More than 30 clubs from all over the country will be represented.
Eastland Community Trust is providing a $20,000 grant and additional sponsorship for the surf lifesaving events being held this weekend.
Traditionally Mount Maunganui have hosted the regional championships.
Last summer, Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service won the Eastern Regional Championships on their home beach with 151 points. Waikanae were next on 83.
That order was maintained this month in the Champion of the Bays carnival at Ohope, where the Mount blitzed it with 338 points, ahead of Waikanae on 132.
However, the Gisborne club had only 20 competitors there.
“We were strong at Ohope with only a small team and we hope to carry that through to this weekend,” Waikanae head coach Cory Hutchings said.
“We aim to finish in the top three consistently and I believe we can do that.
“More specifically for us, though, winning titles is the main aim — both individual and team titles.”
Hutchings said the club’s athletes were well prepared for intense competition.
“Everyone’s training well and we’ve really enjoyed having members of the Mount Maunganui club with us at training these past few days.”
Waikanae have depth across all eventsWaikanae have depth across all events.
“Briana Irving will try for the treble this weekend, in the under-16, under-19 and open women’s beach sprints, depending on how she’s feeling,” Hutchings said.
The club’s canoe teams are well coached and high-performing, and the likes of Quaid Thompson, Jordan McLarin, Christy Tate and Lauren Pickett should do well in the ski events.
Georgie Pitkethley, Lachie Falloon and Seven Mapu will be key figures in the Waikanae under-19 and under-16 campaign.
Midway head coach Matt Sutton expects his team to step up on their home beach.
“Our athletes know the beach better than anyone else, especially if the surf gets up,” he said.
“I think the kids are going really well. They’ve been training hard. But, as we know, anything can happen in surf.”
Standout Midway performers are likely to include Ruben Bronlund in the under-16 board, ski and ironman, and Will Pittar, particularly on the ski.
“And it will be very interesting to see how Olivia Corrin goes,” Sutton said.
“She’s only a few weeks back into training and still has some work to do on her fitness.
“But she hates to lose and will give everything she’s got, that’s for sure.”
Sutton also mentioned Alex Bermingham and Annabel Higgins as top Midway prospects.
“We are proud to host the championships at our beach,” he said.
Wainui head coach Dion Williams said under-16 competitors Ava Smith and Jack Keepa were two of their likely stars.
Stella Smith, in the u19 events, and Abby Falwasser-Logan, in the open women’s races, would feature on the board.
“The surf is coming up,” Williams said.
“Wainui always shine in the waves.”
The championships end on Sunday afternoon, with a provincial teams challenge to follow at Midway on Monday.
