Bude Surf Life Championships

Bude Beach Patrol - Surf Life Championship

Watch the surf life sporting competition with the well-known red and yellow surf life hats! The Surf Life Saving organisation originated in Australia in the 1907, and SLS Great Britain was formed in 1955 with the motto ‘Vigilance and Service’ based on beaches in Cornwall and around the UK. Members are responsible for patrolling local beaches, offering advice, first aid and rescue services. SLSGB Volunteers provide support on the UK’s beaches from May to September.

The (RNLI) Royal National Lifeguard Institution life guards operate in some areas on the behalf of the local authority, all year round. The lighter side to the SLSGB is the sporting competitions, involving swimming, sand running, mock rescues, rowing surfboats and kayaking. Australian Allan Kennedy formed the Surf Life Saving movement in Great Britain and when he moved to England in 1951 he shipped equipment from Australia in 1952 and set up the UK’s first SLSGB club in Bude, Cornwall. Today there are over 70 clubs with over 6,000 members.