Five Outrigger members represented Hawaii in the Australia Surf Life Saving Association International Surf Life Saving competitions in December 1956. Bob Fischer was president of the HSLSA.
The trip was made possible by donations from Waikiki hotels, Matson and airlines serving Hawaii.
Representing Hawaii were Peter Balding, Tom Moore, Harry Shaffer, Tim Guard and Tommy Schroeder. Non-members who went were Dan DeRego, Tom Zahn, Sharkey Fellers and Don Gustafson.
Hawaii tied New Zealand for the overall team title during the two-day SLA meet held in Sydney, scoring 24 points.
Hawaii won the 4-man beach relay with Balding, Schroeder, Shaffer and Hangea. Tom Schroeder won the individual surf skiing event. Tom Zahn won the surfboard event.
At other meets, Zahn was third in the surfboard event.
Shaffer won the best performance award in the championship meet.
Hawaii also took fourth place in rescue and resuscitation in Melbourne at Torkuay Beach.
The OCC team competed against teams from South Africa, New Zealand, the United States and Australia.