IRB teams will put their rescue skills to the test

NEW ZEALAND TITLE HUNT: Waikanae’s top-performing open men’s IRB team of Connor Mitchell and Oliver Shivnan will be in the hunt for medals at the New Zealand titles at Waihi in the Bay of Plenty this weekend. File picture

Surf lifeguards from around New Zealand and across the Tasman have been gearing up for a weekend of intense action and high-stakes racing at the BP New Zealand IRB Championships at Waihi Beach this weekend.

That includes Gisborne crews who have been making their final preparations too.

A total of 122 crews from 30 clubs, including one from Australia, will put their rescue skills to the test this weekend.

They will race across the five different disciplines in the open, under-23, and u19 divisions, for both men and women.

“IRB crews are no strangers to saving lives, and last season they were involved in 47 percent of surf lifesaving rescues in new Zealand,” said Surf Life Saving New Zealand national sport manager Lewis McClintock.

“IRBs (inflatable rescue boats) were also used to rescue hundreds of people in Auckland, Hawke’s Bay and some in Gisborne too, following devastating flooding in both regions this year.

“IRB racing is fast and exciting and the BP national championships require our best lifeguards to perform their rescue skills under intense pressure,” McClintock said.

“While it’s a competition, it’s still fundamentally about navigating the surf in order to get patients out and get them back to shore as quickly and safely as possible.

“With the Lifesaving World Championships on the Gold Coast in 2024, it’s also a great opportunity for crews to showcase their skills in front of selectors as well.

“With ever-changing surf and weather conditions, the competition promises to be nothing short of spectacular as lifeguards showcase their technical expertise and incredible physical fitness.”

Sizeable swell has been predicted for the weekend at Waihi.

The event will be the grand finale of the 2022/23 lifesaving sport calendar.

It runs on Saturday and Sunday this weekend.

The Gisborne effort at the championships will be previewed in tomorrow’s Gisborne Herald.