EXCHANGE PROGRAM

Shimoda Life Saving Club – Sister Club Since 1999

Maroochydore Surf Life Saving Club has an official sister club relationship with the Shimoda Life Saving Club, situated in Shizuoka Prefecture in Japan, approximately 120 kilometers south-west of Tokyo. The relationship between the two clubs began in 1993 when a commitment was made to explore Surf Life Saving and surf sports between the two clubs. The first of many Maroochydore Life Savers travelled to patrol and train on Shimoda beaches in 1997 and in December of 1998 the first team of Shimoda Surf Life Savers travelled to Maroochydore to participate in a Life Saving training camp. The Sister Club Agreement was then formally signed and dated on the 21^st of December 1998.

The exchange is mutually beneficial to our learning and development as lifesavers, giving us experience and exposure and a new appreciation of the operations of lifesaving and a realisation of the processes involved. As Maroochydore Lifesavers we have the opportunity to educate and facilitate training that has been pioneered in the Australian surf over centauries. We have the chance to live, learn and patrol with our Japanese colleagues, being exposed to the Japanese way of Lifesaving and the discipline and unquestionable commitment to doing a full day patrol in the heat with relentless rescues and endless preventative actions. During our time in Japan, Maroochydore Members are exposed to training, living and patrolling on Shimoda’s beaches with over 10,000 beachgoers that have travelled hours to get to the beach on only an occasional basis.

When the Shimoda Lifesavers attend Maroochydore annually, in the midst of the Australian summer, the training skills are delivered by various experts in there specialty skills, looking at the competitive sports of Surf Swimming, Board Paddling and Surf Skiing, all used to enhance a lifesaver’s abilities. The sessions we offer also explore the lifesaving techniques that have been pioneered throughout Maroochydore Surf Club’s one hundred year history. During the Shimoda lifesavers time in Australia, Maroochydore surf club members also aim to expose the Shimoda members too much of the Australian culture and tourism aspects of the Sunshine Coast.

More information can be found at their website:
Shimoda Website www.shimoda-lifesaving-eng.jimdo.com

Maroochydore Team Visit to Shimoda – late July / August each year CLICK HERE for more information
Shimoda Team Visit to Maroochydore – December each year CLICK HERE for more information