News
Black Fins and Junior Black Fins Campaign Leads appointed
Monday, 3 February 2025Surf Life Saving New Zealand (SLSNZ) is pleased to announce two key appointments to their high-performance teams. Steve Kent and Byron Reid will lead New Zealand’s surf lifesaving teams through to the 2026 Lifesaving World Championships in Morocco next September.
Steve returns as campaign lead for the Black Fins following a highly successful debut during the 2024 Lifesaving World Championships (LWC) campaign. An Olympian and seven-time LWC competitor, Steve has achieved numerous individual and team titles at both national and international events, including three World Championships.
Byron joins the team as Junior Black Fins campaign lead, bringing extensive experience in high-performance environments. Since 2018, Byron has held key roles within SLSNZ and Swimming New Zealand High Performance programmes. A former Commonwealth Games representative, he served as Junior Black Fins Assistant Team Manager at the 2019 International Surf Rescue Challenge and the 2022 Lifesaving World Championships in Italy, before transitioning to the Black Fins as Competition Manager in 2024.
SLSNZ High Performance Manager, Tanya Hamilton says both Steve and Byron have exceptional track records in both high performance sport and leadership.
“The extensive experience both Steve and Byron bring as athletes and leaders can only enhance the technical ability and mindset of the Black Fins and Junior Black Fins athletes.”
“We are confident they will continue to build on the legacy of team culture and enhance team preparation to ensure the Black Fins and Junior Black Fins continue to excel and profile New Zealand as a formidable force in international sport.”
Steve and Bryon will spend this year tracking and testing athletes at domestic and international benchmarking events in advance of Black Fins and Junior Black Fins team selections in 2026.
New Zealander’s will have an opportunity to see the Black Fins in action on home soil at the International Surf Rescue Challenge in Mount Maunganui on 27-30 November.
Upcoming sport lifesaving dates and locations can be found here.