Jim Wall Classic 2025
The Jim Wall Classic will start 9am Sunday 5th of Jan 2025
The Jim Wall Iron event has been an iconic part of the Surf Coast lifesaving culture since ‘60s, in fact it’s the longest running iron event in the world.
The Wall family’s massive contribution to Torquay SLSC started in December 1945 at Jim Wall’s campsite, behind the surf beach sand dunes, when forming a surf club was proposed – within weeks the Torquay Surf Life Saving Club was founded on Jim Wall and Frank Murphy’s motion. Jim’s brother, Tom, became honorary secretary in 1947, serving 7 years in all and Jim was elected President in 1949, to continue for 13 years.
Under Jim’s leadership the Club took on many firsts, but of great significance was the staging of the Australian & International Surf Life Saving Championships in 1956, in conjunction with the Melbourne Olympic Games, viewed on the surf beach by about 70,000 spectators.
DOWNLOAD THE 2025 JIM WALL CIRCULAR
Public Notices
1451-2024-BAE Declaration of exemptions
1451-2024-BAE Notice of exclusion zone
Key Dates and Times
Entries capped at 300 athletes. Entries via Live Heats close Thursday 2nd Jan, 11:59pm.
Early bird entry fee $50. $80 from Mon 30th December.*
Entry on the day subject to Carnival Referee discretion from 8:00-8:30am and will incur a $120 registration fee.*
*exlcuding any processing fees charged by LiveHeats
The Jim Wall Classic will start at 9:00am on Sunday 5th, January 2025.
Warm up start and finish time 7:45-8:45am within the allocated area. Please ensure that you
complete your warm up and are out of the water before 8:45am.
Registration and Live Heats wrist band
You must register your attendance between 7:00-8:30am at the registration tent and
bring your Live Heats wrist band. If you do not have a Live Heats wrist band, please collect
one from the registration table from 7:00-8:30am.
High-vis rash vest – mandatory
You must wear the provided Jim Wall Classic high-vis rash vest and your Club competition
cap. Rash vests will be available for collection at the registration desk from 7:00-8:30am on
the day.
Team Managers Meeting
Team Managers meeting will take place at 8:15am under the Jim Wall arch. Each Club is required to
have a Team Manager present at this meeting. The iron, cameron and taplin order will be announced
on the day at the Team Managers Meeting.
Team Events
All ages relays are run in any age order. Mixed events require 1x female minimum. Team Managers to
enter teams into LiveHeats. Composite teams are permitted but are ineligible for prizes.
Event finishes
All event finishes will involve a run through the arch without craft. (Note. ski paddlers must carry their paddle through the finish line).
Craft management
You must have your own handler wearing a competition cap and high-vis rash vest. Please note craft
storage locations on site the map and observe no access areas (due to recent erosion).
Presentations
Presentations for all iron events will be held at the Torquay Surf Life Saving Club shortly after the final race. All other presentations will be held straight after each event. Over $8000 worth of cash prizes up for grabs across the Iron events.
Trailer parking
Parking for Club trailers is at the bottom of the hill on Surf Beach drive and will be clearly signed. (See
Food and Drinks
During the day, a BBQ will running and meals will be available for purchase at the Torquay Surf Life
Saving Club. All event attendees are invited to celebrate the days events at the Club following the
presentations.
Amenities
Bathrooms are accessible at the bottom of the grass hill on Surf Beach drive. Both toilet and shower
access will be available.
Event Merchandise
Exclusive event merchandise will be available for purchase on the day.
Socials
Use #jimwall2025 on Facebook @jimwallclassic and Instagram @jimwallclassic
- U13 Female / Male Swim
2. U17 Female/ Male Swim
3. U15 Female/ Male Swim
4. Open Female / Male Swim
5. U13 Female Board
6. U13 Male Board
7. U17 Female Board
8. U17 Male Board
9. U15 Female Board
10. U15 Male Board
11. Open Female Board
12. Open Male Board
13. U17 Female Ski
14. U17 Male Ski
15. Open Female Ski
16. Open Male Ski
17. All Ages Mixed Board Relay (4)*
18. All Ages Female Board Relay (3)*
19. All Ages Male Board Relay (3)*
20. All Ages Female Cameron Relay (3)*
21. All Ages Male Cameron Relay (3)*
22. All Ages Mixed Taplin (4)*
*Team events will not count towards World Ocean Series points.
23. U17 Female Iron
24. U17 Male Iron
25. U13 Female Iron
26. U13 Male Iron
27. U15 Female Iron
28. U15 Male Iron
29. Open Female Iron – Jim Wall
30. Open Male Iron – Jim Wall
Whilst every effort will be made to adhere to scheduled events, changes may be made on the day subject to the discretion of the Carnival Referee.
Starting as the Jim Wall “Surfathon” in 1962, named for early club resident Jim Wall, the unique event was first created at TSLSC to challenge all round surf and water ability, with an endurance format including continuous efforts in swimming, board and ski paddling and beach running. It is believed to be the first continuous ironman event ever staged, in that format that has now become standard. The event has become a coveted ‘hit out’ for both local and interstate athletes, with the sought-after prize being a hand on the Jim Wall trophy.
Having been won by many well-known athletes over the years, such as Matt Bevilacqua, Harriet Brown, Naomi Scott and Georgia Miller, the event has seen its fair share of local champions too – names such as David Strahan, Zeb Walsh, Cliff Goulding, and Terry Wall (son of Jim) in the early days, have graced the podium.
In modern times the event has become part of a national circuit and as females have greatly bolstered the surf life saving movement, they are now competing in their section of the event as fiercely as their male counterparts.
Now part Summer of Surf Series as a 5000 point event, The Jim Wall Iron is now a drawcard for athletes seeking to gain an advantage in the season while competing for one of the most coveted trophies in all of Australia.
The event is also a free spectator sport for visitors and gives prime time exposure for a huge cross-section of the community and tourists visiting the area. The event is promoted heavily and is a drawcard for visitors to Torquay and the local surrounds. With the Torquay Surf Beach providing a natural amphitheater anchored by the Torquay Surf Club which features a bar with the best view in the world, thousands flock to the beach to enjoy the spectacle of surf sports.