Learn
Disciplines
Surf lifesaving races split into beach events on the sand, water events in the surf, and team and rescue events. Each guide explains the rules and distances, then shows the latest South African winners. The official LSA rules for each event are summarised in rules explained.
Beach
- Beach flagsBeach flags explained: lie face down, jump up, sprint 20 m (15 m for nippers and masters) and grab a baton. Each round knocks someone out.
- Beach sprint & beach relayBeach sprint explained: a 90 m dash on soft sand (70 m for masters, 50–70 m for nippers), run in lanes. The beach relay is four runners over the same course.
- Beach runThe beach run is the long race on soft sand: 2 km for seniors, 1.4–1.8 km for juniors and 800 m to 1.2 km for nippers, in four legs along the water.
Water
- Surf swim (surf race)The surf swim (surf race) is a run into the waves, a swim around buoys set 120 m out for seniors (60–80 m for nippers) and a run up the beach.
- Run-swim-runRun-swim-run: about 200 m on the sand, a swim around buoys 120 m out and 200 m back to the finish; nippers race shorter runs and buoys.
- Board race (and bodyboard)The board race: start on the beach, paddle a rescue board around buoys 200 m offshore and sprint up the beach to finish. U9 to U12 nippers race bodyboards.
- Surf skiThe surf ski race: a sit-on-top kayak-style craft paddled from knee-deep water around buoys 250 m out and back through the surf to an in-water finish.
- Ironman & ironwomanThe ironman and ironwoman combines a swim, board and surf ski leg, in an order drawn by ballot, with a run finish. U13 and U14 nippers race the iron nipper.
Team & rescue
- Taplin relayThe Taplin is the team relay version of the ironman: a swimmer, board paddler, ski paddler and runner. Masters teams have three; nippers run, swim and paddle.
- Rescue events: tube rescue & board rescueLifesaving's rescue events: a 'patient' swims out to a buoy and is brought back by a teammate on a rescue board, or towed in with a rescue tube and fins.
Sources
- Lifesaving South Africa — Competition Manual, 17th edition (November 2022)
- International Life Saving Federation — Competition Rule Book, 2025 edition (revised May 2026)
Updated 29 September 2026. Spotted something wrong? Email hello@flagline.co.za.