Southern athletes will be aiming high at the New Zealand surf lifesaving championships in Gisborne this week.
Nearly 1300 men, women and youths from surf life-saving clubs around New Zealand will gather at Midway Beach for four days of intense action.
There are no fewer than 136 event categories, so the beach will be a hive of activity.
Several athletes from the South will have designs on medals, as well as the chance to test their skills and enjoy the camaraderie of the event.
St Clair sisters Charlotte (under-17 and under-19) and Vicky Aburn (under-15 and under-17) shape as leading contenders.
Charlotte was one of the stars of the show at the national championships at Mt Maunganui last year.
The St Hilda’s Collegiate pupil won gold medals in both the under-17 female run-swim-run and the board race, added silver in the surf race, and was named joint winner of the best female under-17 athlete award.
The Warrington club will attempt to defend their open female canoe rescue title.
Isabella Aldrich, Madelene Ozanne, Madison Lobb and Phoebe Ozanne showed spectacular form last year and would love to go back-to-back.
Surf Life Saving New Zealand national events manager Matt Cairns said the event was the highlight of the sport’s calendar.
"It is the culmination of months of training and is an opportunity for surf lifeguards to test their resilience and skills against the best.
"Sporting events are an important part of how we retain and train world-leading surf lifeguards."
Cairns said the event was an ideal opportunity for spectators to see the guards in action.
"The event programme profiles a huge range of skills with canoe paddlers, surf boat crews, surf swimmers, beach sprinters, and ski and board paddlers."
