IT is all action at the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships at north Kirra.

Yesterday Cudgen Headland Surf Life Saving Club won a bronze medal in the men's board relay, no mean feat considering 200 teams are represented at the championships.

On Sunday, five-time Ironman champion Shannon Eckstein will be looking to equal life saving great Trevor Hendy's record of six Ironman titles.

"With the board as the last leg and a very short course, it really opens it up to more," Eckstein said.

"It's harder to get away from other competitors on the board so a sprint finish might be needed to win it."

Waves have died down as the week nears closer to completion, but Eckstein said the beach presented other challenges.

"The wind direction here is different to any other beach on the coast," he said.

"You've got an onshore wind today and a sweep, which is good because that breaks the field up.

"Also the hard sand is terrible for my calf muscles."

In the open Ironwoman first round, race favourites Courtney Hancock (Northcliffe) and Brodie Moir (North Burleigh) were drawn in the same heat but had not trouble qualifying for the semi-finals.

The Ironwoman will contest two semi-finals on Saturday morning.

Australian Surf Life Saving Championship spokesman Ian Hanson said the championships were going swimmingly.

"We've had another glorious start to the day, the breeze came in a little bit earlier," he said.

"Bit choppier out in the water, makes it interesting and a little bit tricky."

Mr Hanson said the festival's resident magpie, affectionately nicknamed Beachie, was hard at work patrolling the event and keeping a bird's eye view on proceedings.

He encouraged Tweed residents to head out to north Kirra to check out the action on day four of the championships.