Surf life saving: Oceans 21 opportunity for next generation to shine

Competitors at last year's Oceans '20. Photo / Rod Salt

More than 800 junior surf members from around Aotearoa New Zealand will make their way to Mount Maunganui's Main Beach on Thursday for one of the country's largest children's sporting events.

Oceans '21 turns 21 this year and a sense of relief and celebration is in the air.

Last week's Covid-19 alert level changes raised uncertainty as to whether the event could go ahead – and whether Auckland competitors would be able to attend if the city remained at alert level 2.

Hundreds of participants held their breath leading up to Monday afternoon's announcement.

Orewa Surf Life Saving Club volunteer coach Steve Brennan, father to 14-year-old Oceans '21 competitor Elizabeth Brennan, said the family were elated to hear confirmation they could participate in what has become an annual highlight.

"This is Elizabeth's final year of competing at Oceans and she's worked so hard to get here, even training during lockdowns," he said.

"There was a massive sense of relief when we heard that Auckland was going back down to level 1 – we were really crossing our fingers – and now we can't wait to head down and support her. It's going to be an incredible event."

Oceans '21 is an iconic Surf Life Saving New Zealand (SLSNZ) tradition which encapsulates the joy, excitement and skill involved in surf life saving, as well as providing a chance for kids aged 10 to 14 to test their mettle in a safe surf environment.

Over four action-packed days, competitors will take part in events designed to emulate real-life beach rescue situations.

"We're expecting a decent swell throughout the competition and our Juniors will be provided with an awesome opportunity to test their surf lifesaving skills," SLSNZ sport events manager Mark Inglis said.

"These young people are the future of surf lifesaving and we can't wait to see what they're capable of."

Oceans '21 Event Information

When:

February 25 to February 28.

Where:
Mount Maunganui Main Beach.

Who:
• 849 competitors aged 10 to 14.
• 47 of 74 SLSNZ clubs from as far south as Dunedin and as far north as Ruakaka.

Age groups:
• U11
• U12
• U13
• U14

Individual events:
• Sprint
• Flags
• Run Swim Run
• Surf Race
• Diamond Race (swim, board and run)
• Board Race

Team events:
• Beach Relay
• 2km Beach Relay
• Board Relay
• Grand Cameron Relay (6 person run, swim, board paddle event)
• Tube Rescue and Board Rescue

Competing clubs:
• Bethells Beach SLSP
• Brighton SLSC
• East End SLSC
• Fitzroy SLSC
• Foxton SLSC
• Lyall Bay SLSC
• Mairangi Bay SLSC
• Mangawhai Heads SLSC
• Maranui SLSC
• Midway SLSC
• Mt Maunganui Lifeguard Service
• Muriwai VLS
• New Brighton SLSC
• New Plymouth Old Boys SLSC
• North Beach SLSC
• Ocean Beach Kiwi SLSC
• Omaha Beach SLSC
• Omanu SLSC
• Opunake SLSC
• Orewa SLSC
• Otaki SLSC
• Paekakariki Surf Lifeguards
• Papamoa SLSC
• Pauanui SLSC
• Piha SLSC
• Pukehina Surf Rescue
• Red Beach SLSC
• Ruakaka SLSP
• South Brighton SLSC
• Spencer Park SLSC
• St Clair SLSC
• St Kilda SLSC
• Sumner SLSC
• Taylors Mistake SLSC
• Titahi Bay SLSC
• Waihi Beach LS
• Waikanae SLSC
• Waikuku Beach SLSC
• Waimairi SLSC
• Waimarama SLSC
• Wainui SLSC
• Westshore SLSC
• Whakatane SLSC
• Whangamata SLSC
• Whiritoa LS
• Worser Bay LSC