Up to 30,000 expected at surf championships
Organisers are expecting up to 30,000 people a day at surf life saving championships to be held at Ocean Beach between February 25 and March 6.
Surf Life Saving representative Jonathan Abrahams said the event was expected to draw a large crowd.
"Depending on the day (we can expect) between 5000 and 30,000 in total per day with the peak days being both weekends," Mr Abrahams said.
Ocean Beach and Umina Surf Life Saving Clubs will be hosting several surf championships at Ocean Beach.
The Telstra NSW Junior Surf Life Saving Championships will be held from Friday, February 25 - 27, the NSW Masters Surf Life Saving Championships on Thursday March 3 and the NRMA Insurance NSW Surf Life Saving Championships from Friday March 4-6.
Events will generally run from 8am to 6pm each day.
Mr Abrahams said a full range of events would be held including Iron Man and Iron Woman, beach sprints, flags, surf skis, board, various relays, surf boats, Recover and Resuscitation and March Past, with events for both males and females.
Mr Abrahams said there were a number of factors that made Umina and Ocean Beach a good location for these events.
These included the local community's support of surf lifesaving in general, the proximity to Sydney and the Hunter region, a consistency of beach width and the commitment of the two host clubs to run a carnival.
"Sydney, the Central Coast and the Hunter area collectively account for more than 65 per cent of Surf Life Saving's statewide membership," Mr Abrahams said.
The championships are held annually with last year's event held at Shellharbour, South of Port Kembla in the Illawarra
Naming rights sponsors for the carnivals are Telstra and NRMA Insurance.
Supporting sponsors include The Sunday Telegraph, Worldwide Online Printing Gosford, Telstra Countrywide, Cadbury Ice Cream, Kellogg, Cadbury Schweppes Pepsi, VB (Carlton United Beverages), Ace Scaffolding and Caltex West Gosford.
More sponsors for the event are currently being confirmed.
Lyle Stone, January 14