Omanu are looming as dark horses at the national surf lifesaving championships beginning today with the masters (30+) at the Mount Main Beach.
The club already boasts defending New Zealand ironman champion Max Beattie, Dan Hooker and national under-16 ironman titleholder Ben Cochrane, but the addition of Zac Orchard, Alicia Bain and Eliza Smith from Northcliffe, Australia, has given an intriguing edge to the four-day carnival.
Omanu finished 16th overall last year in Gisborne, with Ashley Cochrane, Dannielle O'Connor and Siobahn Wright also picking up valuable points. Hooker and Beattie are based on the Gold Coast, while Hooker's girlfriend, Bain, competed for New South Wales in last year's Surf League and was also in the Australian under-20 team who won their division at Rescue 2012, finishing second in the ironwoman and board.
Several other Australian stars will also compete this weekend, with world champion beach flagger Melissa Howard competing for Fitzroy, as is young Jake Mispelhorn, while another Aussie flyer, Hayley Whyper, will line up with Mairangi Bay.
While Omanu's massive 71-strong masters' team is expected to dominate their competition and the club has a strong under-14 contingent, chairman Donal Boyle is hoping the Australian influence will be the spark needed for the open ranks.