Black Fins to be named at team camp

The reality of taking out the lifesaving world championship title for the third time in a row is edging closer for the New Zealand Black Fins as they gear up for the next big step in their preparation for Rescue 2016; naming the team.

Rescue 2016, the Lifesaving World Championships, kicks-off in just over four months. The biannual competition is the largest international lifesaving sport competition in the world. This year, it is being held in The Netherlands from September 1-18 with the national team's competition taking place from September 6-11.

It is here that the New Zealand Open Team (the Black Fins) will be defending their back-to-back title of world champions; a title that was first prised from Australia nearly four years ago in Adelaide at Rescue 2012 and again in France at Rescue 2014.

New Zealand is sending two teams to compete at Rescue 2016 and has already named its Youth team. The Black Fins will be named at a team camp in Auckland on Friday afternoon.

Black Fins coach Jason Pocock says the intensity is building as we near closer and closer to the blockbuster event for lifesavers around the world.

"As back-to-back world champions, the spotlight is on us to name our team of 12 (six male, six female) that will represent New Zealand and create more history as the first New Zealand surf lifesaving team to win three world championships titles in a row," he says.

View the live team announcement on the Surf Life Saving High Performance Facebook page from 12.45pm on Friday and to keep up-to-date with the journey to Rescue 2016.

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