The 1981 Lifesaving World Championships were conducted between 1–3 May 1981 at Kuta Beach on the island of Bali in Indonesia. They were held under the auspices of World Lifesaving (WLS), one of the two precursor organisations to the International Life Saving Federation (ILS). 15 Ocean and Beach events were held purely for competitors representing their club teams. Some 47 club teams participated from 5 countries including Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
Results
edit| Competition |  Gold
|
 Silver
|
 Bronze
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Surf Race | Paul Moorfoot (Southport, Australia) | Robert Nay (Northcliffe, Australia) | Craig Riddington (Manly, Australia) |
| Rescue Tube Rescue Race | Southport, Australia | Freshwater, Australia | North Cronulla, Australia |
| Board Race | Mick Porra (Coogee, Australia) | Bruce Kolkka (Northcliffe, Australia) | Steve Warren (North Cronulla, Australia) |
| Ski Race | Murray Braund (Avoca, Australia) | Paul MacDonald (Muriwai, New Zealand) | Peter McGrath (Northcliffe, Australia) |
| Iron Man | Mark Bennetts (Southport, Australia) | Robert Nay (Northcliffe, Australia) | Gray Parkes (North cronulla, Australia) |
| Taplin Relay | Southport, Australia | North Cronulla, Australia | Manly, Australia |
| Beach Sprint | Clayton Kearney (Freshwater, Australia) | Warren Peters (Ocean Beach, Australia) | Geoffrey Bates (North Cronulla, Australia) |
| Beach Flags | Michael Jones (Redhead, Australia) | Robert Pickard (Fremantle, Australia) | Mark Walters (Avoca, Australia) |
| Beach Relay | Cronulla, Australia | North Cronulla, Australia | Swansea Belmont, Australia |
| Surf Boat Race | City of Perth, Australia | Coogee, Australia | Queenscliff, Australia |
| Run Swim Run | Robert Nay (Northcliffe, Australia) | Laurence Reece (Southport, Australia) | Gray Parkes (North Cronulla) |
| Surf Belt Race | Paul Moorfoot (Southport, Australia) | Chris Gately (Coogee, Australia) | Darren Bogg (Freshwater, Australia) |
| Surf Swim Teams Race | Wanda, Australia | Southport, Australia | Northcliffe, Australia |
| Dearlove Relay | Wanda, Australia | Coogee, Australia | Northcliffe, Australia |
| Pillow Fight | Dave Clelland (Wanda) | Martin Johnson (North Cronulla, Australia) | Geoff Hicks (Moore Park, Australia) |