event, remembering that the Team Navy ASRL Open has a full refund policy should crews have to withdraw, or the event is cancelled, due to Covid 19 Border Restrictions.
Entries are now open and have been extended until 19 February 2021, and invoicing won't commence until this date. For more information on entry information (note extended cut off dates) please CLICK HERE. In addition, officials EOIs close on 1 February, and CLICK HERE to complete the EOI.
9 January - Entries open 5 February - Entries close, invoicing occurs 10 February - Late entries close (additional $15 fee) 12 February - Payments due
As you are aware, we are in an uncertain environment due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Our refund policy is we will refund all entries if the event is postponed or cancelled due to COVID/border restrictions. For our latest statement on this please CLICK HERE
For ALL enquires please email asrlopen2021@asrl.com.au and a member of the Event Organising Committee will respond.
An insightful ASRL President's update is now available via the link below. Michael Brooks revisits the year that was and provides key updates on ASRL initiatives, such as the upgraded ASRL app..
By now, all members who have subscribed to our Newsletter would also have received notice of the ASRL looking to secure an alternate plan B date for the 2021 Open (click here for ASRL statement). We are keeping a close eye on the situation and will keep you informed as new information comes to hand. Obviously we are still hoping to run the event as originally planned,
All members are encouraged to read the FULL update which can be found by clicking HERE
