Kiwis set to take on the Aussies

Over 120 athletes are set to represent 16 of New Zealand's Surf Life Saving Clubs at this year's Australian Surf Life Saving Championships.

Familiarly known as "The Aussies", the competition kicks off at North Kirra Bach on the Gold Coast on Saturday and runs through to April 19.

Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service has the largest number of athletes heading over to the competition with 44, followed by Omanu who has 21 athletes taking part.

The other clubs include East End, Waikanae, Midway, Spencer Park, Mairangi Bay, Whangamata, Orewa, Lyall Bay, Maranui, Piha, Paekakariki, Titahi Bay, Fitzroy and Red Beach, totalling 126 athletes.

A number of other Aussie-based Kiwi athletes will also be representing their Australian clubs. 

This year's event is celebrating 100 years and will see 7,000 athletes representing 311 Surf Life Saving Clubs across 400 different events.

Surf Life Saving New Zealand Sport Manager Mike Lord says the Aussies is always an exciting event for our Kiwi clubbies to take part in. "The competition is always of a high standard but our athletes are up to it and I won't be surprised if they come home with a large number of medals.," he says.

Last year, around 30 Kiwi clubbies put on an impressive performance at the event which was held in Western Australia, coming back with a total of 14 medals.

Follow the Surf Life Saving New Zealand Facebook page for news and highlights from the nine days of competition. Or for more information, visit http://sls.com.au/aussies

Australian Surf Life Saving Championships
April  11 - 19, 2015
North Kirra Beach, Gold Coast