Surf Lifesaving: A gut-busting test of IRB crew endurance

Mark Inglis, left, Hamish Smith, seated, and Kirby Wheeler are up for the challenge. Photo / Peter White

Reality television producers who think they know all about the ultimate challenge of strength and endurance should check out the Bay of Plenty IRB Long Haul challenge.

The third version of the event is on tomorrow, beginning at Ohope Beach in the Eastern Bay and finishing with a gut-busting, soft sand sprint from shark alley to the Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service headquarters.

The long haul is much more than a difficult open water endurance race for the nine surf life saving crews competing tomorrow. The crews of three have to assemble and break down their equipment, perform simulated rescues and carry out a number of other challenging exercises at each of the six stages, while navigating the tricky Bay of Plenty coastline.

Without doubt, event organisers Eastern Region sport manager Mark Inglis and Leigh Sefton have made the second stage at Matata the most difficult. Crews will land and one member will have to carry the hot motor 100 metres around cones over soft sand before reloading and taking off to Pukehina. It is back-breaking work and burns are common.

Hamish Smith and Kirby Wheeler have experienced the long haul and are competing against each other in either of the two Papamoa crews. They both groaned when Sefton joked they could always make it harder by extending the engine carry to 200 metres.

"That is definitely the toughest part and we don't look forward to it," said Smith.

"We were in the front group last year when our engine blew up going past Maketu so, this year, we are trying to finish in the top three."

Judging how much fuel to put in versus keeping the boat as light as possible was another challenge for the crews.

Wheeler says they ran out of fuel last year when they were in the leading three boats.

"The key thing is to have a plan so you know who is going to do what before you start and where the pit crew are going to stop in and refuel. Communication is the key."

Sefton says the race concept was designed by Justin Martin, from Papamoa, and replicates what he calls "a manic day of endurance, constantly pulling people in and engines breaking down".

Teams entered are from Bay of Plenty surf clubs plus defending champions Red Beach, Muriwai, Sunset Beach (three crews) and Mairangi Bay.

Conditions are expected to be ideal for the race with a light swell expected.

Event info

What: BOP IRB Long Haul.
When: Tomorrow, 12pm. Crews finish 3pm-4pm.
Where: Stage 1, Ohope Beach; Stage 2, Matata Beach; Stage 3, Pukehina Beach; Stage 4, Papamoa Beach; Stage 5, Omanu Beach; Stage 6, Mt Maunganui.