Action packed SUMMER of SPort

AFTER RECORD ENTRY NUMBERS AT SURF LIFE SAVING NEW ZEALAND’S EVENTS LAST SUMMER THE ORGANISERS ARE PREPARING FOR ANOTHER, BUSY SEASON AHEAD.

The varied disciplines of Surf Life Saving means the calendar has to cater for everything from athletics (Beach sprints) to motor racing (IRB racing). Like most Kiwi summers, there are never enough weekends.

POOL EVENTS FIRST

The season begins in the pool with the 2009 New Zealand Surf Life Saving Swim Championships held at Wellington’s Regional Aquatic Centre from October 2nd until 4th. This event is now the country’s biggest national swim meet with surf life saving athletes from across New Zealand in attendance. Regional events take place around the country during August and September as part of the preparation leading into the national event.

Surf Life Saving New Zealand’s Sport Manager Mark Weatherall says the event is a great way to kick off the national surf sport programme. “There have already been five regional pool based events around New Zealand, attracting more than 600 of our members. These lifesaving events continue to be popular during the winter months as good preseason competition before the summer begins, says Weatherall.

BEACH EVENTS:

The first major ocean based event for the summer is the North Island BP Surf Rescue Championships, in Whangamata on 12th and 13th December. The BP Surf Rescue Champs are Surf Life Saving’s motor racing events. Eighty crews, their inflatable hulls and 30 horsepower engines from Clubs throughout New Zealand go head to head for individual and club supremacy. The events mimic rescues performed by Lifeguards everyday but with most races taking less than 30 seconds to complete, racing is very close and highly competitive.

The perennial inter provincial competition, the Lion Foundation Surf League, brings 200 of the country’s best Lifeguards together. Eighteen events capturing all disciplines and teams limited to 15 members means the event is very much about the best selection by coaches. The points systems ensures a weakness in any one area has a significant effect on the outcome.

In recent years it is the smaller provincial teams that have dominated. “Last year’s champions Taranaki will be out to defend their title, while the likes of Auckland, Canterbury and home town heroes Bay of Plenty will be keen to knock them off the top spot” says Mark Weatherall. “In reality it’s the smaller provinces like Gisborne, Hawkes Bay and Taranaki who consistently punch above their weight on the points table.

In late February attention will turn once again to Main Beach, Mount Maunganui with the New Zealand Under 14 Ocean Athletes Championships. More than 800 ‘junior’ lifeguards are expected to enjoy the special atmosphere at this season’s 10th Anniversary event. Several current NZ team members can trace back their origins to this event, notably current NZ Ironman title holder Daniel Moodie.

The penultimate event is the NZ Championships. In March the 2010 NZCT Surf Life Saving Championships take place at Ohope Beach, Whakatane. More than 1,500 lifeguards from across New Zealand will compete in more than 100 different events, everything from Surf Boats to Ski Races, Beach Sprints to Board Races, Swimming and Iron Man events to Beach Relays during the four days. The first day is the masters events where more than 200 will compete – through into the 70 years plus age group. Covering more than 2km of beach the event has more than 120 officials, 150 team managers and will see most of Whakatane and neighbouring areas booked out.

“This event is the largest Surf Life Saving event in New Zealand and is the highlight of the sporting calendar,” says Weatherall. “There are some historical team events with trophies dating back almost to our inception in 1910. Much of this weekend is about our history, the rivalry and the many athletes who have made it on the world stage in an array of related disciplines.” Weatherall says, “Many current and former Olympians can trace their sporting roots back to the ‘surf nationals’.”

The last event of the summer is the BP Surf Rescue New Zealand Championships, this season being held at Waipu Cove in Northland from March 26th- to 28th. The event will see more than 100 of New Zealand’s Best Inflatable Rescue Boat crews round off a very busy summer of Surf Life Saving action.

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STORY BY + SLNZ
PHOTOS COURTESY + BRETT MEAD PHOTOGRAPHY