Surf life saving: Hundreds of budding lifeguards have swarmed on Mount Maunganui's Main Beach Oceans 19

Young athletes compete during day one of the Oceans 19 event at Mount Maunganui. Photo / Adyn Ogle

Mount Maunganui's Main Beach resembled a miniature pop-up city as hundreds swarmed on the areas for the Oceans 19 surf life saving event

The Under 14 National Surf Life Saving Championships got under way yesterday with more than 850 competitors, which event manager Matt Warren says is an average number for the event.

"For us it is really good venue because it is a big beach and we have everything wrapped up in one area. It makes for a really good atmosphere. Having the steep beach you also get a good view of the races."

Warren says while any rain that does eventuate is not much of a problem, officials will monitor the waves.

"The weather played ball on the first morning and we are constantly assessing the water," Warren says.

"It is due to get up a little bit, which will be nice for some of these athletes as they like the waves – but not too big that it makes it unmanageable," he says.

He says the age group that this event is catering to are up and coming lifeguards who will be helping to keep beachgoers safe in the future.

"This is a feeder into life guard programme. We start teaching them lifeguard skills from 11-12 years old. By the time they get to 13-14 they are ready to become lifeguards and have really good skills on the water and on the land as well.

"At this age group, you start to see who the really good competitors are. There are so many changes in their body type, so someone can come from nowhere and win races."

Unlike many sports, the need to be highly innovative and change the traditional competition formats has not been required.

"We have a good formula and we try not to deviate to far from it. We have enough events here from sprinting to board paddling and then when they are older they jump onto surf skis. There is enough scope for people to have a good go."