NZ surf lifesaving stars on track to defend world title

New Zealand's surf lifesaving stars are gearing up for the next big step in their preparation for Rescue 2014; naming the final team who will defend the Kiwi's title of World Champions.

Rescue 2014, or the Lifesaving World Championships, kicks-off in three months. The biannual competition is being held in the south of France from September 13-26 with the national team's competition beginning on September 16.

It is here that the New Zealand Open Team (the Black Fins) will be defending its title of world champions- a title that was prised from Australia two years ago in Adelaide at Rescue 2012.

New Zealand is sending two teams to compete and has already named its Youth Team. The New Zealand Open Team will be named following a squad camp next month.

The camp will be held in Australia from Saturday July 5 and will run for a week. All the squad members will take part, except for Laura Quilter, Samantha Lee and Steven Kent who will be away representing New Zealand in swimming at the Commonwealth Games.

New Zealand Team Manager Mark Weatherall says this squad camp is the next big step in the preparation for selecting the final team.

"With only 90 days to go until the start of the event, the intensity is really starting to rise. And, with a number of countries like Australia, France and Canada having now named their teams, the spotlight is sure to turn on the NZ selectors as they prepare to name the NZ team to take on the world in France," he says.

The New Zealand Youth team will have their first team camp in conjunction with the Eastern Regional Pool Champs being held in Hamilton from July 26- 27.

Mr Weatherall says plans are also underway to conduct two team camps following the naming of the New Zealand Open Team. "Final preparations are well underway and are now awaiting the final step; who will be representing New Zealand?" he says.

What is Rescue 2014?

There are a range of reasons why the World Lifesaving Championships (Rescue 2014) is the blockbuster event for lifesavers around the world. With several thousand competitors expected to take part this year, it is the largest international lifesaving sport competition in the world.

All the events are based around rescue capability and are specific to saving people's lives. It's where you'll get to see competitors from around 40 different nations competing in ten separate disciplines like simulated emergency rescues, beach sprints, surf boats and Ironman.

Sprinting across the sand and diving for flags, throwing out lines, carrying manikins and surf ski races are all comparable to a real lifesaving situation on a beach.

New Zealand has two teams competing- the NZ Open Team (which will be announced in July) and the NZ Youth Team. There are six females and six females in each team.

Click here for more information about Rescue 2014 and follow our teams here on Facebook. 

New Zealand Open Squad:

Max Beattie - Omanu
Rachel Clarke - Red Beach
Paul Cracroft-Wilson - Fitzroy
Chris Dawson - Midway
Carina Doyle - St Clair
Olivia Eaton - Mt Maunganui
Steven Ferguson - Piha
Murdoch Finch - Riversdale Beach
Devon Halligan - Midway
Kodi Harman - Papamoa
Teneale Hatton - Piha
Chanel Hickman - Mairangi Bay
Steven Kent - Titahi Bay
Samantha Lee - Lyall Bay
Nick Malcolm - Mairangi Bay
Danielle McKenzie - Mairangi Bay
Andy McMillan* - St Clair
Chris Moors - Red Beach
Kevin Morrison - Mairangi Bay
Andrew Newton - Mt Maunganui
Natalie Peat - Papamoa
Laura Quilter - Wainui
Cory Taylor - Midway
*Subject to testing

New Zealand Youth Team:

Kelsi Boocock - Red Beach
Maia Bryant - Papamoa
Ben Cochrane - Omanu
Olivia Eaton - Mt Maunganui
Jacob Hales - Papamoa
Jake Hurley - Mairangi Bay
Ben Johnston - Papamoa
Matthew Scott - Midway
Jasmine Smith - Wainui
Andrew Trembath - St Clair
Brittany Tucker - Sumner
Hannah Williams - Piha

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