Organisers of a national surf lifesaving championships on the Gold Coast have cancelled all water-based events following the death of 19-year-old champion surfer Saxon Bird.

The Sydney-based surf lifesaver got into difficulties in rough conditions off Kurrawa Beach on Friday afternoon while competing in the under-19 ironman event at the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships.

He was hit by his own ski and falling from his craft 150m from the beach and died in hospital later on Friday.

On Saturday morning, organisers of the event cancelled all water, craft and boat events in all age groups for the remainder of the championships. Sand-based events would continue, they said.

Kurrawa Beach was quiet on Saturday morning, with just a couple of surfers braving a two-metre-plus swell, a result of Cyclone Ului which is baring down on the Queensland coast.

Bird, from Denistone, in Sydney's northwest, was representing the Queenscliff Surf Life Saving Club, of which federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott is a member.

He is the second person to die in the championship's history.

- AAP