NZ Open Squad comes together for first training camp

New Zealand's surf lifesaving stars are coming together in Auckland this weekend for their first team camp ahead of the World Championships.

The 23 athletes in the New Zealand Open Squad will take part in a training camp from Friday to Sunday at the Millennium Institute of Sport and Health in Mairangi Bay, Auckland.

They will be setting the scene for selection into the 12 strong (six males and six females) New Zealand Open Team who will travel to France in September to defend New Zealand's world title that was won at Rescue  2012 in Adelaide.

Selectors are then hoping to be in a position to name the team in July.

The squad will take part in a busy programme across the two and-a-half days of the camp which will include team building activities, medical screening sessions and physical sessions.

Team Manager Mark Weatherall says this weekend's camp is the next step in our planning for Rescue 2014. "We have selected a very exciting squad and the management team are looking forward to the opportunity  to have them in camp with the clear intention of outlining  what we believe is required in order to return from France in September with the World Cup once again," he says.

The World Championships is the largest international lifesaving sport competition in the world. Rescue 2014 is being held in France from September 13-26 with the beach events being held at La Grande Motte and the  pool events being held in Montpellier.

New Zealand will be sending two teams to compete- the open NZ Open Team and the Youth Team that was named last month.

Visit /calendar/2014/september/rescue-2014/ for more information.

For more information, please contact:

Lisa Honeybone, Media & Communications Specialist, SLSNZ
Phone 09 303 9335 or 0276 488 823
Email lisa.honeybone@surflifesaving.org.nz