Jacob Hales is one of several Papamoa surf club athletes in action tomorrow. Photo / File
Jacob Hales is one of several Papamoa surf club athletes in action tomorrow. Photo / File
Whangamata will be the place to be tomorrow for surf lifesaving fans when more than 650 athletes converge on the town for the annual Whangamata Classic.
The popular carnival is jointly hosted by the Surf Life Saving Northern Region and the SLSNZ Eastern Region. It is set to bring thecountry's best, with several Western Bay international stars among them.
Top of the list is New Zealand team member Max Beattie (Omanu) who always performs to his maximum ability and will be one of the favoured athletes to win in the Open men's competition.
A large number of the gold medal-winning New Zealand Youth team will also be competing, including Papamoa's triumphant winning team members Maia Bryant, Jacob Hales, Ben Johnston and Madison Kidd. From other North Island clubs will come Jasmine Smith, Olivia Eaton, Jake Hurley, Hannah Williams and Matthew Scott, while New Zealand team assistant coach Jason Pocock is also set to compete.
Red Beach's Kelsi Boocock is one to look out for as she returns from an injury that ruled her out of the Youth World Champs. Others to watch include former New Zealand team members Steven Ferguson and Morgan Foster plus the Red Beach Sirens in the Surf Boats arena.
A large field of under-16 and under-19 age group athletes will be in action tomorrow to showcase the tremendous depth in the sport coming through the junior ranks, plus an impressive contingent of 106 Red Beach athletes from the Whangaparaoa Peninsula.
Tomorrow's events will include beach sprints, beach flags, surf race, board race, ski race, iron/diamond and taplin, plus canoe and surf boats. The first events start at 9am.
