Surf lifesaving: Bay clubs prep for Oceans

FULL-ON ACTION: Tomorrow's Bay of Plenty Junior Championships carnival is a preview of the New Zealand Under-14 Championships (Oceans 15) to be held at Mount Maunganui in February.PHOTO/FILE

New Zealand's best under-14 surf lifesavers will take over Mount Main Beach tomorrow morning.

The Bay of Plenty Junior Championships has attracted more than 400 athletes from under-8 to under-14 age groups for a full day carnival beginning at 9am.

Tomorrow's spectacular is the major preview for the New Zealand Under-14 Championships (Oceans 15) to be held at Mount Maunganui from February 26 to March 1.

Scott Bicknell, Surf Lifesaving New Zealand's Eastern region sports manager, says the Western Bay clubs all have about 70 competitors.

"It is a prep for Oceans for sure, just trying to get them used to that beach," he said. "It is an entire Oceans programme in a day, so it is a very big day. It is pretty exciting and full on.

"There is quite a huge range of events on Sunday. There are the beach events, the flags and the sprints, and exciting events like the mixed relays, the boards and the swims. There are some tube rescues and board rescues tied in with that."

Bicknell is hoping for a reasonable day weather-wise and says the surf should be just about ideal by Sunday morning.

"It should drop away to about one and a half to two foot by Sunday which would be perfect for the kids. A tiny wave to challenge them a little bit but not enough to deter them."