Gruelling endurance ahead

READY FOR THE GRIND: Waikanae's Nathan Proctor (inset) competing at the Surf Lifesaving Gizzy Grinder. Proctor will join teammates Jack Keepa and Lachie Falloon at the Mount Monster endurance race at Mount Maunganui this weekend. Picture by Liam Clayton

The Mount Monster looms large for more than a dozen of Gisborne's surf athletes this weekend as they prepare to tackle the most prestigious surf lifesaving endurance race in New Zealand.

This will be the 10th year of the gruelling run, swim, ski and board event that attracts surf athletes from across the country to do battle on Mount Maunganui's main beach.

It entails a 12-kilometre ski leg, then a 5km run, a 1.5km ocean swim and a 6km board paddle, and is open to individuals and teams, and across a range of age groups.

Competitors from 14 up do the main event, and younger athletes take on the much shorter Mini Monster.

Teams can comprise two to four competitors.

Kaiaponi Farms Waikanae will have Nathan Proctor, Jack Keepa and Lachie Falloon in action.

“Nathan's taking on the open individual race and has prepared well for it,” said club head coach Cory Hutchings.

“He is suited to the endurance format and is definitely capable of a top-five result, which would be a fantastic effort.”

Keepa and Falloon will join up to do the team event.

“They would be among the favourites,” Hutchings said.

Dawson Building Midway have quite a sizeable group going over to tackle the Monster.

“We have Sophie Petro, Yahni Brown, Jacob Corrin and Jack Lepper competing in the individual event,” said club head coach Jack Gavin.

“We also have three teams competing.

“Alice Sparks, Hannah Webb, Jacqueline Kennedy and Jess Fearnley are competing in the under-19 women's division.

“We have two teams competing in the u19 men's division — the Midway Mongrels: Harry Hayward, Austin Fergus, William Mathews and Maxwell Kennedy; and the Tripple Rizzels: Ollie Scammell and Fin Cameron,” Gavin said.

“All of the squad have been away on a training camp for the week at Whiritoa on the Coromandel.

“They've trained hard and have been having a heap of fun as a squad.

“So the Mount Monster this year will be about finishing the week with a bang and gaining invaluable experience for next year.”

Gisborne clubs have done well in the Mount Monster and the Mini Monster over the past decade, with a lot of podium finishes.

The athletes like it as an event because it tests their fitness as they build towards the main events of the surf lifesaving season.