Get down to Surf Beach this Thursday evening to see Council lifeguards from around our region will be showing off their skills in a battle of the lifeguards relay race.

Kiama lifeguard, Blair Day, has organised the Lifeguard Challenge between the four councils – Kiama, Shellharbour, Wollongong and Shoalhaven ­– and is expecting up to 60 lifeguards to team up and go head-to-head.

“We just want to encourage a fun, friendly competition in a way that will to attest our skills, and nowhere better to stage it than Surf Beach,” Blair says.

The relay will see the lifeguard teams compete against each other in five legs. There will be a runner, swimmer, board paddler, two tube swimmers and a nipper board paddler.

Blair, who learnt his first surf skills as a Kiama nipper, hopes the event will become an annual affair and grow to become the South Coast’s version of the annual Bondi lifeguard relay.

Blair Day with fellow Lifeguard Brendan Smith, and a trophy he is recycling for the event

“It would be good if we could get this going down here as our own Illawarra/South Coast Challenge because I know the talent down here is just as strong as the guys on television up there,” he says.

“If anyone is around, come sit up on the grass and watch some fit people go around. It will be pretty exciting.”

Thursday 2 February, Surf Beach, 6pm