Build-up disrupted

AT LAST: More than 700 surf athletes from across New Zealand will contest the Eastern Region Surf Life Saving Championships at Mount Maunganui this weekend. The Gisborne contingent, while smaller than usual, will be big in terms of results. Due to Covid, it has been more than two years since local lifeguards attended a major surf lifesaving carnival, apart from the IRB nationals. Picture by Jamie Troughton/Dscribe Media

Gisborne surf lifesavers could be forgiven for thinking they're suffering a January jinx after a disrupted build-up to the biggest carnival of the season so far, the eastern region championships at Mount Maunganui this weekend.

More than 700 surf athletes from across the country will test their lifesaving skills, starting this afternoon and continuing into Sunday afternoon.

They will be greeted by challenging conditions, with stormy easterlies predicted and a two-metre swell forecast.

It adds to a hugely disrupted month for lifeguards from the three Gisborne clubs, Wainui, Waikanae and Midway, which started with a New Year Covid outbreak and was followed by the remnants of Cyclone Hale.

The health warnings — lifted this week — due to the emergency sewage discharges disrupted training for the Waikanae and Midway teams.

“It's been an absolute nightmare trying to train, especially at Waikanae, and adds to a pretty miserable month here,” said Waikanae head coach Cory Hutchings.

“We're normally enjoying our beaches at this time of year — it's such a big part of our lives here — and we haven't even been able to swim.”

Hutchings' Waikanae squad has had to train up the coast at Makorori, supplemented with pool swimming to keep the athletes fit.

With a relatively young squad heading over to The Mount, Hutchings himself might make something of a comeback, if he's needed to supplement some open men's relay teams.

The 51-year-old said he would line up if a troublesome Achilles strain allowed, and if Mount Maunganui delivered some swell as promised.

“The bigger and uglier, the better for us,” Hutchings said.

“The Gizzy kids tend to see swell coming and get excited, not scared, because they spend so much time in waves.”

Kaiaponi Farms Waikanae will have 15 competitors over there, including the well-performed duo of Jack Keepa and Lachie Falloon in board, ski and ironman events.

“The team are really excited to be going away to a big event,” said club manager Clara Wilson.

“It's been a long time between drinks.”

Dawson Building Midway will have 24 athletes competing.

Head coach Jack Gavin said they were looking forward to it, and looking forward to the tricky conditions.

“They're forecasting big swells and the kids like those sorts of conditions,” he said.

“We've got some great teams across the board, especially in our under-17 ranks.

“Individually, Angus Blair is always one to watch in the u19 surf race; likewise, Sophie Petro across all her events.

“Sophie's shown some really good form in her other carnivals this season.”

Riversun Wainui will not be competing in the championships this year for the first time, as it continues to rebuild its senior membership.

With the national championships to be held in Christchurch in March, this weekend's carnival will be the biggest of the season in the North Island.

Action was to get under way at 3.30pm today with double ski and beach sprints, with further racing tomorrow and on Sunday beginning at 8am.