Hutchings takes up role at Omanu SLC

Cory Hutchings has started as lead sports adviser at Omanu Surf Life Saving Club but is not lost to his Gisborne club Waikanae. He will be back there coaching at the weekends. File picture

Waikanae Surf Life Saving Club head coach Cory Hutchings will divide his time between the Gisborne club and his new role as lead sports adviser at Omanu Beach SLSC in the Bay of Plenty this summer.

The Omanu club’s coach decided to move on and Hutchings stepped into the role last week.

He will be in the Bay of Plenty during the week and back coaching at Kaiaponi Farms Waikanae at weekends.

“I’m looking forward to the Omanu role,” Hutchings told Bay of Plenty news outlet Sunlive.

“It’ll be a bit of travelling but it will be cool being involved at Omanu, a club that has so much potential with all the young ones coming through.”

Cory said he was not an analytical person; more hands-on.

“I don’t spend time behind computers. I like to be in the water, on the ocean and at the beach, and that’s the sort of thing Omanu was looking for to support the role.”

Hutchings said he would be nurturing a culture of love for the surf and enjoyment of the sport within the club.

“I think that’s important so it’s not just a chore for the kids training. It’s actually that they want to be a part of something bigger in the  future.

“The awesome thing about my job is you can get involved and have a quite a big impact on kids coming though, so you see kids grow and develop from little 10-year-olds into potential world champions. That’s a pretty stimulating thought and that’s my drug, really.”

Hutchings has been head coach at Waikanae for 12 years.

“We’re supportive of him and wish him all the best for his new role at Omanu,” Waikanae spokeswoman Clara Wilson said. “He will be back here coaching our kids at the weekends.”

Hutchings told Sunlive Gisborne had the best surf “but Omanu offers atmosphere. There’s a wicked vibe there”.

“Everything going well I would look to move to the Mount full-time next year.”