About 1100 competitors, from the under-8s to Masters from 46 different NSW and Queensland surf clubs took part in the carnival.

While less than ideal surf conditions in the morning played havoc with some of the early competitions, Shellharbour Surf Life Saving Club vice-president Tracey Freeman said the day was a success.

"We've hosted the opening carnival of the Sydney Water series the last few years and this year was another good carnival," Freeman said.

"We had to call off the water events for the under-8s, under-9s and under-10s - the swell was a bit big and bit messy - but the under-11s and up events went ahead. Besides that, the day went as planned," she said.

The carnival saw competitors from the South Coast branch go up against Far South Coast, Illawarra, Sydney, Sydney Northern Beaches, Central Coast and Sunshine Coast (Queensland) clubs.

"Some of the clubs, especially from branches like Sydney are traditionally bigger and stronger but we still had some good results from our local competitors," Freeman said.

"We (Shellharbour) had some success with our under-11 competitors and I saw some of the older kids from Warilla-Barrack Point do pretty well as well."

There was even an international flavour to the carnival with one European entrant.

"There was a girl from Sweden who competed. She said it wasn't as cold but that the waves were bigger than what they get in Sweden," Freeman said.

Sydney Water Premiership Series organiser David Briggs said the carnival was a great way to open the season.