LOMA Park, Patong Beach
The Phuket Lifeguard Club hosted the first ever surf lifesaving carnival at Patong Beach Phuket
on 11 October 2008. This event was supported by the Phuket Provincial Administration
Organization and sponsors from Phuket-
Major Sponsors:-
Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort
Phuket Gazette and PG TV
Tourism Authority of Thailand
Haad Thip & Coca Cola
Bangkok Hospital Phuket
Preampree Group
Sea Fun Divers
This event started at 8.30am registration, with races commencing at 9am. The last event
finished at 4.45pm
Our Carnival consisted of 10 events for adults and 4 events for children with a total of
- 25 international competitors, 7 Australian clubs were represented.
- 54 Thai Competitors, with 7 teams represented
- 75 Children competitors in kid’s activities.
In addition to this there were approximately 250 spectators throughout the day.
An Official opening ceremony was presided over by Mr Paiboon Upatising, President of the
Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation, and the Vice governor of Phuket who opened the
event with a bell to celebrate the first ever event of this kind in Thailand.
The Carnival featured the following events:-
Surf race & surf race team events, Beach sprints and beach relay, Board race and Tube race,
Rescue relay, Iron Man and Iron woman and Flag events.
Prize winners for the events were presented on-site with Gold, Silver and Bronze medals with
major prizes for overall-points winners, Iron Man and Iron Woman.
Lunch boxes for participants were provided by
- Holiday Inn
- Royal Paradise Hotel
- Mangosteen Resort
- Sala Thai Resort
- Kata Thani
- Absolute Patong View
- Mercure
A special Closing Ceremony dinner was hosted by Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort with 85
persons in attendance including the president of the Phuket Province Administrative
Organisation (Or Bor Jor) and his team, VIPs from Bangkok Lifesaving Association, International
and local competitors and valued sponsors.
At this dinner, a video of the event was shown (produced by PGTV), prizes were awarded for
major winners and a fire works display topped off a magnificent evening.
The best performance trophy for overseas competitors (All points award) for Men went to Sam
Creek from Darwin Surf Lifesaving Club, Australia. He received a trophy from Phuket Or Bor Jor
and a prize voucher from Tarn Tara Spa
The best performance trophy for overseas competitors (All points award) for women went to
Helen Gould, also from Darwin Surf Lifesaving Club, Australia. She received a trophy from
Phuket Or Bor Jor and a prize voucher from Tarn Tara Spa
The best performance trophy for Thai competitors (All points award) for men went to
Thomrong Phetplod from Phuket Lifeguard Club, Phuket. He received a trophy from Phuket Or
Bor Jor and a prize voucher from Bikram Hot Yoga.
The best performance trophy for Thai competitors (All points award) for women went to
Jongdee Hemkaew, also from Phuket Lifeguard Club, Phuket. She received a trophy from Phuket
Or Bor Jor and a prize voucher from Bikram Hot Yoga.
Iron man prizes were awarded to Sam Creek from Darwin Surf Lifesaving Club and Iron woman
to Jongdee Hemkaew from Phuket Lifeguard Club, by Mr Rudolf Borgesius , General Manager of
Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort who donated special prize money for these events.
The organizing committee thanked all for their efforts and involvement and Phuket Lifeguard
Club president, Prathaiyuth Chuayuan presented bouquets to those major winners. All sponsors
were thanked for their generosity and support.
The next Carnival will be held on 3 October 2009.