Surf life saving: Kiwis flocking to join the not-so-quiet revolution

They call themselves the Kurrawa Kiwis and they're already causing ripples in the big pond of Australian surf lifesaving.

Deep in the heart of the spiritual home of the sport, a not-so-quiet New Zealand revolution is taking place at the Kurrawa Surf Club on Queensland's Gold Coast, thriving in the year-round training grounds and white-hot competition.

They're led by teenagers like rookie Gisborne ironwoman Madison Boon and Orewa ski paddler Tenealle Hatton. Both have racked up some impressive wins in Australia this season and are starring at the major New Zealand carnivals.

Boon took out the women's ironman at last weekend's Lion Foundation Surf League in Mt Maunganui, while Hatton was prominent in both under-19 and open competition.

Brothers Mike and Dan Janes have also ventured over in the past year, attracted by the peerless coaching of Kurrawa's former ironman champion Phil Clayton and a clutch of world-class training partners.

"Phil is a phenomenal coach and we get to train with legends like [Beijing Olympic swimmer and ironman] Ky Hurst every day," Mike Janes enthused.

"Every couple of weeks the Kiwis get together and have a barbecue - there are probably up to 25 of us who are actual members of the club with a core group of 10 who are there permanently, flatting and training together."

Hatton and Orewa clubmates Zac Franich and Rachel Clarke were the first to venture to Kurrawa in late 2007 on a club exchange. They've since been joined by other promising teenagers like Nick Malcolm, Bjorn Battaerd, AJ Maney, Josh Utanga and Chelsea Maples, and they haven't looked back.

"I've gained so much by training in Australia - the different types of training they do and the temperature and conditions are perfect for training all year round," Hatton said.

"I've also noticed the Australian attitude toward training and competition is far more focused and aggressive than in New Zealand, plus the competitiveness in training and competing for selection is that much higher."

It's certainly helped Hatton's results. In December, the 19-year-old beat world-class paddlers like Kurrawa clubmate Hayley Bateup and Northcliffe ironwoman Kristyl Smith in a qualifying round of the rich Ocean Assault series in Queensland.

She also picked up gold in the 500m sprint at the Youth Olympics in Sydney last month and has already targeted a flatwater canoe spot at the 2012 Olympics.

Maples has won Australian beach sprint titles and more big things are expected of the 19-year-old Boon, with Clayton impressed by the potential in the Australian-born Gisborne athlete.

"Maddie has been training very hard over the past season - it's hard not to when you are next to the likes of Hayley and Terri [Sullivan] who push her at every session," Clayton said. "This has intensified the level of Maddie's training, which in turn has turned her into a very competitive person on and off the beach."

Clayton, one of Australia's most celebrated lifesavers and a former world champion, has welcomed the Kiwi contingent and wants to do more talent-spotting on this side of the Tasman.

"They were accepted straight away and also brought a fun and enjoyable environment to the squad. It's also apparent that they'd been coached very well but lacked the competition in training that pushes them to the next level, and they were maybe a little down on skills due to the winter temperatures in New Zealand making it too cold to practise falling off and catching waves for hours on end.

"Once I had them in some decent surf and showed them the tricks I've learned over the years, it wasn't long before they were picking it up and applying it to their race strategy."