The New Zealand Black Fins will be slicing through the water at Mount Maunganui over the next four days as they compete against athletes from six other countries around the world
The New Zealand Black Fins will be slicing through the water at Mount Maunganui over the next four days as they compete against athletes from six other countries around the world.
The reigning world champions will be in action at the DHL International Surf Rescue Challenge, hosted by Surf LifeSaving New Zealand at Mount Main Beach from 8.30am today.
The Junior Black Fins will also be competing in the International Surf Rescue Youth Challenge, and the Tri-Nations Challenge and Trans-Tasman Challenge are also taking place this week.
The competition programme will be conducted over three tests – swim, surfboard, and surf ski and beach events. The three tests will take place today, Saturday and Sunday.
Tomorrow is a rest day and athletes will be visiting seven local schools.
Surf Life Saving New Zealand sport manager Michael Lord said there has been plenty of excitement from the local surf life saving community leading up to the event.
"This is the first time in six years that we've had New Zealand teams competing on home soil, so momentum has been building over the last few months as people get excited and gear up to watch their own New Zealand teams at an international event.
He said all of the athletes competing are qualified surf life guards.
"So the event also has a really good link to life saving. The sport provides these guys with training facilities and training platforms to make sure they're fitter and faster on the beach when they actually need to go and save a life."
At the opening ceremony yesterday evening, held at ASB Arena Stadium Lounge, about 400 athletes, coaching staff and supporters were welcomed with a powhiri.
Speeches by Surf Life Saving New Zealand officials followed and then the event was declared open.
The opening ceremony of the DHL International Surf Rescue Challenge was held yesterday evening at ASB Arena Stadium Lounge. Photo/George Novak
New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Britain, Japan, South Africa and the United States have open-age teams competing this week.
All of those countries except Canada and Japan have youth teams competing as well.
There will be an overall point score in both the open and youth categories and winners from all of the events will be announced on Sunday.
The teams will be training each morning at Main Beach.
Tourism Bay of Plenty head of marketing Kath Low said it was wonderful to be welcoming visitors from around the globe to the region.
"We're thrilled that Mount Maunganui is the beach of choice for the DHL International Surf Rescue Challenge 2017. We hope everyone participating in this competition have a fantastic time, take a lot of photos and share them widely via social media."
Low said as a base for major events, Tauranga was now a destination of choice and over the next few months the city would experience myriad events including surf rescue, international cricket, jet sprinting, One Love, Bryan Adams and Bay Dreams.
"We want every visitor to the Bay of Plenty to relish their time here and to feel welcomed."
The facts - The International Surf Rescue Challenge is held every two years and started in 1939 as the Trans-Tasman Series between Australia and New Zealand. - The current format of the event was first conducted in 1999 and now involves the world's top surf life savers.
Dates and venue When: Today - Sunday Where: Main Beach, Mount Maunganui
Programme Today: Test 1 (8.30am-3pm) Tomorrow: Rest day. Athletes to visit local schools Saturday: Test 2 (9am-3pm) Sunday: Test 3 (9am-3pm) followed by the closing ceremony
