Omanu SLSC takes out the 2025 Aon New Zealand Surf Lifesaving Championships

Tough conditions and grit characterised the Aon New Zealand Surf Lifesaving Championships to remember this week. Omanu SLSC took out the competition winning the Alan Gardner Memorial trophy.

Returning to Gisborne for the first time since 2020, the 2025 Aon New Zealand Surf Lifesaving Championships is the pinnacle event of the surf lifesaving sporting season. The event, saw nearly 1300 athletes compete from across New Zealand.

SLSNZ national events manager, Matt Cairns says the officials and water safety teams responded to difficult and changeable weather conditions ensuring the competition could continue safely.

“Our Aon Officials, safety teams and event support crew are the true heroes of this week’s competition. From IRB crews to weather experts to officials to our event coordinators they adapted incredibly to the changing conditions making judgement calls that kept our athletes competing safely.”

“I cannot thank the nearly 100 of volunteers enough for bringing an incredible event to life.”

Matt says that athletes enjoyed the event and the challenge of navigating the conditions.

“Adapting to conditions, working together, supporting each other to excel and bringing your ‘A’game no matter what. This is the stuff that builds world-class surf lifeguards.”

SLSNZ would like to thank all our sponsors and supporters for their support for the Aon New Zealand Surf Lifesaving Championships, Aon as naming rights sponsor and Trust Tairāwhiti as regional partner.

Full results can be found at https://liveheats.com/events/347010 and event merch is still available at https://surflifesaving.nzuniforms.com/

For event photos check out the SLSNZ Sport Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/slsnzSport