Kiwis gear up for International Surf Rescue Challenge

Putting the pressure on his Aussie competitors in the flag races is high on the agenda for Fitzroy's Paul Cracroft-Wilson when he pulls on the silver fern at next week's International Surf Rescue Challenge (ISRC).

It's been a busy year for the 34 year-old who will captain the New Zealand Black Fins at the bi-annual surf lifesaving competition.

In April, he married Melissa Howard; co-captain of the Australian ISRC team. "We have done a few competitions now where we have been on opposing teams. Obviously, I like to see Melissa do well but, when I put on the fern, it's black all the way!" he says.

The competition is a gathering of the world's top lifesavers and originally started in 1939 as the Trans-Tasman Series between Australia and New Zealand. Since 2005, the event has grown and this year the participating countries include Canada, Hong Kong, Korea, the USA and Japan.

The 2015 ISRC is being hosted by reigning champions, Surf Life Saving Australia, in Maroochydore on Queensland's Sunshine Coast. Three tests will take place; test one on September 3 followed by tests two and three on September 5 and 6.

Events include Ironman, surf race, surf ski, board relay, beach flags, beach sprints, tube rescue, beach relay and taplin relay.

Cracroft-Wilson says his goal is to have three great flags races and put the heat on Australian men Jackson Symonds and Dean Scarff. "Those boys are super-fast sprinters and flaggers and no doubt they will be working together to put the pressure on me," he says.

Being asked to captain the team of 12 is an honour, he says. "It has been a pretty special journey that I have managed to traverse throughout my career, starting with humble beginnings at New Plymouth Old Boys and Fitzroy Surf Life Saving Clubs. I'll start to get the butterflies when the fern comes out and we put the togs and beanie on and run out as a team on the first day," he says.

Cracroft-Wilson says the team is a great mixture of experienced athletes and fresh faces who are keen to relish the chance and keep their spot for the world champs in 2016.

"I'll reinforce some basic principles and try to lead from the front. We have the athletes in the team that can be the best in the world and we'll just instil that confidence in the newbies so that they don't get overawed by the occasion," he says.

New Zealand team coach Jason Pocock says he's expecting some tough competition, especially from the Australians. "This is another stepping stone on the way to Rescue 2016 and as current world champions, other countries will be expecting some top performances from our athletes- and they will deliver," he says.

Surf Life Saving New Zealand is also sending a New Zealand Youth team to the event. Both teams are comprised of 12 athletes- six male and six female.

Midway's Matthew Scott and Red Beach's Kelsi Boocock will co-captain the New Zealand Youth team.

New Zealand Youth team coach Jonelle Quane says the team is geared up to attack all their races with a huge amount of pride and commitment.

"They are all excited about the prospect of racing the 'big boys and girls' of surf lifesaving, as most of the Youth races will be run with the Open teams, so they have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Bring on the challenge," she says.

Both teams depart for Australia on Saturday August 29.

To keep up-to-date with the teams' journey visit the High Performance Facebook page at www.facebook.com/slsnzhp or on Twitter @slsnzhp.

New Zealand Black Fins
Paul Cracroft-Wilson, Fitzroy (captain)
Chris Dawson, Midway
Max Beattie, Omanu
Cory Taylor, Midway
Marty McDowell, Titahi Bay
Adam Simpson, Mt Maunganui
Danielle McKenzie, Mairangi Bay
Natalie Peat, Papamoa
Devon Halligan, Midway
Teneale Hatton, Piha
Olivia Eaton, Mt Maunganui
Chanel Hickman, Mairangi Bay

New Zealand Youth
Kelsi Boocock, Red Beach (co-captain)
Matthew Scott, Midway (co-captain)
Zoe Hobbs, Fitzroy
Hannah Williams, Piha
Maia Bryant, Papamoa
Olivia Corrin, Midway
Grace Kaihau, Orewa
Jake Hurley, Mairangi Bay
Kane Sefton, Mt Maunganui
Baydon Botha, Mairangi Bay
Hamish Miller, Mt Maunganui
Dylan Williams, Mt Maunganui

Black Fins captain Paul Cracroft-Wilson

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