Waihi Beach ready to welcome junior surf athletes

Waihi Beach will play host to around 400 junior surf athletes this weekend for the 2015 Bay of Plenty Junior Championships.

The popular event attracts junior athletes from throughout the country and this year, entries have been received from 11 different clubs from as far north as Mairangi Bay on Auckland's North Shore to Gisborne and the Hawke's Bay.

Surf Life Saving Eastern Region Sports Manager Mark Inglis says it is the only junior club competition offering the full range of Junior Surf events that will be held prior to the Eastern Region Junior Championships and the 2016 Under 14 New Surf Life Saving Championships.

"The competition offers junior athletes the chance to hone their surf skills and test their training before the biggest event on the junior surf calendar in March," he says.

Age groups include Under 8, Under 9, Under 10, Under 11, Under 12, Under 13 and Under 14.

Events to be contested will include beach sprint, beach flags, run swim run, tube rescue, surf race, board rescue and beach relays.

The Bay of Plenty Top Club Trophy will also be awarded to the top club from Bay of Plenty and Coromandel at the end of the competition.

Racing starts at 9am on Sunday. Click here for more information.

Clubs taking part:

Mairangi Bay SLSC, Midway SLSC, Mt Maunganui Lifeguard Service, Omanu SLSC, Papamoa SLSC, Pukehina Surf Rescue, Waihi Beach Lifeguard Services, Waikanae SLSC, Westshore SLSC, Whakatane SLSC and Whangamata SLSC.

For more information, please contact:

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