Phil Clayton, Naomi Flood and Shannon Eckstein test three new flotation vests at North Kirra yesterday. Pic: Kit Wise
SURF Life Saving Australia is no closer to finding race-ready protective equipment after elite athletes yesterday rejected three safety vests being considered for competition use.High-profile racers Shannon Eckstein, Phil Clayton and Naomi Flood tested the personal protective equipment (PPE) at North Kirra Beach, the venue of next month's Australian Surf Lifesaving titles.
While all three understood the need for safety to be paramount, they rejected the three flotation vests under consideration, saying they actually posed risks to stricken competitors because the buoyancy aids prevented competitors from diving effectively under waves and dodging oncoming craft.
"We've got a great, iconic sport here in Australia and to bring something in that's going to slow it down, hinder the sport and slow pretty much everybody down, I don't think it's going to be too well received," Clayton said.
"But the whole outlook of this is safety and if they come up with something that we're comfortable in and think is going to be workable within the environment, I think everyone would jump on board.
"At the moment, they've still got a bit of work to do."
Testing on personal protective equipment (PPE) has been under way since 2010 but has ramped up significantly after the death of Sunshine Coast teen Matthew Barclay at last year's Australian Surf Lifesaving titles at Kurrawa.
Several safety measures will be in place for next month's Aussies at the calmer North Kirra site, including fluorescent rash vests for all competitors and risk assessors across the beach having the power to immediately halt proceedings if they have any concerns.
But there will be no mandatory protective wear for competitors and Surf Life Saving Australia officials admitted that could be some time away.
Barclay was the third lifesaver to die during the national titles at Kurrawa following the deaths of Saxon Bird, 19, in 2010 and Robert Gatenby, 15, at the 1996 championships.
Coroner Michael Barnes, who led the inquest into Bird's death, recommended investigating flotation devices and fluorescent vests in his 2010 report.
PPE project manager Bree Corbett said she could not put a timeline on the introduction of the vests, or helmets, which were also trialled yesterday.
"The key issue is not introducing secondary risks to our members," Corbett said.
"We're not sure if a vest will even be suitable for surf lifesaving operations. We're currently conducting more testing just to figure out if it's going to work."
It seems Corbett and her team will be sent back to the drawing board given the reaction of Clayton, Eckstein and Flood to the three "inherently buoyant" vests tested.
"It's not by any means perfect at the moment but they've definitely got a future looking at these things," Eckstein said.
"We're not silly. We know there's risk involved in the sport every time we go out in the surf. It's ever-changing and no one can ever guarantee that you're safe out there.
"Surf lifesaving's doing a great job in trying to perfect these things."
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