Scotch College

Our state under 15 surf champion

After a series of gruelling heats over the weekend of 3 and 4 March at Apollo Bay, Nick Tissot of Year 8 won the under 15 beach flags and 90m beach sprint events at the Victorian surf lifesaving titles, and became state under 15 champion.

Representing Portsea Surf Lifesaving Club, Nick won the right to participate in the national surf lifesaving titles at Scarborough in Perth, and compete against Australia’s best.

Nick believes surf lifesaving has opened up many opportunities for him. He appreciates that as well as supporting the local community, lifesaving involves fitness training, education, beach patrols, and some great surf club events.

Over summer a series of carnivals is held at various Victorian surf clubs, including such famous beaches as Lorne, Jan Juc, Gunnamatta, Anglesea, Torquay, Point Leo, Portsea and Sorrento. These carnivals usually decide the competitors to represent each club in the state titles.

On the Saturday of competition at Apollo Bay, there were numerous hard-fought elimination heats in a variety of events, including beach flags, sprints, relays, swimming, surfboats and reels. It set the scene for Sunday’s finals – and Nick Tissot’s triumph in the under 15 section.