Surf Boat Extravaganza To Decide North Island Champions

Competitors brave the waves at the 2019 North Island Surf Boat Championships. Photo: Norrie Mailer

The iconic North Island Surf Boat Championships is set to take place on Saturday at Waihi Beach, with 50 crews entered into the event.

Waihi Beach Lifeguard Services run the annual competition which is set to see some hot racing with small surf conditions that shouldn’t cause any upsets.

The February 8 event will show where the crews are at with their season preparation ahead of the third and final round of the New Zealand Surf Boat Series, set to be held at the Northern Region Championships at Omaha Beach on February 22 and 23, before the main event of the season – the TSB New Zealand Surf Life Saving Championships (Nationals) in Gisborne in March.

Riding the waves at the 2019 North Island Surf Boat Championships. Photo: Norrie Mailer

The event is also the final hit-out for the four crews representing New Zealand at the annual Trans-Tasman Surf Boat Challenge being held at Mollymook Beach, NSW on February 15.
Known as the “Oar Blacks”, Muriwai and Titahi Bay are the respective Open Mens and Womens crews while Whangamata and Orewa are the Under 23 development crews.

Racing for the North Island Surf Boat Championships gets underway from 10am on Saturday at the Waihi Beach Lifeguard Services club.

Spectators are welcome to attend for free and cheer on the athletes.

Team work at the 2019 North Island Surf Boat Championships. Photo: Norrie Mailer

<END>

What:
North Island Surf Boat Championships

When:
February 8, 2020 from 10am

Where:
Waihi Beach Lifeguard Services

Participating clubs
Bethells Beach Surf Life Saving Patrol
East End Surf Life Saving Club
Lyall Bay Surf Life Saving Club
Mairangi Bay Surf Life Saving Club
Muriwai Volunteer Lifeguard Service
New Brighton Surf Life Saving Club
Omanu Surf Life Saving Club
Orewa Surf Life Saving Club
Paekakariki Surf Lifeguards
Piha Surf Life Saving Club
Red Beach Surf Life Saving Club
Sunset Beach Lifeguard Service
Titahi Bay Surf Life Saving Club
Waihi Beach Lifeguard Service
Westshore Surf Life Saving Club
Whakatane Surf Life Saving Club
Whangamata Surf Life Saving Club

Event and Number of Teams
Masters Mens - Surf Boat - Long Course - 5
Masters Womens - Surf Boat - Long Course - 3
Open Mens - Surf Boat - Long Course - 11
Open Womens - Surf Boat - Long Course - 9
U23 Mens - Surf Boat - Long Course - 4
U23 Womens - Surf Boat - Long Course - 8
U19 Mens - Surf Boat - Long Course - 3
U19 Womens - Surf Boat - Long Course - 7

<END>

For more information please contact:

Melanie Louden
Media and Communications Manager
Surf Life Saving New Zealand
021 757 433
melanie.louden@surflifesaving.org.nz