Managers for that team include Arna Majstrovic as team lead and Cory Hutchings as ocean coach — both are with the Waikanae club.
“The Battle of the Tasman is an exciting new competition between SLSNZ and Surf Life Saving Australia,” SLSNZ High performance manager Tanya Hamilton said.
“It’s designed to provide a high-level international competition,
Battle of the Tasman will see New Zealand’s Junior (under-19) Black Fins team and a New Zealand Pathway team compete against their Australian equivalents.
“The New Zealand Pathway team is made up of young athletes and seasoned competitors on the cusp of earning their spot in the esteemed open Black Fins squad,” Hamilton said.
Emulating the format of the Lifesaving World Championships, the Battle of the Tasman will be run on a points-based system.
Over the course of four days, there will be a total of 37 events.
Only two athletes from each team will be able to compete in any single event, with the team collecting the most points taking the win.
“This event is a great opportunity for our athletes, coaches and management teams to gain experience in a distinctive competition format,” Hamilton said.
“It plays a vital role in their development and readiness to potentially represent New Zealand at the Lifesaving World Championships next year.
“We will take valuable learnings from this event, which will contribute to our preparations for the upcoming year.”
The event will take place at the same venues to be used for the 2024 Lifesaving World Championships.
This latest announcement from SLSNZ follows hard on the heels of the naming of the New Zealand Black Fins open team to compete in the USA later this year.
That squad includes five athletes from Gisborne clubs — Cory Taylor, Olivia Corrin and Chris Dawson from Midway, and Briana Irving and Michael Hanna from Waikanae.
