Pens down surf’s up for students in local lifeline comp

Twenty high school surf teams from across the Northern Beaches and North Shore will be competing in this year’s Lifeline High Schools Surf Challenge on Thursday, 24 March at Dee Why.  Please note the late venue change due to pollution at Queenscliff.

Last year’s boys champions, St Luke’s Grammar School, are back again to see if they can make it two in a row.

But they’re facing stiff competition from 2021 runners-up, NBSC Balgowlah Boys Campus, who are entering two teams.

“It’s a great day of friendly interschool competition with the groms learning about team challenges and working together as a team,” says Scott Rylands, from NBSC Balgowlah Boys Campus. “The boys are excited about the comp and we’ll give it our best effort to take home the title this year.”

This is the fifth year of the high school event, and each year showcases significant talent in the surf. This year’s competitors will include young guns Jack MacDonald (NBSC Balgowlah Bays Campus) and Gor Ozharovsky (St Luke’s Grammar School).

According to Lifeline Northern Beaches CEO, David Thomas, the High Schools Surf Challenge is an important event in outreach to youth.

“This is a schools event which aims to promote understanding and normalisation of the discussion around mental health amongst northern beaches youth,” says David. “Held over the course of one day it is the only inter school surfing tag team competition on the Peninsula and is growing every year in stature.”

Lifeline Northern Beaches offers low-cost and free support services, including a youth counselling service at the Avalon Youth Hub and from Balgowlah.

Check out the surfing action from 8.30am at Dee Why Beach on Thursday, 24 March.

If you need support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 anytime.

Ongoing support is available. Call 9949 5522 or visit www.lifelinenb.org.au/get-help

Competing teams:

Boys Division:

1. The Forest High School
2. Shore School
3. St Luke’s Grammar School A – Defending Champions – Gor Ozharovsky
4. St Luke’s Grammar School B
5. Pittwater House
6. NBSC Balgowlah Boys Campus A
7. NBSC Balgowlah Boys Campus B
8. Narrabeen Sports High School A
9. Narrabeen Sports High School B
10. Narrabeen Sports High School C
11. NBSC Freshwater Senior Campus A
12. NBSC Freshwater Senior Campus B
13. Northern Beaches Christian School A
14. Northern Beaches Christian School B
15. Barrenjoey High School

Girls Division

1. Pymble Ladies College
2. St Luke’s Grammar School
3. Narrabeen Sports High School
4. NBSC Freshwater Senior Campus
5. Barrenjoey High School