Over 100 Kiwis to take part in 2016 Aussie champs

Over 100 Kiwi athletes are set to represent 14 of New Zealand's Surf Life Saving Clubs at this year's Australian Surf Life Saving Championships.

Familiarly known as "The Aussies", the competition will run from April 16-24 at Alexandra Headland, Maroochydore and Mooloolaba. It's the first time since 1980 that the iconic event has been held on the Sunshine Coast.

Over 7,000 athletes will take part across nine days of competition in the Youth, Open and Masters categories.

Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service has the largest number of Kiwi athletes heading over to the competition, with 48 athletes entered.

The other clubs include Midway (12), Piha (11), Titahi Bay (10), Papamoa (9), Omanu (6), Mairangi Bay (5), Orewa (4), South Brighton (3), Lyall Bay (3) Wainui (2), Fitzroy (1), Whangamata (1) and Otaki (1), totalling 111 athletes.

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

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 tough and of a high standard but our athletes often come home with a large number of medals. We wish them the best of luck at this year's event," he says.

For more information, visit https://sls.com.au/Aussies/

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