Local youngster set to rule the waves

Amy Schuetze is the youngest Northland resident currently registered in the State Bay of Islands Classic ocean swim in Paihia next month.

The Paihia Primary School student will be just five days short of her eighth birthday when she - along with older sister Tracy - takes part in the 200m State OceanKids event on Saturday, December 7. Earlier this week, her mum Ina Schuetze explained how Amy first came to be interested in participating in the event.

"Tracy did the Whangarei Kids' Triathlon early this year and when Amy was told she was too young to enter, she was sad. We promised her to enter her as soon as something would come up that involved swimming. One day at swimming practise in Kawakawa we saw the poster and entered her."

Proving remarkably realistic, Amy said swimming is her favourite sport, "because I don't like running. I'm too slow to run." The Bay of Islands Classic will represent even more of a challenge for the 7-year-old, who said she prefers swimming in the pool compared with the sea because, "it's not so salty".

However, mum Ina noted it was important that Amy swims in the sea too, as living on the coast required a certain level of awareness about ocean safety: "Too many people - adults and kids - drown at sea. It is so easy to prevent most drownings by learning to swim and ocean education,"

Asked what she is looking forward to most about her upcoming swim, Amy said it was all about having fun.

State NZ Ocean Swim Series event director Scott Rice said organisers were expecting up to 850 swimmers to take part in the popular swim event in Paihia in nine days' time. He was also particularly impressed to see youngsters like Amy and her sister leading the charge for the youth brigade.

"It's fantastic to see so many parents encouraging their youngsters to take part. The State OceanKids events and the Jetstar Super Swim Squad are designed to ensure that kids in our series have a safe, positive and fun experience in the water."

Event information

Entries for the State Bay of Islands Classic on December 7 can be made on the day (but close online at midnight on Thursday, December 5) for the I'm Going Long 3.3km ocean swim from Russell at 10.30am to finish Paihia, the Step It Up 1000m and Give it a Go 300m ocean swims on Paihia Beach at 12.35pm and 1.15pm respectively, while the State OceanKids 200m shallow water swim along the Paihia beach shoreline, kicks off at 1.20pm and is aimed at children aged from 6-10.

This is the second leg in the State Ocean Swim series for the 2013/14 summer. The first event was the Harbour Crossing on November 17, while remaining events include the Capital Classic in Wellington on January 26, the La Grande Swim in Akaroa on February 22, the Sand to Surf in Mount Maunganui on March 22 and the King of the Bays on the North Shore.

For more information or to register, visit the website www.oceanswim.co.nz.