SYDNEY - New Zealand could host a leg of the Australian National Surf League next summer.
The high-profile seven-team league consists of six Australian state teams and a New Zealand team, the Southern Makos, and organisers want to strengthen the transtasman connection.
Surf Sports Australia run the Kelloggs league and officials havebeen looking into the logistics of holding a day of competition in New Zealand, probably at Mount Maunganui.
SSA director Warren Rennie said costs were the biggest impediment to such a move.
"No decision has been made yet. We'll get this season out of the way and then we'll review the whole thing," Rennie said.
"It is our goal to have a round in New Zealand. Even longer-term, our aim is to have an international surf league involving New Zealand, South Africa, the United States and Great Britain."
This summer, the SSA is flying about a dozen New Zealanders to Australia for each of the five legs. Sending more than 100 Australian officials and competitors to New Zealand would need to be carefully budgeted.
The league has attracted numerous large sponsors and Australia's Channel 7 is covering it for three years.
Rennie said Mount Maunganui would be a "safer" proposition than the spectacular waves of Piha in west Auckland. Large waves meant there was a risk the short races format could be affected and live television coverage may run beyond schedule.
Southern Makos captain Cory Hutchings is all in favour of a New Zealand leg, particularly in his hometown of Mount Maunganui.
But he said it was also a pity Piha would not be used after it had successfully hosted previous international events under the banner of opposition sponsor Uncle Tobys.
"Piha turned on 10-12 foot waves and a lot of people in Australia had never seen surf lifesaving competition in those conditions. Those events got huge ratings in Australia.
"That was nearly five years ago and I still get Australians asking me about it," he added.
Hutchings said the travelling to Australia made it hard for his team to be at their best for the events. Competitors from Gisborne faced a long haul before tomorrow's third leg on Queensland's Gold Coast.
One change on Sunday will see Australian Kylie Brazier from the Sunshine Coast replace injured ironwoman and swimmer Anna Ballara.
Hutchings said world champion beach sprinter Callum Taylor was nearly over a lower back strain that had adversely affected him in the first two rounds.
